Importance of the 1832 Reform Act
To what extent was the 1832 Reform
Act the most important development in politics and government between 1780 and 1832 (36)
Overall, the 1832 Reform Act was a major development in politics and government between 1780 and 1832; however it was not the most important development. It still remained significant to the growth of the period as this was the first official governmental document on reform that was introduced and it set a precedent for further reforms. Whilst it only removed the worst abuses in the existing system, the Act started to make Britain more democratic. It introduced more just representation of the franchise and made it its primary aim to demolish the majority of pocket and rotten boroughs. Nevertheless, bribery and corruption remained rife and the lower middle class and the entirety of the working class still did not possess the right to vote. The Act also further strengthened the position of the aristocracy as they were forced to bad together against the ever-growing threat of working class revolution, underlined the importance of a strong central government and gave some of the public a political voice. Even though, many other revolutionary developments transpired due to the 1832 Reform Act, it took place right at the end of the period.
Therefore other development must be considered because there were a number of key advances in reform before this, leading to changing public opinion that resulted in the Act are passed in the first place. The most important development of the period was the passing of the Catholic Emancipation Bill.
This was passed when the government was put under pressure of growing revolution in Ireland and feared the threat of Civil War. This split public opinion ad also split the Tory party into three warring factions: the Canningites (supporters of Canning), supporters of Robert and Ley and the Ultra Tories
(politicians with extreme Tory beliefs). This conflict within the Tory Party angered the
Act the most important development in politics and government between 1780 and 1832 (36)
Overall, the 1832 Reform Act was a major development in politics and government between 1780 and 1832; however it was not the most important development. It still remained significant to the growth of the period as this was the first official governmental document on reform that was introduced and it set a precedent for further reforms. Whilst it only removed the worst abuses in the existing system, the Act started to make Britain more democratic. It introduced more just representation of the franchise and made it its primary aim to demolish the majority of pocket and rotten boroughs. Nevertheless, bribery and corruption remained rife and the lower middle class and the entirety of the working class still did not possess the right to vote. The Act also further strengthened the position of the aristocracy as they were forced to bad together against the ever-growing threat of working class revolution, underlined the importance of a strong central government and gave some of the public a political voice. Even though, many other revolutionary developments transpired due to the 1832 Reform Act, it took place right at the end of the period.
Therefore other development must be considered because there were a number of key advances in reform before this, leading to changing public opinion that resulted in the Act are passed in the first place. The most important development of the period was the passing of the Catholic Emancipation Bill.
This was passed when the government was put under pressure of growing revolution in Ireland and feared the threat of Civil War. This split public opinion ad also split the Tory party into three warring factions: the Canningites (supporters of Canning), supporters of Robert and Ley and the Ultra Tories
(politicians with extreme Tory beliefs). This conflict within the Tory Party angered the