The Growing Pressure for Parliamentary Reform 1780-1832 (1)

Campaign for Parliamentary Reform (1780s, 1790s, 1815-20 and 1828-32)

• Highlighted the problems with the pre-1832 system
• Launched campaigns, petitions, marches and protests in favour of reform
• Made full use of the radical press which gained support in industrial areas after 1815
• United middle class and working class reformers
• Use of political unions to put added pressure on government e.g, Birmingham Political Union
• Many defended the unreformed system
• 1780s and 1790s there was support for the maintenance of the status quo
• 1780s and 1790s - pockets of radicalism e.g. London and Yorkshire
• Many radicals aimed to gain and use working class support for reform, even though campaign leaders were actually middle class campaigners
• There were serious divisions within the reform movement
• Some debate over the extent…