Rotten and pocket boroughs Over powerful king Antiquated system New M/C interest, Capitalism

1. Issues concerning Parliamentary reform • Rotten and pocket boroughs • Over powerful king • Antiquated system • New M/C interest, Capitalism • French Revolution 1789 • Radical Press • Repressive government – esp. from 1815 - 22 • Working class dissatisfaction • Napoleonic Wars 1792-1815 • End of war, 1815

2. Rotten and Pocket Boroughs: • Control by landowner or King – Electorate & Parliamentary seat • Uncontested elections • Example of old medieval world – Feudal System • Useful Parliamentary tool • Over Powerful King: • Patronage – Unfair means of increasing royal authority • Largest landowner/landlord in the country • Excessive influence on legislature for a democracy

3. Antiquated system – esp. borough voting: • X5 types of borough qualification • Open voting • Bribery / intimidation / corruption • Rotten / pocket boroughs • No reflection of population movement (South > North) • No reflection of new interest, Industrialists • Undemocratic & Out of kilter with economic & social changes

4. New M/C interest, Capitalism: • Parliament dominated by landowners • M/C have no representation in Parliament • Corn Laws 1815 damage capitalists • Capitalists creating International economic & imperial growth • Large taxes and no political voice • Providing jobs

5. French Revolution and radical ideas from 1789: • Initially promotes calls for moderate reform in the UK • From 1793 reform calls subdued by Napoleonic Wars • New ideas among masses of a new social order • Tom Paine: ‘Rights of Man’ – 1st treatise on Human Rights • Puts fear into upper and middle classes • Promotes repressive legislation

6. Radical Press: • Raises mass awareness of benefits of reform • - William Cobbett’s: Political Register & Twopenny Trash • - Thomas Wooler’s: Black Dwarf, 1817 –24 • - William Sherwin’s: Weekly Political Register • Gives a voice to minority opinion • Publicises incidents of corruption and government repression • Advertises Parliamentary Reform Events • Encourages improvement of literacy levels in the w/c

7. Repressive government (Esp. from 1815 – 22): • Fear of revolution prompts suspension of civil rights • Determined to protect good order & elevated position • Born to rule by divine right, revolutionaries go to hell • Residuum would destroy the country • Power of the state • Repressive legislation

8. Working class dissatisfaction: • Appalling living and working conditions • - The Death League • - Child Labour • - Routine exploitation at home and work • W/C victims of unrestrained capitalism • Secret vote for all men over 21 demanded • W/C voters elect working men to parliament • W/C government pass laws to benefit the w/c

9. Napoleonic Wars 1793 - 1815: • Employment level increases nationwide • War creates demands for goods, Govt supplying soldiers • Patriotic spirit from being under attack • Little / No working class agitation • Demands for reform during wartime seen as treachery • Subdues radical demands, w/c happy to live everyday lives • Shows a lack of commitment to the campaign for the vote

10. End of the Napoleonic Wars, 1815: • End of government contracts & cohesive patriotism • Unemployment leads to; • - Poverty • - Hunger • - Agitation riots • - Petitions • Fearful government & M/C Revert to post French Rev repression • Execution, imprisonment, transportation, legislation • Power of the state – Must be persuaded, Can’t be forced