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Earl Grey was the PM of the UK from 1830-1834, and a type of tea is named after him.

Britain 1815-1851 - The 1832 Reform Act And The Issue Of Poverty

This GCSE History quiz explores the 1832 Reform Act, changing voting rights, and how poverty, protest, and pressure for reform shaped politics in Britain between 1815 and 1851.

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Fascinating Fact:

The Act was partly designed to reduce the risk of revolution. Unrest and riots in the late 1820s and early 1830s showed how poverty and lack of representation could threaten stability.

In GCSE History, this topic looks at how industrialisation, urban growth, and poverty put pressure on Britain’s political system. You study the 1832 Reform Act, who gained the vote, and how far it tackled demands for change.

Key Terms

Reform Act: A law that changes how Parliament is elected, such as who can vote and how seats are shared between different areas.
Franchise: The right to vote in elections, often limited by property, income, age, or gender in the nineteenth century.
Rotten borough: A very small constituency with few voters that still sent MPs to Parliament, often controlled by a wealthy patron.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What was the 1832 Reform Act and why was it important?

The 1832 Reform Act changed how MPs were elected. It abolished many rotten boroughs, created new seats in growing towns, and extended the vote to more middle-class men, making Parliament slightly more representative.

How did the 1832 Reform Act link to poverty and protest?

The Act came after years of economic hardship, unemployment, and high food prices that led to protests and riots. Reformers argued that a fairer voting system would help Parliament respond better to these problems.

What should I revise for the 1832 Reform Act and poverty topic?

Revise causes of demand for reform, features of the 1832 Act, who gained or lost power, links to poverty and unrest, and how far the Act really changed life for ordinary people.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

Which government decided in 1832 to investigate the working of the poor law?

The Whig government of Earl Grey

Lord Liverpool's Tory government

Lord Melbourne's Whig government

Lord Aberdeen's coalition government

By 1832 the issue of poverty had returned to the agenda, as current arrangements did not seem to be working

2 .

What kind of body was set up to look into the workings of the Poor Law in 1832?

A parliamentary committee

A judicial commission

A royal commission

A committee of privy councillors

The government appointed an independent body to look at the problem, and to provide recommendations for reform

3 .

Some seats had tiny electorates. Old Sarum had just 13 voters! Some of these seats were abolished in 1832, but a good many remained until further electoral reform took place. What name was given to such seats?

Rotten boroughs

Corrupt boroughs

Minority boroughs

Depleted boroughs

A small electorate made it easier for another aspect of Old Corruption to occur, namely "treating", whereby powerful locals were bought drinks by the candidate or candidates in order to influence their votes

4 .

Which of the following was a leading member of the 1832 body set up to investigate the poor law?

Lord John Russell

Edwin Chadwick

John Bright

Spencer Perceval

The investigatory body was bound to attract social reformers who felt that they could make a difference

5 .

One aspect of "Old Corruption" curbed (to an extent) by the Act was the existence of parliamentary seats controlled by a local magnate, often a member of the House of Lords. What name was given to such constituencies?

Reserved boroughs

Pocket boroughs

Privileged seats

Landlord's Prerogative

Gladstone's first parliamentary seat after he came down from Oxford was Newark, which was controlled by a nearby magnate, the Duke of Newcastle. Such notables effectively controlled who became the M.P. and they could manipulate him in their interest after the election

6 .

Which monarch signed the royal assent to the Reform Bill, thus completing its passage into law?

Queen Victoria

George IV

William IV

George III

No bill could become an act until the monarch of the day had signed it

7 .

Which Tory leader was forced to resign as prime minister in 1830, paving the way for the election of a Whig government in 1831, thus leading to the passing of the Reform Bill the following year?

Pitt the Younger

Peel

Lord Derby

The Duke of Wellington

Changes of government were quite frequent during the crisis over reform. A large number of members of Parliament were only loosely attached to either the Whigs or the Tories

8 .

Which French term was applied to the ideology that poverty (and other matters) was not the government's responsibility, and should be left alone?

Savoir faire

Laissez faire

Laissez aller

Noblesse oblige

This was the view held by many classical liberals: that the role of government was restricted to the defence of the realm, law and order within the state and a few other topics

9 .

When the Second Reform Bill was rejected there were outbursts of serious disorder in several places. In one city there were three days of riots, during which the bishop's palace and the Lord Mayor's mansion were destroyed. Which city was this?

Nottingham

London

Bristol

Coventry

Fear of popular violence partly explains Parliament's decision to pass the Bill. There were indeed serious incidents of violence across the country

10 .

In 1834 a new poor law was proposed, whereby 600 locally elected officials would administer the provisions of the new poor law legislation - including the administration of the new "Workhouses". What title was given to these officials?

Boards of Guardians

Local Commissioners

Poverty Officials

Poor Law Commissioners

One job for the new office-holders was to ensure that workhouses should impose a harsh, even cruel, regime in order to discourage people from using them - except as a last resort

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Pressure for democratic reform up to 1884

Author: Edward Towne