II.

Reform Bill of 1832

The Reform Bill of 1832 provided for the redistribution of parliamentary seats and virtually tripled the electorate. It disenfranchised 56 boroughs, among them the so-called rotten boroughs, which had no or very small populations, and those known as pocket boroughs, in which the number of representatives had been controlled by aristocratic landowners. The parliamentary representation of other boroughs was decreased, while that of a number of large towns and of the counties generally was increased. The representation of Ireland and Scotland was also increased. The electorate was broadened by the elimination or lessening of various restrictive residential requirements and financial qualifications.

On the whole, the Reform Bill of 1832 resulted in the transfer of political power from the landowning aristocrats to the middle class and in the subordination of the House of Lords to the popular will.