The Reform Act of 1867

1. The Reform Act of 1867 The Lion Vs The Unicorn.

2. Aim • To provide learners with a detailed knowledge of the passing of the Second Reform Act of 1867. • To Explore the what motivated the Conservatives to pass the reform act and the effects that it had.

3. Outcomes • Identify the causes for a renewal in the issue of Parliamentary reform. • Describe the passage of the Act through Parliament. • Describe the content of the Act • Evaluate the motivations behind the Conservatives putting the act before Parliament. • Identify why the Liberal Party benefited from the Reform Act. • Analyse the impact the Act of the Conservative party.

4. Background

5. Why the calls for reform? • Failure of 1832 Great Reform Act • Increasing population, particularly in urban areas • Development of Railways, printed materials and education • Changing political identities • Strengthening of Trade Unionism • Growth of Radical calls for reform • Growth of reform organisations

6. Passage of the Act • 1864 – Reform Union founded • 1865 – Reform League founded • 1865 – Lord Russell Became PM • 1866 – Gladstone introduced a reform bill • (June)This bill was defeated in the Commons • (June)Russell resigned and Lord Derby became PM, Disraeli becomes Chancellor • (July) Hyde Park riots • 1867 – (March)Disraeli introduced the Reform Act • (August) Reform Act became law.

7. Question • Thinking back to the Great Reform Act of 1832, what differences do you notice about the passage of the Second Reform Act?

8. What did the Act do? • Extended the Franchise • In the Boroughs: • All male householders could vote, regardless of the type of dwelling as long as they had lived there for 12 months. • Lodgers paying at least £10 per month in rent could also vote, again as long as they had been there 12 months. • In the Counties: • Arrangements remained as per 1832 but with the addition: • Owners or leaseholders of lands of yearly value of £5 or more could vote, along with owners of land to a rateable value of £12 per year who also paid poor rates. • Redistribution: • 45 Seats were taken from Boroughs with populations of under 10,000 inhabitants and 7 towns were disenfranchised for corruption. • 25 seats were given to counties, 20 seats were created for new boroughs, 6 boroughs received 1 extra seat each, and London University was given a seat.

9. Question • What do you notice about the content of the reform bill, what sort of things are missing?

10. Why would the Conservatives want reform? • Read through the following extracts to see if you can identify any reasons why the Conservative would be willing to put forward a reform bill.

11. Why did the Liberals win the 1868 election? • Effective election campaigning by Gladstone and the Liberals. • Liberals won the Middle Class and Working Class vote. • Non-conformists were won over by the Liberal election promises concerning the dis-establishment of the Anglican church in Ireland. • Poor election campaign by the Conservatives.

12. How did 1867 impact the Conservatives? • Disraeli was now outright leader of the party • Instigated party reform • Developed One Nation Conservatism • Sought to combine support from the W/C, M/C and L/C

13. How did impact Britain? • It did not include any aspect of secret ballot • The distribution of seats left a lot to be desired • People such as miners still did not have a vote, nor did many agricultural labourers • Increased electorate meant that they were now too large to bribe effectively. • Forced political parties to realise that they would need to start explaining their policies – development of election campaigns

14. Assessment Hour • Read through the article from the Spectator as well as drawing on your own knowledge and consider the following question: • “Was Disraeli genuinely interested in creating a nation based upon the notion of ‘One Nation Conservatism’ or was this a pragmatic political response to win the 1874 general election”