This act brought a long-needed measure of reform to local government in the cities of Britain which were rapidly developing through the diffusion of the factory system. All municipal corporations were required to have elected councils which were to appoint town clerks and treasurers and maintain proper accounts of meetings and corporation business. Many of the new conurbations were granted formal local government for the first time. Given the prominence of Dissenters in manufacturing areas, one effect was to shift power towards the Whigs and Liberals, to the detriment of Anglicanism and the Tories.

94 words

Citation: Editors, Litencyc. "Municipal Corporations Act". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 01 February 2010 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=4743, accessed 23 November 2024.]