The Growth of Parliamentary Democracy: The unreformed parliament and its critics, 1785-1820

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  • Created by: Stella-
  • Created on: 10-10-21 16:23
Conservatism
cautious, traditional, anti-change, monarchists
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The conservative political party
Called Tories until 1834, then named Conservatives
Defended traditional rights of church and crown
Opposed political reform
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Liberalism
reform, change, open-minded, free interpretation
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The liberal political party
Called Whigs until 1854, then named Liberals
Wanted to reduce power of monarchy in favour of House of Commons
In favour of reform only so far as it preserved their power
'Reform in order to preserve'
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Qualification for counties?
Own a freehold property worth 40 shillings (£2) a year
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What is a Corporation qualification?
Borough qualification
Only councilmen could vote
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Freemen
Borough qualification
Anyone with this status could vote
Inherited from father
Through marriage
Bestowed if recipient had received an honour from the local corporation through his apprenticeship
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Scot and Lot
Borough qualification
Anyone who paid poor rates could vote
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Burgage
Borough qualification
Ancient form of rent, owners allowed to vote
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Potwalloper
Borough qualification
Householders who had a hearth large enough to boil a pot on
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Freeholder
Borough qualification
Similar to counties
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Elections
No secret ballot - bribery was common
Only 11% of population could vote
Votes were often bought through rotten or pocket boroughs
Landowners would put pressure on tenants to vote a certain way
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Advantages
Communal responsibility
People would only vote a certain way if a patron put effort into community
Elite had a commitment to politics
Gave work in form of canvassing, sitting on a committee, party working
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Disadvantages
30% of boroughs had landowner nominations by 1800
Catholics could not vote in Ireland
Six counties elected 1/4 MPs (more than Ireland and Scotland combined)
More than half the 203 boroughs were in the South
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When did the French Revolution begin?
14th July 1789
The Bastille is stormed
King forced to accept constitution and National Assembly
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When did The Terror begin?
September 1792
France declared itself a republic
Louis XI executed January 1793
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When did the Revolutionary Wars begin and end?
1793-1815
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Approx. how many reform societies were there in major areas by the mid 1790s?
80
In London, Sheffield, and Norwich
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The London Corresponding Society
A reform society
Inspired by French revolution
Created by Major john Cartwright
1792-93
Campaigned for annual elections and universal male suffrage
Had 3000 members at peak
In 1793 6000 members of the public signed a petition in support of them
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What happened at the trial of the leaders of the LCS?
In 1794, 13 were tried for treason on varying charges, but all were aquitted
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What was the suspension of habeas corpus?
How long did the government enforce it?
It meant people could be arrested without trial. The government implemented it due to fear of revolutionary ideas from France spreading.
1794-95
Suspended twice so government could round up potential threats
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What was the Treason Act?
It was implemented in 1795 after rubbish was thrown at King George III
Confirmed assault against the king was illegal
Extended treason to include the spoken or written word
Punishment was 7 years transportation
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What was the Seditious Meetings Act?
Implemented 1795
Banned meetings of 50+ people
Stopped people from renting a hall for a meeting or debate without a magistrate's licence
Justices of Peace could disperse any crowd
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How did the government control the media?
1797 Stamp Tax increased taxes on newspapers to make them harder to afford
1798 Newspaper Registrations act made newspapers register to limit critical attacks
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Impact of French Revolution?
Inspired similar thought in Britain until The Terror and Revolutionary Wars marked it as 'unpatriotic'
Stricter government control
Demands for reform increased after war's end as soldiers couldn't find jobs
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What Tory politician wrote an anti-reform book and what was it called?
Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France
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Who condemned this and what was the book he wrote?
Thomas Paine, Rights of Man
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Why did demands for reform increase 1815-1820?
End of war with France: reform not unpatriotic, and the soldiers returning to a depressed economic climate
Surplus of labour meant wages were low
1816 had the worst summer on record, so there was a poor harvest leading to food shortages
Corn Laws of 1815
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When and what was the Spa Field Riot?
Noted orator, Henry Hunt gave a speech in favour of male suffrage, annual elections and secret ballot in December 1816, petition signed
They marched on the Tower of London
Troops were sent to break it up
Leaders arrested but acquitted
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What were the Gagging Acts?
1817
Made the Seditious Meetings and Treason Acts permanent
Happened in direct response to Spa Fields
Plus restricted meetings within a mile of parliament and banned meetings during parliamentary sessions
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When and what was the March of the Blanketeers?
On 10th March 1817, a disorganised band of cotton weavers marched to see the Prince Regent to present their grievances about the Seditious Meetings Act
Covered themselves in blankets
Mainly peaceful and legal but one was brutally killed by the authorities
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When and what was the Pentridge Rising?
On 8-9th June 1817 there was a march to London by armed (but disorganised) iron and quarry workers
Aim was to demand reforms
A spy informed the government and the group was punished - 30 transported and 3 hanged
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When and what was the Peterloo Massacre?
Entirely peaceful public meeting held on 16th August 1819
Local magistrate panicked and sent military groups (1,500 in total)
Only meant to arrest Hunt but they attacked peaceful protestors
18 killed (including a woman and child), 700 injured
Uproar even
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What international events inspired the protests?
Why?
The French Revolution - debated the power structure, introduced ideas of equality
The American War of Independence - proved governments could be challenged, raised ideas of freedom
The Napoleonic War - dissent due to unemployment, low wages and high price
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What government policies inspired these protests?
Why?
Tory government only passed laws that benefited the upper class or suppressed speech
The Corn Laws, 1815 - kept corn prices high which protected farmers but drove bread prices up
Poor Employment Act, 1817 -inadequate for scale of problem, ignored requests
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When were the Six Acts introduced?
1819
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What were the first three Six Acts?
The Training Prevention Act: stopped civilians learning how to use weapons
The Seizure of Arms Act: allowed magistrates to seize weapons
The Seditious Meetings Act: extended 1817 Act, magistrates to be notified of any public meetings
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What were the second three Six Acts?
The Blasphemous and Seditious Libels Act: set penalties for libel at 17 years transportation
Misdemeanour Act: sped up process of charging people and getting a trial
The Newspaper and Stamp Duties Act: raised stamp duty to 4 shillings on any publication t
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What were the radical demands over this period?
More representative parliamentary system
Annual elections
Secret ballot
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

The conservative political party

Back

Called Tories until 1834, then named Conservatives
Defended traditional rights of church and crown
Opposed political reform

Card 3

Front

Liberalism

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

The liberal political party

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Qualification for counties?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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