Why Was The Reform Act Passed In 1867
Why was the reform act passed in 1867? Which factor was most important?
In 1886 Gladstone had proposed a moderate reform bill, it would’ve enfranchised an additional 400,000 men. However it was fiercely opposed by the government. Disraeli in particular feared that extending the franchise challenged the authority of his aristocracy. However, when the conservatives returned to office later in the year, Disraeli decided to press for reform. In fact the reform was even more radical than the first. There are a few reasons to why Disraeli might have done this. Pressure for reform was growing and the liberal bill had heightened expectations even further. If some reform was a possible, it would be better if the conservatives could claim responsibility, therefore possibly winning electoral support of the workers. According to this view Disraeli’s main motive was to “dish the Whigs”. This meant that he opportunistically opposed the 1886 Bill but then introduced a similar measure. This factor was a significant contribution to why the reform bill was passed. As the Tory view explains, reform occurred mainly as a result of competition between the parties; both wanted to determine the terms of any reform, and both wanted to secure the future support of the workers. As much as many mainstream liberals wanted further economic and social reforms, they assumed that once they had enfranchised workers, urban workers in particular, they would probably vote liberal.
However, Disraeli had actually voiced support for reform on several occasions, even when opposing to the previous liberal bill, he criticised the details rather than the principle. Unlike other conservatives, he felt that reform was inevitable; therefore, he believed that the conservatives could harness the support of this increased electorate. Not only this, but also the fact that he wanted to educate his party. This meant that introducing parliamentary reform himself would encourage his party to embrace the policy of
In 1886 Gladstone had proposed a moderate reform bill, it would’ve enfranchised an additional 400,000 men. However it was fiercely opposed by the government. Disraeli in particular feared that extending the franchise challenged the authority of his aristocracy. However, when the conservatives returned to office later in the year, Disraeli decided to press for reform. In fact the reform was even more radical than the first. There are a few reasons to why Disraeli might have done this. Pressure for reform was growing and the liberal bill had heightened expectations even further. If some reform was a possible, it would be better if the conservatives could claim responsibility, therefore possibly winning electoral support of the workers. According to this view Disraeli’s main motive was to “dish the Whigs”. This meant that he opportunistically opposed the 1886 Bill but then introduced a similar measure. This factor was a significant contribution to why the reform bill was passed. As the Tory view explains, reform occurred mainly as a result of competition between the parties; both wanted to determine the terms of any reform, and both wanted to secure the future support of the workers. As much as many mainstream liberals wanted further economic and social reforms, they assumed that once they had enfranchised workers, urban workers in particular, they would probably vote liberal.
However, Disraeli had actually voiced support for reform on several occasions, even when opposing to the previous liberal bill, he criticised the details rather than the principle. Unlike other conservatives, he felt that reform was inevitable; therefore, he believed that the conservatives could harness the support of this increased electorate. Not only this, but also the fact that he wanted to educate his party. This meant that introducing parliamentary reform himself would encourage his party to embrace the policy of