This period of major change was driven by industrialisation, poverty, and calls for reform. The timeline below highlights key laws that affected the poor and women, with special attention to Scotland’s unique legislation.

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1832 – First Reform Act

Extended the vote to middle-class men and restructured parliamentary constituencies. It excluded working-class men and all women but laid the foundation for democratic change.

1833 – Factory Act

Banned factory work for children under 9 and limited hours for those aged 9–18. It also introduced official factory inspectors.

1833 – Municipal Corporations (Scotland) Act (Scotland-specific)

Reformed local government in Scottish burghs by replacing self-elected councils with elected town councils, enabling better oversight and reform.

1834 – Poor Law Amendment Act

Created the workhouse system in England and Wales and reduced outdoor relief. It influenced later Scottish approaches to poverty, though it did not apply directly to Scotland.

1838 – General Police and Improvement (Scotland) Act (Scotland-specific)

Allowed Scottish towns to establish local police forces and regulate public health services such as lighting, water, and sanitation.

1839 – Custody of Infants Act

Allowed separated or divorced mothers to seek custody of children under 7 in England and Wales. A first step in recognising maternal legal rights.

1845 – Poor Law (Scotland) Act (Scotland-specific)

Created parochial boards and a central Board of Supervision to manage poor relief. This introduced formal poorhouses in Scotland.

1847 – Factory Act (Ten Hours Act)

Limited the working day for women and children in textile factories to 10 hours. A major step for labour reform.

1848 – Public Health Act

Applied in England and Wales, allowing local boards to manage drainage, sewage, and water. Scotland introduced similar measures later under separate laws.

1851 – Common Lodging Houses Act

Regulated cheap lodgings for the poor in urban areas. While first applied to England and Wales, Scottish towns adopted similar powers via local acts.

1853 – Vaccination Act

Made smallpox vaccination compulsory for infants in England and Wales. Similar requirements are followed in Scotland under local public health authorities.

1857 – Matrimonial Causes Act

Enabled civil divorce without requiring an Act of Parliament. Gave women some legal recourse in marriage, though men had more rights under the law.

1861 – Industrial Schools (Scotland) Act (Scotland-specific)

Allowed neglected or delinquent children to be placed in industrial schools in Scotland for training and reform.

1861 – Offences Against the Person Act

Consolidated laws relating to assault and violence, including protections for women and children. Applied across the UK.

1864 – Contagious Diseases Act

Targeted women suspected of prostitution in garrison towns, subjecting them to compulsory medical exams. Widely condemned as unjust and invasive.

1865 – Union Chargeability Act

In England and Wales, this spread the cost of poor relief more fairly across parishes. It helped influence later reforms in Scotland.

1866 – Industrial Schools Act

Expanded the scope of previous laws across the UK, enabling authorities to place more vulnerable children into industrial schools. Supported in Scotland by local boards.

1867 – Second Reform Act

Extended the vote to many urban working-class men. It doubled the electorate in towns like Glasgow and Edinburgh but continued to exclude most rural workers and all women.

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🏛️ Conclusion

Between 1830 and 1870, Britain saw sweeping reforms in health, education, child welfare, and voting rights. While many laws applied across the UK, Scotland developed its own approach to poor relief, policing, and local government.