In 1868, the Reform Act was passed, giving the power to vote to the citizens lower on the social and economic scale. This act was revolutionary because we see the middle classes sharing power with the upper classes. After the Reform Act, many homeowners and working citizens could vote and be represented in the parliament's decision making. 

Bleakhouse, set in London in the 1850s, was written during a time when middle-class jobs such as lawyers or doctors were becoming more respected as professions. Between this shift and the Reform Act, there is a change in perspective of the social classes, and the citizens that were voiceless are now gaining respect. This is an interesting event to keep in mind when reading about the middle-class characters in Bleakhouse and the gradual changes and adjustments they're experiencing to their social and economic class standing.

Everett, Glenn. “The Reform Acts.” The Victorian Web, 1987, www.victorianweb.org/history/hist2.html.