Philip Allan Publishers © 2015

Nineteenth-century electoral reform

Exam focus: Edexcel

Elizabeth Francis

Philip Allan Publishers © 2015

Exam focus: Edexcel

The following slide provides an essay plan for a sample Edexcel-style question forpaper 1 option D, Britain 1785–1870: democracy, protest and reform.

Sample question:

To what extent does the influence of political ideas, brought about through the French Revolution, explain the increasing demand for parliamentary reform in the years 1785–1832?

(20 marks)

To what extent does the influence of political ideas, brought about through the French

Revolution, explain the increasing demand for parliamentary reform in the years 1785–1832?

(20 marks)

 

Introduction• Contextualise the period 1785–1832.• State judgement from the outset: role of the 

middle class more important than ideas of the French Revolution.

• Other factors to consider: reduction in power of the crown, working class role, fear of revolution and radicalism. 

1. The Ideas of the French Revolution• Enthusiasm greatest among those who wanted 

reform in GB — e.g. those excluded from political office by the Test and Corporation and Subscription Acts, middle classes denied the vote, and Parliamentary Whigs blocked by Pitt's firm hold on power.

• 1792 the French promised support for armed insurrection in London. 

• The influence of the French Revolution encouraged people to press for a National Convention.

2. Influence of the emerging middle class• Wealthy middle class wanted political 

power to match their economic power.• Industrial middle classes lived and worked 

in areas such as Manchester, under-represented in Parliament. 

• 1810s and 1820s some industrialists were mobilising popular protest to pressurise for change.

• Whigs began to support reform to placate the industrialists. 

3. Reduction in the power of the crown• Edmund Burke took a leading role in the 

debate surrounding the  power of the monarchy.

• Argued against unrestrained royal power.• Push for parties to take a greater role in 

restraining the power of the crown. • Pitt was the first PM to attempt to update 

the Constitution and the proposed 1785 Reform Bill reallocated parliamentary  representation. 

5. Fear of revolution and a tradition of radicalism• French Revolution had ignited fear of a 

revolution in Britain.• Fear of revolution led to an increased desire for 

reform from within parliament. • The influence of Henry “Orator” Hunt and the 

promotion of annual parliaments and universal suffrage.

• Spa Fields 1816–17.• Peterloo 1819.• Reform riots of 1831. 

4. The role of the working class • Reformed parliament would better consider 

the social and economic problems of the working classes.

• Low wages of industrial workers and poor living conditions in industrial towns and cities. 

• Peterloo 1819.• Reform Riots of 1831.

Conclusion• Summary of key factors considered. • Influence of the emerging middle class a more 

significant reason for the increasing demand for parliamentary reform.