Reform Bill

When the Reform Bill was proposed for the third time in **1832**, it was finally passed.

The total number of seats in the **House of Commons** remained the same. **Fifty-six small and rotten boroughs** lost their right to send members to Parliament. Thirty other boroughs could send only one member each.

As a result, **143 seats** became available. Of these, **65 seats** were given to large towns and cities that had not been represented earlier. **65 seats** were given to newly created rural constituencies in densely populated areas. The remaining **13 seats** were given to **Ireland and Scotland**.

The **franchise**, or right to vote, was also changed. The **10-shilling freeholders** kept their right to vote. The right to vote was extended to **copyholders and leaseholders** whose land was worth **£10 a year**. Short-term leaseholders and tenants whose land was worth **£50 a year** were also given the right to vote.

Although these changes looked important, they were **not completely revolutionary**. The people expected the Reform Bill to bring major changes, but actually only the **middle class** benefited greatly from it.

The Reform Bill **reduced the political power of the aristocracy, gentry and nobility**. By giving the middle class the right to vote, it changed the balance of political power.

One important result of the **Reform Bill of 1832** was that it started a process of further political reform. Once one section of society received voting rights, other groups also began to demand the same rights.

The **working class**, who did not benefit much from the Reform Bill, became unhappy. This led to several important movements, especially:

* **Socialism**

* **Trade Unionism**

* **Chartism**

### Chartism

**Chartism** was a movement demanding political and social reform. It was started by **William Lovett in 1836**.

It was a strong protest by poor people against the difficult and unpleasant conditions in which they lived. The Chartists demanded the **right to vote for the working class**.

William Lovett, with the help of **Francis Place**, prepared a programme for reforming Parliament. This programme contained **six important points** and was called the **People’s Charter**.

The movement became known as **Chartism** because of the People’s Charter.

The Chartists' demands were rejected by Parliament in **1839 and 1842**. A general strike was then declared, and **hundreds of Chartists were imprisoned**.