Growth of Western Democracies

1. Growth of Western Democracies Britain Becomes More Democratic A Century of Reform Division and Democracy in France Expansion of the United States

2. Western Democracies England Ireland America France Mexico New Zealand Brazil

3. Britain Becomes More Democratic • Reforming Parliament • The huge discrepancies between the rich and the poor drove the push for reform rather than revolution • DID NOT bring true democracy but did expand it • Political Rights (more people given the right to vote) • Redistribution of Seats of Parliament (fairer representation) • Middle class will gain some power but the nobles remained in control • “Chartists” revolt – to allow votes without public announcement * failed, but Parliament will later adopt most of their platform • The Victorian Age (Queen Victoria 1837-1901) • Era of duty, thrift, honesty, hard work, and respectability • Middle class and a growing working class had hopes for the future • British empire grew dramatically during this era • A New Era in British Politics • Expanded Suffrage: working-class men • Secret Ballot • Limiting the “Lords” * power to veto bills from House of Lords * House of Lords becomes mostly ceremonial * House of Commons becomes the power of British government

4. A Century of Reform • Social and Economic Reforms • Free Trade and the Corn Laws: • Britain, like other countries, used tariffs to protect their local economies • Adam Smith (laissez-faire) believed no tariffs would profit them all “FREE TRADE” • Corn Laws increased tariffs on imported grains, keeping prices up for British grown crops. Free Traders wanted tariffs ended, keeping the price for grain down and the cost to the consumers down • Campaign against Slavery • British had outlawed slavery (1807) but British ships shipped more slaves from Africa to America than any other country • 1833 – Slavery illegal in all British colonies, but still bought cheap cotton from America • Crime and Punishment • 1800 – 200+ crimes punishable by death “capital offenses” • Juries were known to not convict someone because the punishment was too harsh • Death Penalty crimes will be decreased to only treason, murder, piracy and arson • Penal Colonies: convicts were shipped off to settlements for criminals (Aust. & NZ) • Prison conditions improved, hangings outlawed – a move to make punishment less severe

5. A Century of Reform • Victories for the Working Class: Parliament will pass a series of reforms designed to help the men, women, and children whose labor supported the new industrial revolution. • Working Conditions: Early conditions during the Industrial Revolution were brutal/dangerous. Parliament began to regulate conditions, limited hours, set minimum wages, etc • Labor Unions: Early, unions were outlawed. Eventually Unions allowed but strikes were still illegal. Unions spread despite the attempts to stop them • Later Reforms: • Social Reforms to benefit the working class: public health and housing for working class free education for all children gov’t jobs based on merit not by birth or wealth Labor Party: political party that looked out for workers Social Welfare Laws to protect the well-being of poor Old Age Pensions • When workers concerns were listened to, the radicals had little interest

6. A Century of Reform • Votes for Women: Women divided on issue • By early 1900, suffragists believed only aggressive tactics would help • Interrupted Parliament • Organized Huge Public Demonstrations • Still no results, some turn to violent protests • Jailed, hunger strikes, etc • The Irish Question • British rule in 1100’s, Irish never accepted British rule • Irish forced to pay tithe to Church of England even though most were Catholic • Rebellion and resistance were common • Irish Nationalism: To stop rebellions, some reforms passed (voting for Catholics) • Yet still many injustices persisted (English Landlords could evict without notice, illegal to teach or speak the Irish language

7. A Century of Reform • The Great Hunger: ¾ of all croplands used to grow crops sent to England • Potatoes the main crop for themselves and for export • 1845 – Great Potato Famine: A blight destroyed the crop. Lack of food in Ireland continued as British shipped all other foods out of Ireland • In 4 years, more than 1 million Irish men, women and children died of starvation or disease. More than 1 million more will leave Ireland for America or Canada • Struggle for Home Rule: for centuries the Irish have fought for home rule • “Irish Question” – English Parliament has also struggled with how to deal with the lands they control in Ireland • Still today, Ireland (independent in 1921) and Northern Ireland (British Controlled) are an issue that both Ireland and England struggle with

8. Division and Democracy in France • France under Napoleon III • Rich supported him as a strong leader • Poor liked him because he promised to end poverty • Unlike Napoleon I, NIII would not bring glory nor a return to empire for France • Limits on Liberty • Napoleon III ruled like a dictator (eventually will ease control) • Like other developing nations, middle class growing but poor still living in great poverty • Built the Suez Canal (great accomplishment) • Tried to “colonize” Mexico (Mexico and US objected) failed • Foreign successes also VERY costly, little to show for it • Napoleon III lured into war with Germany, lost • People of France so starving they were eating rats and circus animals

9. Challenges to the Third Republic • Napoleon III captured, government overthrown • French set up the Third Republic (temporary) and set up peace with Germany (surrender lands and pay huge reparation payments) • Government Structure • Republic set up (bicameral, premier, multi-party system) • Scandals • France grew economically over the years • A series of scandals weaken government control • THE DREYFUS AFFAIR • Dreyfus, a high-ranking Jewish officer, charged with spying for Germany • At trial, neither Dreyfus or his lawyer allowed to see evidence • He was convicted to life in prison, proclaiming his innocence • Evidence came up proving him innocent and another guilty. France refused to free him • Led to efforts to reform the system, France scarred by this for a long time

10. Reforms in France • After the Dreyfus Affair, France passed several reforms • Work (wages, hours safety conditions) • Public Elementary Schools (to break the hold the of the Roman Catholic Church) • Separation of Church and State (stopped paying salary of clergy, closed church schools, etc) • Women’s Rights (earn own wages, suffrage rights) • Looking Ahead • By 1914, France was the largest democratic country with a constitution that protected rights • Many French “itching” to revenge the losses in the Franco-Prussian War

11. Expansion of the U.S. • Territorial Expansion (US policy of expanding coast to coast) • Manifest Destiny: The right to expand and impose their ways on those they overtook (Louisiana Purchase, Mexican American War, Alaska) • Settling the West: Gold/Silver drew millions out west. Mormon settlers were fleeing religious persecution • Native Americans were displaced by settlers, their culture was destroyed • Expanding Democracy (most liberal on voting rights, democracy • African Americans, Women had few rights • Calls for ABOLITION (end of slavery) Civil War will finally put an end to it • Women’s Rights Movement (Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony) led fight for the right to vote [suffrage]

12. Expansion of the U.S. • The Civil War and its Aftermath • The Civil War was fought for many reasons • SUCCESSION • SLAVERY • After the CW, African Americans faced discrimination/segregation as well as economic hardship that was worse, in many ways, than slavery • Economic Growth and Social Reform • Industrial Revolution will totally change America, became the most powerful economic country in the world • Industry grew, transportation and communication advances • Immigration/Growth of Cities • Rapid Growth brought issues to the cities • Immigrants (mostly from Europe and Asia) • Tough Conditions (slums, discrimination) • Migration from the Farms

13. Expansion in the U.S. • Business and Labor: “Big Business” • Monopolies, Harsh business practices saw great wealth that was not shared with the workers • Unions develop out of disparity, unsafe worksites • Populists and Progressives • People pressure governments to protect the common person not just “Big Business” • Reforms to child labor, working conditions, regulating monopolies, expanding voting rights • LOOKING AHEAD: US now a GLOBAL POWER • * territories: Guam, Puerto Rico, Philippines, etc • * tradition of “Isolationism” falling away • * rivalries of European nations will cause them to fall into a • world war. The US will stay out . . . for a while

14. Quick Review • Britain • Reforms: Political, Social, Economic, Territorial • France • Reforms: Political, Social, Economic, Territorial • United States • Reforms: Political, Social, Economic, Territorial

15. Ch. 11 Essays Name 2 reforms towards democracy in each of the countries studied. Explain HOW these reforms moved that country to democracy. Why do you think Britain was able to avoid the upheavals that plagued France during this era of reforms?