Short term significance of great reform act
What was the short term significance of the passing of the great reform act of 1832?
The Great Reform Act of 1832 had many short term factors of great significance. These include the impact it had on the political parties, the impact it had on the views of individual groups like the dissenters, the political development of the country and also the development of Great Britain itself. The significance of these short term issues are shown through these primary sources as some may suggest that there wasn’t any change and that the significance allowed the aristocracy to retain control. They give an insight into the importance of the short term factors to give an explanation on whether the reform act was effective or not. It also shows what the short term factors led to as a result of the reform acts conditions and its ineffectiveness such as the rise of the chartist movement. The primary sources seem to reveal a difference of opinions relating to the short term impact. This essay will assess and examine the short term significance of the great reform act of 1832.
The source indicates that the short term significance appears limited to a majority and only significantly positive for the middle class and the aristocracy. Cobbett’s lecture1shows this as he initially believed that the act would bring great change however this was proved otherwise. In the source, Cobbett is informing people that the reform is not in the working class favour. They thought that the removal of rotten boroughs like old-Sarum would mean an end to poverty of the agricultural labourers/farmers. This just strengthened the power of the aristocracy which shows the limitations of the reform act in producing significant change for the people. These were thoughts of desperation. They believed the deceit of the reform act. This source was spoken to an audience of ‘like minded people’ to say what he thinks will happen as a result of the reform. He isn’t trying to convince or persuade people, which
The Great Reform Act of 1832 had many short term factors of great significance. These include the impact it had on the political parties, the impact it had on the views of individual groups like the dissenters, the political development of the country and also the development of Great Britain itself. The significance of these short term issues are shown through these primary sources as some may suggest that there wasn’t any change and that the significance allowed the aristocracy to retain control. They give an insight into the importance of the short term factors to give an explanation on whether the reform act was effective or not. It also shows what the short term factors led to as a result of the reform acts conditions and its ineffectiveness such as the rise of the chartist movement. The primary sources seem to reveal a difference of opinions relating to the short term impact. This essay will assess and examine the short term significance of the great reform act of 1832.
The source indicates that the short term significance appears limited to a majority and only significantly positive for the middle class and the aristocracy. Cobbett’s lecture1shows this as he initially believed that the act would bring great change however this was proved otherwise. In the source, Cobbett is informing people that the reform is not in the working class favour. They thought that the removal of rotten boroughs like old-Sarum would mean an end to poverty of the agricultural labourers/farmers. This just strengthened the power of the aristocracy which shows the limitations of the reform act in producing significant change for the people. These were thoughts of desperation. They believed the deceit of the reform act. This source was spoken to an audience of ‘like minded people’ to say what he thinks will happen as a result of the reform. He isn’t trying to convince or persuade people, which
Bibliography: Finlayson G. The 1830’s: A Decade of reform? William Cobbett’ s Manchester Lectures (1832) William Cobbett’ s Manchester Lectures (1832) 3