Short Essay on the Second Reform Act of 1867 (England)

First Reform Act was very significant from the point of view of constitutional development, but it had influenced only the political segment of the middle-class England.

Majority of labour class and lower class did not get advantage from this Act, so the people continued with pressing the demand for the parliamentary reforms.

Chartist Movement was one of the powerful movements to achieve this end through which the labourers and lower class people demanded from the government to reform the parliamentary defects and to get the political rights.

Although this movement failed to succeed in its goal, it directed the attention of the government to the problems of the people and roused an awakening among the public for their constitutional rights.

After the death of Lord Palmerston the age of reforms began in the internal sphere of England. In 1867 Prime Minister Lord Durby passed an Act with the cooperation of home minister, Disraeli which came to be known as Second Reform Act.

A prominent historian has remarked about it that this Act was a significant work of third ministry of Durby. As a result thereof, in the representative system of England, franchise qualification was changed to a great extent. The following were its chief provisions:

1. In rural areas the right of voting was given to those farmers who paid twelve pounds revenue annually and those landlords who paid 12 pounds land tax annually.

2. In urban areas the right of voting was given to all the house owners and those tenants who paid four pounds as rent annually.

3. In Ireland the right of voting was given to those who paid four pounds as tax annually.

4. Eleven boroughs were terminated and were incorporated in the nearby constituencies.

5. The number of the members of the House of Commons remained 658 as it was.

As a result of this Act democracy was established in England in the real sense of the term. 1/12 part of the people were benefitted as the right of voting was given to about 10 lac people of England.

The significance of the capitalists and landlords decreased and the influence of the middle class began to increase in politics. With the enhancement in the number of voters the importance of the means of propaganda increased.

It became essential for all the political parties to use the best means of propaganda in order to win the public opinion in their favour.

Some of the historians are of the opinion that the Act of 1867 was more revolutionary than the Act of 1832. It enhanced the scope of the right of voting and established political democracy in England.

In spite of the merits of this Act, there were certain demerits in it. Although the right of franchise was enhanced, yet the agricultural labour and the poor people were still deprived of this right. Hence some of the historians have condemned and criticised this Act as a leap in the dark. J. R. Marriot remarks:

“It could not be on the whole a final settlement of the political demands of the people of England. The future Acts of 1884-85 and of 1911 were destined to remedy these ills.”

Demerits of the Act of 1867

1. No harmony was maintained between the rural labour and urban labour.

2. In some constituencies, the right of electing three representatives was given to the people but voters were permitted to cast only two votes.

3. As secret ballot system was not adopted, the voter was pressurised unnecessarily.

4. There was no provision of allowance for the members of the Parliament in the Act of 1867.