why was the reform act of 1832 so important?
Between 1770 and 1830, the Tories were the dominant force in the House of Commons. The Tories were strongly opposed to increasing the number of people who could vote. However, in November, 1830, Earl Grey, a Whig, became Prime Minister. Grey explained to William IV that he wanted to introduce proposals that would get rid of some of the rotten boroughs. Grey also planned to give Britain’s fast growing industrial towns such as Manchester, Birmingham, Bradford and Leeds, representation in the House of Commons. In April 1831 Grey asked William IV to dissolve Parliament so that the Whigs could secure a larger majority in the House of Commons. Grey explained this would help his government to carry their proposals for parliamentary reform. William agreed to Grey’s request and after making his speech in the House of Lords, walked back through cheering crowds to Buckingham Palace. After Lord Grey’s election victory, he tried again to introduce parliamentary reform. On 22nd September 1831, the H
