Editing History of the United Kingdom (section)

====Whig reforms of the 1830s====
The [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig Party]] recovered its strength and unity by supporting moral reforms, especially the reform of the electoral system, the abolition of slavery and emancipation of the Catholics. [[Catholic emancipation]] was secured in the [[Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829]], which removed the most substantial restrictions on Roman Catholics in Britain.{{Sfnp|Woodward|1962|pages=325–330}}

The Whigs became champions of Parliamentary reform. They made [[Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey|Lord Grey]] prime minister 1830–1834, and the [[Reform Act 1832]] became their signature measure. It broadened the franchise slightly and ended the system of [[rotten and pocket boroughs]] (where elections were controlled by powerful families), and gave seats to new industrial centres. The aristocracy continued to dominate the government, the Army and Royal Navy, and high society.{{Sfnp|Woodward|1962|pages=325–330}} After parliamentary investigations demonstrated the horrors of child labour, limited reforms were passed in 1833.

[[Chartism]] emerged after the 1832 Reform Bill failed to give the vote to the working class. Activists denounced the 'betrayal' of the working class and the 'sacrificing' of their interests by the 'misconduct' of the government. In 1838, Chartists issued the People's Charter demanding manhood suffrage, equal sized election districts, voting by ballots, payment of MPs (so poor men could serve), annual Parliaments, and abolition of property requirements. Elites saw the movement as pathological, so the Chartists were unable to force serious constitutional debate. Historians see Chartism as both a continuation of the 18th-century fight against corruption and as a new stage in demands for democracy in an industrial society.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chase |first=Malcolm |title=Chartism: A New History |date=2007}}</ref>

In 1832, Parliament abolished slavery in the Empire with the [[Slavery Abolition Act 1833]]. The government purchased the slaves for £20,000,000 (the money went to rich plantation owners who mostly lived in England), and freed the slaves, especially those in the Caribbean sugar islands.{{Sfnp|Woodward|1962|pages=354–357}}