The Great Reform Act of 1832 was a significant piece of legislation in the United Kingdom that aimed to address issues of representation in Parliament. It expanded the electorate by lowering property requirements, allowing more men, particularly from the middle class, to vote. The Act also redistributed seats in the House of Commons, giving representation to growing industrial cities while reducing the influence of less populated rural areas.
This reform was a response to widespread public demand for political change and was influenced by movements such as the Chartist movement. Although it did not grant voting rights to women or the working class, it marked the beginning of a series of reforms that gradually expanded democracy in Britain.