Final answer:
The Great Reform Act of 1832 expanded the electorate in Britain to include the urban middle class and abolished 'rotten boroughs.'
Step-by-step explanation:
The first Reform Bill, known as the Great Reform Act of 1832, played a critical role in shaping British parliamentary democracy. Passed during a period of great political tension, the Reform Act expanded the electorate to include a larger portion of the urban middle class, which significantly altered the composition and responsiveness of the British Parliament. Not only did it expand suffrage to more citizens, but it also eliminated the so-called 'rotten boroughs,' which had allowed some parliamentary seats to be controlled by a very small number of landowners.
In addition to broadening electoral participation, the Great Reform Act set the stage for further democratic reforms. It only passed the House of Lords after significant resistance, due mainly to fears that without reform, there might be a revolution. After the passing of this act, Parliament took progressive steps like abolishing slavery in British territories (1833), passing the Poor Laws (1834), and eventually repealing the Corn Laws (1846). Although the act did not establish full democracy—land-owning nobles remained powerful—it did pave the way to a series of parliamentary and social reforms during the Victorian Age.
Later on, the Reform Bill of 1867 further expanded suffrage by including many working-class men, effectively doubling the size of Britain's electorate, and signifying a shift towards a more inclusive parliamentary system.