Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History

    Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015

    Britain, c1785–c1870: democracy, protest and reform - 1 The growth of…

    Full specification wording

    Paper 1, Option 1D: Britain, c1785–c1870: democracy, protest and reform - 1 The growth of parliamentary democracy, c1785–c1870: The unreformed parliament and its critics, c1785–1820: the pre-reform electorate, parliamentary seats and elections; demands for reform; the political demands of the manufacturing interest.

    Before 1832, the electoral system was riddled with anomalies.

    Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 1 of 3
    • 4 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    Before 1832, the electoral system was riddled with anomalies. The electorate was small: in counties, the forty-shilling freehold franchise gave perhaps 2–3% of the population a vote; in boroughs, franchises varied wildly, from potwalloper to corporation. Seats were unevenly distributed: Lancashire had two MPs, while Old Sarum, a deserted hill, also returned two. Elections were often uncontested; where contested, bribery, treating and intimidation were common. Critics demanded reform: radicals like Major Cartwright called for annual parliaments and universal male suffrage; Whigs wanted moderate change to curb corruption. The manufacturing interest—industrialists and merchants in new cities like Manchester and Birmingham—lacked direct representation and demanded seats to match their economic power. This pressure, though unsuccessful before 1832, set the agenda for later reform.

    What earns the marks

    • Explains the pre-reform electorate: county forty-shilling freeholders and diverse borough franchises, noting the small proportion of the population enfranchised.
    • Describes parliamentary seats: unequal distribution, rotten and pocket boroughs, and the representation of counties versus boroughs.
    • Analyses elections: frequency, expense, corruption (bribery, treating), and the prevalence of uncontested seats.
    • Identifies demands for reform: radical calls for universal male suffrage and annual parliaments; Whig desire for moderate reform to reduce corruption and restore confidence.
    • Explains the political demands of the manufacturing interest: representation for growing industrial towns and recognition of their economic importance.
    • Evaluates the extent to which these criticisms and demands challenged the unreformed system before 1820.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Assuming all boroughs had the same franchise.

      Put it right: Franchises varied widely, from freemen to potwallopers, and this diversity shaped local politics.

    • Confusing the manufacturing interest with the working class.

      Put it right: The manufacturing interest comprised industrialists and merchants who sought direct parliamentary representation for their towns.

    • Overstating the success of reform demands before 1820.

      Put it right: Despite pressure, no major reform was achieved until 1832, though the debate intensified.

    • Describing elections as always corrupt and contested.

      Put it right: Many elections were uncontested, and while corruption existed, it was not universal.

    Exam tips

    • Use specific examples such as Old Sarum, Manchester, or the forty-shilling freehold to illustrate anomalies.
    • Distinguish between different reform demands: radical versus Whig, and include the manufacturing interest's specific grievances.
    • When analysing elections, consider both the frequency and the nature of contests, including the role of patronage and corruption.
    • Link the criticisms of the unreformed system to the later pressure for change, showing continuity and change over time.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the Paper 1, Option 1D: Britain, c1785–c1870: democracy, protest and reform - 1 The growth of parliamentary democracy, c1785–c1870: The unreformed parliament and its critics, c1785–1820: the pre-reform electorate, parliamentary seats and elections; demands for reform; the political demands of the manufacturing interest. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    In the unreformed electoral system before 1832, which group of men made up the largest part of the electorate in the counties?

    Listen

    Before 1832, the electoral system was riddled with anomalies. The electorate was small: in counties, the forty-shilling freehold franchise gave perhaps 2–3% of the population a vote; in boroughs, franchises varied wildly, from potwalloper to corporation. Seats were unevenly distributed: Lancashire had two MPs, while Old Sarum, a deserted hill, also returned two. Elections were often uncontested; where contested, bribery, treating and intimidation were common. Critics demanded reform: radicals like Major Cartwright called for annual parliaments and universal male suffrage; Whigs wanted moderate change to curb corruption. The manufacturing interest—industrialists and merchants in new cities like Manchester and Birmingham—lacked direct representation and demanded seats to match their economic power. This pressure, though unsuccessful before 1832, set the agenda for later reform. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains the pre-reform electorate: county forty-shilling freeholders and diverse borough franchises, noting the small proportion of the population enfranchised. Describes parliamentary seats: unequal distribution, rotten and pocket boroughs, and the representation of counties versus boroughs. Analyses elections: frequency, expense, corruption (bribery, treating), and the prevalence of uncontested seats. Identifies demands for reform: radical calls for universal male suffrage and annual parliaments; Whig desire for moderate reform to reduce corruption and restore confidence. A common slip: Assuming all boroughs had the same franchise. Instead, franchises varied widely, from freemen to potwallopers, and this diversity shaped local politics. Exam tip: Use specific examples such as Old Sarum, Manchester, or the forty-shilling freehold to illustrate anomalies.

    See it

    A top-down flowchart headed by the unreformed parliament and its critics, c1785–1820, which branches into four parts. The first, the pre-reform electorate, splits into counties with the forty-shilling freehold franchise and boroughs where franchises varied wildly. The second, parliamentary seats, splits into seats unevenly distributed and rotten and pocket boroughs. The third, elections, splits into often uncontested and bribery, treating and intimidation. The fourth, demands for reform, splits into three: radicals calling for annual parliaments and universal male suffrage, Whigs wanting moderate change to curb corruption, and the manufacturing interest demanding seats to match their economic power.
    It shows the features of the unreformed parliament and the different demands for reform made by its critics.

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    Representation and its inequalities

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Corruption and the conduct of elections

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Pressure for reform from radicals and Whigs

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    The political demands of the manufacturing interest

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    See every definition
    Representation and its inequalities
    Seats were unevenly distributed, with Lancashire returning two MPs while the deserted hill of Old Sarum also returned two, and the electorate was small.
    Corruption and the conduct of elections
    Elections were often uncontested, and where contested, bribery, treating and intimidation were common.
    Pressure for reform from radicals and Whigs
    Radicals like Major Cartwright called for annual parliaments and universal male suffrage, while Whigs wanted moderate change to curb corruption.
    The political demands of the manufacturing interest
    Industrialists and merchants in new cities like Manchester and Birmingham lacked direct representation and demanded seats to match their economic power.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A top-down flowchart headed by the unreformed parliament and its critics, c1785–1820, which branches into four parts. The first, the pre-reform electorate, splits into counties with the forty-shilling freehold franchise and boroughs where franchises varied wildly. The second, parliamentary seats, splits into seats unevenly distributed and rotten and pocket boroughs. The third, elections, splits into often uncontested and bribery, treating and intimidation. The fourth, demands for reform, splits into three: radicals calling for annual parliaments and universal male suffrage, Whigs wanting moderate change to curb corruption, and the manufacturing interest demanding seats to match their economic power.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

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