The (1867) 2nd Reform Act
The Second Reform Act (1867)
‘A Leap in the Dark’
Factors promoting reform revival
Extra / parliamentary radicals demand
Reform Union & Reform League
Middle and working class dissatisfaction with 1832
Population growth (1831 = 24m > 1861 = 29m)
Industrial, urban expansion
Respectable, deserving working class - US civil war
Death of Palmerston – Shift in Liberal Party Doctrine
Extra Parliamentary Pressure
Reform Union
Established by
(MP) Birmingham
John
Reform League
Bright Established 1865
Working Class Movement
Middle class movement
Sought
landed
W/C
allies
 Supported by NMU’s
against
Aims for household franchise
Seeks universal male suffrage
but registered/residential
Keep out unskilled – Residuum
Redistribution to urban seats
League and Union cooperate for limited reform
Pressure brought on government
The Liberal Party
1850’s - Liberal Party dominance under Palmerston
Reform Bills all rejected
By 1864 Gladstone was converted to reform
1865, Palmerston’s death – arch anti reformer
Replaced by Lord John Russell
Whigs
Peelites
Radicals
Liberals
Represented
the majority of
the country’s
views
1866 Reform Bill
Gladstone authored the 1866 Reform Bill
Franchise extended to;
Created 400,000 new
voters
Householder Lodger
County
£14 per year
Borough
£7 per year
£10 per
year
X
Catered to creating Whig support & limiting rural W/C Voters
No. of Male voters increased from 1:5 to 1:4
Defeated by the Adullamites in league with Disraeli
Russell resigns
The Queen invites Lord Derby to form a government
Disraeli becomes HoC Leader & Chancellor of the Exchequer
1867 Reform Act
Lord Derby and Disraeli in Commons form minority
Tories out of power since 1846 – Desperate for a win
Introduce reform bill (March 1867)
Created 1.2M new
voters
Householder
Lodger
Borough
1 year
residence
£10 per
year
County
£12 per year
£5 per year
45 Borough seats redistributed
Disraeli enlisted the support of pro-reform Liberals
There was growing discontent that needed addressing
Reform League (Hyde Park Riots)
The ‘Leap in the Dark’
Social Unrest
Rejection of Gladstone / Russell Bill (June 1866)
July: Demonstrations, riots
Hyde Park and Trafalgar Square X3 nights
Only League able to restore order
Tense situation compounded by:
Cholera
epidemic
Expensive bread Downturn in
trade
Sheffield outrages (1866)
Loss of union fund protection
Social Unrest
2nd Reform Act introduced: February 1867
May: Reform League rally, Hyde Park
Government ban on rally. 100,000 strong rally proceeds
Government’s fear: return to Chartist mass platform
Pass bill to calm situation
Enfranchise respectable working class
Repeat of 1832: take away top layer
‘The Hyde Park Railway to Reform’
Party struggle
Tories in minority since 1846
Reform inevitable and accepted
Pass reform;
Gain popularity
Control reform
Control seat
redistribution
Secure the County vote
Amendments rejected:
Votes for women
Election expenses from rates:
Shows fear of new (Labour) party development
Verdict on 1867
Disraeli’s shrewd political footwork. ‘Dishing the Whigs’
Gains Tory advantage, Quells agitation and riots
Wider effects of 1867:
Age of mass politics: growth of party organisation
1 in 3: England, Scotland and Wales
1 in 6 in Ireland
Mass electorate: difficult to bribe, intimidate
Prompts further parliamentary reform;
1872 Ballot Act & 1883 Corrupt Practices Act (Gladstone)