y prevented any general movement of reform, but made
it possible to enact the Six Acts and other stringent laws against
agitation in that direction (S571). Finally, however, the
unrepresented classes rose in their might (SS580-582), and by terrible
riots made it evident that it would be dangerous for Parliament to
postpone action on their demands. The Reform Bill--the "Great Charter
of 1832"--swept away the "rotten boroughs," which had disgraced the
country. It granted the right of election to many large towns which
had hitherto been unable to send members to Parliament, and it placed
representation on a broader, healthier, and more equuitable basis than
had ever existed before (S582). It was a significant fact that when
the first reformed Parliament met, composed largely of Liberals, it
showed its true spirit by abolishing slavery in the West Indies. It
was followed by the Municipal Reform Act of 1835 (S599). Later
(1848), the Chartists advocated further reforms (S591), most of which
have since been adopted.

In 1867 an act (S599), scarcely less important than that of 1832,
broadened representation still further; and in 1884 the franchise was
again extended (S599). A little later (1888) the County Council Act
reconstructed the local self-government of the country in great
measure.[2] It was supplemented in 1894 by the Parish Council Act
(S600). The cry is now for unrestricted "manhood suffrage," on the
principle of "one man one vote";[1] woman suffrage in a limited degree
has existed since 1869 (S599).

[2] The "Local Government" Act: this gives to counties the management
of their local affairs and secures uniformity of method and of
administration.
[1] That is, the abolition of certain franchise privileges springing
from the possession of landed property in different counties or
parliamentary districts by which the owner of such property is
entitled to cast more than one vote for a candidate for Parliament.

32. Extension of Religious Liberty; Admission of Catholics and Jews to
Parliament, Free Trade.

Meanwhile immense progress was made in extending the principles of
religious liberty to all bodies of believers. After nearly three
hundred years (or since the Second Act of Supremacy, 1559), Catholics
were admitted in 1829 to the House of Commons (S573);and in the next
generation, 1858, Jews were likewise admitted (S599). The Oaths Act
of 1888 makes it impossible to exclude any one on account of his