Why There Was a Demand for Parliamentary Reform 1780-1832 free essay sample

The British   during the 1700s consisted of the king, who was the head of state and Ministers from the landed gentry who often gained their seats through corrupt methods. As a result of the American revolution Britain received a tremendous shock to its system with the loss of the thirteen colonies. The war revealed Britain’s limitations and this heightened dissension and escalated political antagonism towards the monarch, George III, and his ministers. At this time the main issues concerning parliament were now representation, parliamentary reform, and government retrenchment. The Industrial revolution(1780s) created new technology, bringing wealth and prosperity to the country. However, it also took jobs away from artisans and other skilled workers, leaving them unemployed and resentful. The rapid expansion of the Industrial revolution (1780s) also saw many changes occur in the growth of middle class awareness. With the increase in their wealth and education the middle classes felt that they were poorly represented in parliament as they believed that their status in society should have given them more rights. We will write a custom essay sample on Why There Was a Demand for Parliamentary Reform 1780-1832? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Previously the affairs of parliament had been the priority of the land owners and aristocracy. They took advantage of the pre-dated and corrupt electoral system to maintain their dominance in politics. Through the use of rotten boroughs and other under hand tactics they ensured that the control of the country remained with them. However, with the advent of the industrial revolution middle class society began to question this previously accepted political structure. They believed that they should have a greater role to play in deciding the political future of the country. Along with the rapid expansion of industry the railways played a pivotal role in delivering information around the country via newspapers. Through these newspapers the press became influential and thanks to the railways were able to reach a wide audience. They could outline the views of government, the corrupt electoral system and they generally gave people a real understanding of how the country was being run. This caused both the middle and working classes to question the governments practices and policies. The French revolution of 1789 highlighted further the need for reform in Britain. Thomas Paine wrote the book, The Right of Man, outlining why revolution was a needed in Britain and how it could benefit the country as a whole. This book mirrored the French cry of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. This cry echoed throughout the country contributing to the formation of many radical pressure group such as the London Corresponding Society (1792) and the Society of the Friends of the People (1792). The aims of these groups were that of reform and they held many demonstrations including one at Barnard Castle (1792) that cried No king and Liberty. The Prime-Minister, William Pitt the Younger, and his government used repressive measures such as the removal of the Habeas Corpus Act(1794), the Treason Trials (1793-1794) and The Combination Acts (1799-1800) to try and quell this urge for reform. Many referred to this period as the Reign of Terror. The Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815) highlighted the poor state of Britains standing army and the need for further funding. The war was extremely costly and put a strain on Britains finances. The introduction of income tax helped to bolster the war fund but this tax angered many people. After the second coalition defeat at Marengo (14th June 1800) Britain was left isolated and many felt the need for reform to offset the threat posed by France. By early 1811 the advancement in technology had increased and more people were losing their jobs to machines. Workers felt that their professions were being taken over by the machines and the untrained workers used to operate them. There was also considerable discord between employers and employees over wage reductions. In the months that followed we saw the Luddite Riots where factories and mills were attacked and machinery destroyed. These Riots highlighted the discontent and desperation of workers as their lively hoods were taken away from them. When considering the above evidence it can be said that there was a demand for parliamentary reform during the period 1780-1832. With the advancement in technology and education the social structure of the country was changing as lower classes sought to improve their standing. Newspapers supplied them with information that was previously unavailable and the loss of jobs due to technological advancement only heightened discontent. The French Revolutionary wars further contributed to this feeling of the need for parliamentary reform as the cries for Liberty, Equality and Fraternity echoed throughout British society.