Reform Acts, in British history, three acts that extended voting rights and reformed representation in Parliament.
was passed during the Whig ministry of Earl Grey after widespread rioting had nearly led to civil war. The act lowered property qualifications so that, for the first time, most middle-class men could vote. The act also provided for more equal representation in Parliament by abolishing pocket boroughs and rotten boroughs.
was passed during the Conservative government of Benjamin Disraeli. This act further redistributed parliamentary seats and gave the vote to nearly all adult male workers in the cities and to small farmers. The number of voters was more than doubled.
was passed during the Liberal government of William Gladstone. It gave the vote to farm laborers and to others, so that nearly all adult men had the right to vote.
