1867 Second Reform Act

Definition

The 1867 Second Reform Act was a significant piece of legislation in the United Kingdom that expanded the electorate by granting voting rights to more men, particularly urban working-class males. This act emerged as a response to the growing demands for political reform during the period of industrialization, reflecting the shifting power dynamics and social changes occurring in British society at that time.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The 1867 Second Reform Act more than doubled the number of men eligible to vote in England and Wales, increasing the electorate from about 1.1 million to over 2 million.
2. This act specifically targeted urban workers, as it aimed to address the growing political influence of industrial cities and their populations.
3. The act did not grant voting rights to women, reflecting the ongoing gender inequalities in political representation at that time.
4. It also introduced a property qualification for voting, allowing some working-class men to vote if they met certain property criteria.
5. The passage of the Second Reform Act laid the groundwork for future electoral reforms, contributing to a gradual shift towards a more inclusive democracy in Britain.

Review Questions

• How did the 1867 Second Reform Act reflect the social changes brought about by industrialization in Britain?
  • The 1867 Second Reform Act was a direct response to the social changes resulting from industrialization, which created a large urban working class that demanded political representation. As industries grew and cities expanded, so did the population of working-class men who sought to have a say in their governance. The act’s expansion of the electorate included many of these urban workers, reflecting their increasing importance in society and challenging the existing political power structure dominated by landowners.
• Evaluate the impact of the 1867 Second Reform Act on future electoral reforms in Britain.
  • The 1867 Second Reform Act served as a crucial stepping stone for subsequent electoral reforms in Britain. By expanding the electorate and acknowledging the political power of urban workers, it highlighted the need for further changes in representation. This act set a precedent for later reforms, including those that would eventually grant suffrage to women and further reduce property qualifications, leading to a more democratic political system.
• Analyze how the demands for reform leading up to the 1867 Second Reform Act were influenced by movements like Chartism and public sentiment towards suffrage.
  • The demands for reform leading up to the 1867 Second Reform Act were heavily influenced by movements such as Chartism, which advocated for universal male suffrage and other democratic reforms. Chartists mobilized public support and highlighted the inadequacies of the existing electoral system. The increasing awareness among various social classes about their lack of political power fueled public sentiment towards suffrage, creating pressure on lawmakers to address these issues. This culminated in the Second Reform Act, which reflected both grassroots activism and changing attitudes toward representation in a rapidly industrializing society.

Related terms

Great Reform Act of 1832: The first major reform of the British electoral system, which aimed to eliminate some of the worst abuses and expand the franchise to include more middle-class men.

Chartism: A working-class movement in the 1830s and 1840s that advocated for political reforms including universal male suffrage, secret ballots, and payment for Members of Parliament.

Representation of the People Act: A series of acts in the UK Parliament that gradually expanded suffrage to different groups over time, culminating in equal voting rights for all adults regardless of gender.