the course of a century transformed the British political system from one based on privilege and corruption to one based on universal suffrage and the secret ballot. In domestic elections before the Great Reform Act of 1832, only about three per cent of the English population could vote. Most constituencies had been founded in the Middle Ages and so the newly-industrial northern England had virtually no representation. Those who could vote were mainly the large landowners and wealthy commoners. The Great Reform Act was followed by the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834, ending "outdoor relief" in cash or kind and setting up a chain of designedly unwholesome workhouses covering larger areas across the country to which the poor had to go if they wanted help. See also British Agricultural Revolution Ely and Littleport riots of 1816 Luddite Rebecca Riots Tolpuddle Martyrs William Winterbourne Notes References External links John Owen Smith, "Headley & Selborne workhouse riot of 1830" "The Captain Swing rebellion in Sussex" Captain Swing Reconsidered. Papers published in Southern History vol.32 (2010) 1830 in England English Poor Laws Riots and civil disorder in England 1830 riots History of agriculture in England