Paper 3, Option 36.1: Protest, agitation and parliamentary reform in Britain, c1780–1928 - 2 Changing influences in parliament: the impact of parliamentary reform — Edexcel A-Level History
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Paper 3, Option 36.1: Protest, agitation and parliamentary reform in Britain, c1780–1928 - 2 Changing influences in parliament: the impact of parliamentary reform explained
Paper 3, Option 36.1: Protest, agitation and parliamentary reform in Britain, c1780–1928 - 2 Changing influences in parliament: the impact of parliamentary reform covers 2 specification points, including The extent of crown and aristocratic influence… and Their role in parliament and in elections;…. Open a point below for its explanation and revision guidance.
The influence of the crown and aristocracy, c1780–1928: the extent of crown and aristocratic influence on elections and in parliament c1780; the reasons for declining influence over the House of Commons (key developments: ‘economical reform’ in the 1780s, the Parliament Act 1911).
In c1780 the crown and aristocracy shaped politics through patronage: royal household posts, peerage creations, pocket and rotten boroughs, and landlords instructing tenants at the hustings. Assess the extent of that influence on elections and inside parliament, then explain its decline. ‘Economical reform’ in the 1780s (Burke’s reforms; the Civil List Act 1782) cut crown patronage and abolished many offices, weakening royal electoral weight. The 1832 Reform Act and later measures reduced aristocratic borough control. The Parliament Act 1911 removed the Lords’ veto over money bills and limited it elsewhere, so the Commons and elected parties dominated. Argue a line: influence was extensive in c1780 but declined unevenly, and by 1928 was much reduced though not extinct.
Changes in political parties, c1780–1928: their role in parliament and in elections; party organisation and membership; the growth of the Labour Party. The extent of change in the social makeup of the House of Commons by 1928 (key developments: abolition of property qualification 1858, payment of MPs 1911).
Trace how parties changed c1780–1928 in parliament and at elections, in organisation and membership, and assess how far the Commons changed socially by 1928. Around c1780 loose Whig and Tory groupings, managed by patronage, gave way to more organised parties with whips, clubs and national constituency associations. The growth of the Labour Party, rooted in trade unions and socialist societies, added a mass-membership party and by the 1920s replaced the Liberals as the main rival to the Conservatives. Two key developments widened access: the abolition of the property qualification in 1858 let men without landed wealth stand, and payment of MPs in 1911 let working men serve. Argue how far the Commons became less aristocratic and more professional.
Your focus
- Explain how crown and aristocratic influence operated on elections and in parliament around c1780.
- Analyse how ‘economical reform’ in the 1780s and the Parliament Act 1911 contributed to declining influence over the House of Commons.
- Reach a supported judgement on the extent of decline in crown and aristocratic influence by 1928.
Show all 6 objectives
- Explain how the role, organisation and membership of political parties changed between c1780 and 1928.
- Analyse how the growth of the Labour Party and the developments of 1858 and 1911 affected who could enter the House of Commons.
- Reach a supported judgement on the extent of change in the social makeup of the House of Commons by 1928.
Paper 3, Option 36.1: Protest, agitation and parliamentary reform in Britain, c1780–1928 - 2 Changing influences in parliament: the impact of parliamentary reform exam tips
Marking Points
- Explains the mechanisms of crown influence in c1780: patronage, pensions, places and the royal household, and how these could sway elections and votes in parliament.
- Explains aristocratic influence in c1780: pocket and rotten boroughs, landlord pressure on tenants, family electoral interests and control of seats in the Commons.
- Analyses ‘economical reform’ in the 1780s as a cause of declining crown influence, linking reduced patronage and office-holding to fewer levers over MPs and elections.
- Analyses the Parliament Act 1911 as a cause of declining aristocratic influence, explaining the removal of the Lords’ veto over money bills and the limitation of its delaying power.
- Judges the extent of change over c1780–1928, weighing continuity (residual landed and royal influence) against the structural decline of both crown and aristocratic power.
- Uses precise evidence and dates accurately, and sustains a clear argument about extent and reasons rather than listing reforms.
- Explains the changing role of parties in parliament and elections, including discipline, whips and national campaigning, and how this differed from c1780.
- Explains changes in party organisation and membership, such as constituency associations, party clubs and the mass membership of the Labour Party.
- Analyses the growth of the Labour Party, linking trade unions, socialist societies and the changed party system of the 1920s to its rise.
- Analyses the abolition of the property qualification in 1858 and payment of MPs in 1911 as developments that widened who could stand for and serve in the Commons.
- Judges the extent of change in the social makeup of the Commons by 1928, weighing greater diversity against the persistence of wealth, education and class advantages.
- Uses accurate dates and examples, and sustains an argument about extent of change rather than a narrative of party history.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Plan around the two halves of the question: extent of influence c1780, then reasons for decline, ensuring both elections and parliament are covered.
- 💡Anchor each causal claim to a dated development, such as the Civil List Act 1782 or the Parliament Act 1911, and explain the mechanism of change.
- 💡Reach a substantiated judgement on extent, using criteria such as control of seats, independence of MPs and the balance between the two Houses.
- 💡Organise the answer around the three strands: party role, organisation and membership, and social makeup of the Commons, so every part of the question is addressed.
- 💡Use the named developments, 1858 and 1911, as precise evidence and explain the mechanism by which each widened access.
- 💡Sustain a judgement on extent of change, comparing c1780 with 1928 and acknowledging limits as well as progress.
Common Mistakes
- Treating ‘economical reform’ as a single event: correct this by dating and naming specific measures, such as the Civil List Act 1782 and Burke’s reforms, and explaining their effect on patronage.
- Assuming the Parliament Act 1911 abolished the House of Lords: correct this by explaining that it removed the veto over money bills and limited the Lords’ power to delay other bills, so the Lords survived with reduced influence.
- Confusing influence on elections with influence in parliament: correct this by separating electoral mechanisms, such as borough control and bribery, from parliamentary mechanisms, such as patronage and management of MPs.
- Treating the Labour Party as appearing suddenly in 1900: correct this by tracing its roots in earlier trade-union and socialist organisation and its gradual growth into a major party.
- Assuming payment of MPs in 1911 immediately transformed the Commons: correct this by explaining that it removed one barrier for working-class candidates while other costs and advantages persisted.
- Confusing the abolition of the property qualification in 1858 with the widening of the franchise: correct this by distinguishing the right to stand as an MP from the right to vote.