Why was there an increasing demand for parliamentary reform from c. 1800 onwards? Why was the Great Reform Act passed? Who gained the most from these changes?

During the 18th Century there had been some significant changes to the lives of the ordinary working class as a result of the agricultural and industrial revolutions. In 1700 98% of the population lived in the countryside and small villages. But by 1800 98% of peasant farmers had been evicted from their land as a result of ‘enclosure’. However before the Great Reform Act of 1832 the King and wealthy landowners dominated Parliament and they were unlikely to introduce laws to help working people. In the countryside only men above the age of 21 who owned land above the value of 40 shillings were able to vote. The sum of 40 shillings had been fixed back in 1430. Although inflation meant that the number of people who voted went up, by 1831 only 5% of the population had the vote.

In some parts of the country local landowners had control over electors. The landowners were able to instruct local residents to vote for the candidates of the landowner’s choice. These were called ...