Whig response to social change; social reforms including education, factory legislation, abolition of slavery, Poor Law Amendment Act, Municipal Corporations Act
In the 1830s, the Whig government passed a series of laws to tackle urgent social problems. These reforms tackled child labour, poverty, slavery, and corrupt local councils.
Real World
The Slavery Abolition Act (1833) freed approximately 800,000 enslaved people across British colonies, though plantation owners received £20 million in compensation — a figure that reveals the limits of Whig reform.
Exam Focus
When evaluating reform significance, always consider who benefited and who was excluded; partial reforms often score higher analysis marks.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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