1867 reform act

Conclusion

THE STRUGGLE FOR THE

SECOND REFORM ACT 1867

The Bill was finally passed due to pressure

outside of government, radical reform leagues and

Disraeli's and Gladstone's own bitter resentment

towards one another.

Lord Palmerston's death!!!

Failure of Reform Bill, June 1866

Lord Palmerston, the Liberal Prime Minister, died in 1865.

The Economy

In June 1866, The Liberal government failed to pass a Reform Bill which proposed to extend the vote to artisans. An opposition group of around 40 Liberals, led by Robert Lowe, together with the Conservatives, blocked it's passage. Lowe believe working men had to "earn" the right to vote by improving their position so that they met the existing property qualification.

The economy was deteriorating in 1866 and 1867. The Working Class were being hit by the consequences of a bad harvest, an outbreak of chlorea in major towns and a stock market collapse. As a result, there were huge demonstrations.

Gladstones speech

Liberal Middle Class!

Radicals in the party

In May 1864, Gladstone made a speech in the House of Commons in which he said that a "limited proportion of the working class" should be given the vote.

The Liberal Middle Class manufacturing MPS had a personal interest in securing an increase in the number of seats in the industrial areas where many skilled artisans lived.

Radicals in the Liberal Party supported the entension of the franchise. For example, John Bright, MP for Birmingham, toured the country to encourage skilled workers to demand the right to vote.

Disraeli's acceptance

By July 1867, Disraeli accepted more radical amendments to the Reform Bill. The Bill was passed in August 1867.

The Reform League

The reform league organised a demonstration in May 1867 in Hyde Park. It was banned by the government. Thousands of troops and policemen were prepared, but the crowds were so huge that the government did not dare to attack.

American Civil War and Garibaldi

The British public saw the American Civil War (1861-65) and the movement for Italian unification (1859-61) as struggles for freedom. Leading Radicals were spurred on to demand reform by the visit of Garibaldi, the popular hero of the Italian Unification movement, to London in 1864.

Gladstone oppossed Disraeli's restrictions

Gladstone opposed initial proposals by the Conservatives that contained restrictions on the number of working calss voters and for dual votes for some middle-class people. Later, Disraeli accepted the radical amendment of the MP George Hodgekinson to abolish "compounding". The amendment meant that all ratepayers would get the vote, whether they owned or rented property.

Disraeli

Disraeli was a shrewd politican and policitical operator. He had varioud motives for passing a more radical reform bill.

The Conservative Party

The Conservative party had not had a majority of MPs in the House of Commons since the split in the party as a result of the Repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846.