The unreformed system in 1780

Influence of Crown and Aristocracy

Crown

Aristocracy

Redistribution and Conduct of elections

Distribution

Elections

Political Parties

Franchise

King appointed PMs and cabinet ministers and influenced policy making

Nevertheless had to collaboratively work with popular figures in parliament and maintain mutual support.

Owned 1/2th of agricultural land

50% of MPs owed their seats to them.

House of Lords positions were hereditary.

Held highest positions in Church, Armed Services, Civil Services and Judiciary.

County

Borough

Inconsistent and non-uniform

Men who owned property worth 40 shillings (£2 could vote)

Scot and Lot boroughs

Adult males who paid (local) 'Scot and Lot' taxes could vote.

Potswalloper Boroughs

Men who owned a house (had a family and could boil a pot) could vote.

Corporation Boroughs

Burgage Boroughs

Freeman boroughs

Members of local town councils (corporations) could vote.

Men who owned burgages (ancient plots of land and/or other property) could vote.

Those granted with the title of 'freeman' could vote, with many inheriting this from their parents.

Only 500k/10 million could vote (5% of country / 10% of men)

Represented similar groups and so were unrepresentative.

Tories and Whigs were both led by Anglicans and dominated by landowning, aristocratic families.

Tories opposed reform and Whigs only began demanding parliamentary reform during the 1820s.

County seats were shires located in rural areas with small number of electors.

Borough constituencies were created during pre-industrial times (King selected certain towns and ports) and thus industrial cities such as Manchester and Leeds had no seats.

82 country seats in England

1830 elections in Wales wasn't contested

Pocket Boroughs

Business/Landowners could influence elections using leverage

Some votes were sold for as much as £10

Rotten Boroughs

50 constituencies with less than 50 voters each

Allowed for the rise of prominent young individuals such as Robert Peel.

Could be bought out by powerful patrons e.g. Gatton was sold for £90,000 in 1802.

Aristocrats would sometimes divide constituencies and share seats.

25% of county electors were influenced by landlords.

'treating' - bribery through food, drink, travel incentives