The Reform Bill

 The Reform Bill

After the Agrarian Revolution and Industrial Revolutions, Victorian England was plagued by many problems. To tackle these problems many Reform Acts were passed in various sectors.

Parliamentary Reform Acts

Causes  : The representation to Parliament was not fair and equitable. The big tenant farmers in the Victorian age were rich but the old rules did not allow them to vote. The Corn Law favoured agriculturalists, poor people were adversely affected. The poor had no representation in Parliament to ventilate their grievances.

The Reform Bill, 1832

According to this act, the middle classes became more powerful. The property qualification of voters was lowered. 2,20,000 residents of towns got the voting right. They were supporters of the Whig Party, The Whig Party outshone the Tory Party.

The Second Reform Bill, 1867

The First Reform Bill was greeted in the beginning but it did not meet all the demands of the poor people. So the Bill was opposed by the Chartists. To meet the demands the Second Reform Bill was introduced by Gladstone, but was opposed by Liberals. Benjamin Disraell introduced the Bill in Parliament in 1867. All male householders paying an annual rent of 10 pounds in towns got the voting right. But the agricultural labourers and miners were denied the voting right.

The Third Reform Bill, 1884

It abolished small rotten boroughs, Country householders were given the voting right.

The Fourth Reform Bill, 1918

It gave the voting right to all 21 year old men and women aged 25 and above.

The Fifth Reform Bill, 1928

It abolished the age difference between men and women voters. All who were 21 whether male or female got the voting right.

Social Reform Acts

Factories were filthy in the extreme. The labourers’ condition was most wretched. Sir Rober Peel passed many Factory Acts for the betterment of workers. The factory Act of 1802 fixed the working hours of labourers at twelve. The factory act 1809 banned the employment of children under nine. Education of children at the cost of the factory was mandatory. Inspectors were appointed to enforce that the Acts were followed. Lord Althrop, Richard Oastler, Fielden and Robert Owen played a significant role in helping factory workers.

Educational Reforms

In the 19^th century efforts were taken to systematize education in England. In 1833, an act was passed by the government to give financial assistance to promote education. In 1861, a commission was formed to study the existing system of education and suggest necessary reforms. The Elementary Education Act of 1870 provided necessary infrastructure in schools. Previously academic posts in universities were given to those who pass a religious test. This system was scrapped by the Test Act of 1871. Many new universities were started in Manchester, Liverpool Newcastle and Cardiff.

Church Reform

Many church reforms were carried out by Peel. He passed many Acts between 1836 and 1840 to cleanse the abuses in the granting of endowments to churches. The Commutation Act of 1836 abolished the ancient practice of each man giving a tenth of income to the church. Marriages were solemnized by Civil Registrar. Different brands of religion arose without the government interfering in their functioning