Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

Political Reforms in the United Kingdom

 

            During the 1830s, industrialization led to many changes in society. One of these changes was that many workers weren't represented well in the government so British citizens began to call for social and political reforms that might change the laws of the governments. The growing prosperity of the working and middle classes produced by the Industrial Revolution in Britain led to greater demands for political reform. These demands were too strong to ignore, but in 1832 the social and political reform led to the Reform Act of 1832. .
             The Reform Act of 1832 doubled the number of voters in Great Britain, gave industrial cities representation in Parliament for the first time, and gave the middle-class men who owned a certain amount of property the right to vote. This requirement effectively prevented many working-class men from voting. This act increased the number of voters and reduced the power of the aristocracy, but it didn't abolish slavery. Furthermore, British law continued to exclude women from voting.
             Abolition of Slavery in 1833 abolished slavery in both Britain and the colonies, however, the Slavery Abolition Act didn't free slaves immediately, this Act also stated that the British government would compensate slave owners depending on how many slaves they freed, and slaves over the age of six remained only partly free. .
             Sadler's reports caused the parliament to pass the Factory Act of 1833-1839. It was a series of Acts to regulate the conditions of industrial employment. This act limited the working hours for children in textile factories and made it illegal for teenagers to work more than 12 hours a day. In addition children between the age of nine and 13 had to receive two hours of schooling a day .
             People's Charter, the 1839 Charter sent to Parliament, called for rights for all men and for voting by secret ballot. It meant that people couldn't be intimidated to vote in a certain way, provided annual elections and pay for representatives in Parliament, and allowed working people to become members in the Parliament.


Essays Related to Political Reforms in the United Kingdom