What was the Reform Act 1832 and when did it become law?
The Reform Act 1832 reduced the number of nomination boroughs and redistributed parliamentary seats to create new districts in England and Wales. The bill disfranchised 60 of the smallest boroughs and reduced the representation of 47 others before passing into law.
How many voters were eligible under the Reform Act 1832 compared to before?
Before the Reform Act 1832, approximately 400,000 English citizens were entitled to vote while the number rose to 650,000 after passage. This represents an increase of more than 60 percent according to estimates from Rodney Mace.
Which rotten boroughs were abolished by the Reform Act 1832?
The Reform Act 1832 completely abolished 56 of the smallest boroughs including Old Sarum which had only 13 burgage plots. Other examples like Dunwich with 32 voters and Camelford with 25 were also removed from the electoral system.
When did Charles Grey introduce the Reform Bill to Parliament?
Lord John Russell brought forward the Reform Bill on behalf of the government on the 1st of March 1831. Charles Grey became prime minister in 1830 and pledged to carry out parliamentary reform as his first announcement.
What was the impact of the Reform Act 1832 on the Scottish electorate?
The Scottish electorate overnight soared from 5,000 to 65,000 or 13 percent of adult men following the Reform Act 1832. Scotland's population was 2 million and its electorate had been only 0.2 percent of the population compared to 4 percent in England before the change.