The Growth of Democracy (1860s—1914)

1. The Growth of Democracy (1860s—1914)

2. Great Britain: Tories vs. Whigs • Tory party (Conservative) led by Benjamin Disraeli • Wanted to preserve power of monarchy and social status of upper class • Worked to prevent working class reform that would change power base • Whigs (Liberals) led by William Gladstone • Wanted to make the liberals the party of reform • Wanted to reduce the power of the monarchy • Wanted to expand suffrage to all males

3. The Second Reform Act (1867) • surprisingly the Conservatives in the House of Commons led by Benjamin Disraeli allow a large number of working class males who were “heads of households” to vote • Wanted to beat the liberals at their own game of reform, BUT it backfired!! • Newly franchised males will provided liberals with victory in 1868 • the new prime minister elected is a liberal, William Gladstone • 1st of four terms as Prime Minister • Over the next 30 years, power will alternate between both parties

4. The Great Ministry of Gladstone(1868—1874) Liberal changes • freedom of religion and class • Labor unions were legalized • competitive exams replace patronage for civil service • voting by secret ballot • The Education Act of 1870 – established that the government, not the church would run the elementary schools • Third Reform Bill of 1885—Largely granted universal male suffrage

5. Disraeli as Prime Minister (1874—1880) • Wanted to support the “common good” for the people • Food and Drug Act—gov’t regulation the sale of food and drugs based on inspection • Public Health Act of 1875 – reaffirmed duty of the state to interfere with private property to protect health and physical well-being • Artisan Dwelling Act of 1875 – government becomes actively involved in providing housing for the working class • Protection of trade unions and the allowance of picket lines

6. The Irish Question • Gladstone, again prime minister in 1880 has to deal with the Irish wanting home rule – Irish control of local government • The Irish wanted • Irish Catholics no longer had to pay for the Anglican Church • compensation provided for Irish tenants who were evicted from their land • tenant rights for Irish established to prevent eviction • Coercion Act passed to restore law and order to Ireland and suppress home rule demand • home rule, supported by Gladstone is defeated over and over again between 1886 and 1914, when the rule was finally passed, but then suspended due to World War I

7. Social Reform in Great Britain • During the 1880s and 1890s, some radical groups emerged promoting increased social philosophies of gov’t • The First International was a mixture of socialists, anarchist, and labor groups based on the ideas of Karl Marx • Short-lived, but will lead to other groups • British socialism – non Marxist – most influential group the Fabian Society- favored gradual, peaceful approach to social reform

8. The Labour Party • Created in 1893 • Became a vocal third party in Britain • Attracted trade unionists, socialists, and those who thought the Conservative and Liberal parties had no interest in the needs of the public

9. Aggressive Social and Economic Reforms • under Liberal Chancellor David Lloyd George, Britain regulates trade, provides unemployment benefits and health care to appease the Labour Party • Ramsay MacDonald became the first Labour Party Prime Minister • The three parties competed for power into the beginning of WWI • Issues on trade unions, Ireland, and women’s suffrage continue to be hot topics

10. Summary: Britain • Before WWI, Britain laid the foundation for its social welfare state: gov’t institutions and laws that guarantee all citizens a decent standard of living • Rights of unions to strike was legalized; gov’t insurance for those hurt on the job; unemployment insurance and old-age pensions were enacted; compulsory school attendance law went into effect

11. France--Louis Napoleon • Following the overthrow of conservative Louis Philippe in 1848, Louis Napoleon was President of the Second Republic • 1852 Louis Napoleon – the election of “Little Napoleon” leads to a dictatorship in which Louis is crowned Emperor Napoleon III. • Dedicates his presidency to law and order • Eradication of socialism and radicalism • Protecting the interests of the conservative classes

12. The Second French Empire • Napoleon III controlled finances and legislation • Worked to improve infrastructure and stimulate the economy • Created public works to reduce unemployment • Popular amongst all classes due to general prosperity • Napoleon III was autocratic in power, but introduced reforms to satisfy his people

13. Foreign Policy Woes • Suffered major casualties as a result of Crimean War • Backed down when the U.S. warned them of interference in Mexico • Franco-Prussian War was a disaster for the French • Germans crushed French and sieged Paris • Contribute to destabilization of Second Empire • Napoleon III captured by Prussians • Second Empire ends

14. France Goes From Empire to Third Republic • The Paris Commune – radicals and socialists attempt to govern Paris away from the rest of France during the Prussian siege of Paris • Paris Commune is put down by the National Assembly at the cost of 20,000 lives / victory for the nation-state • The National Assembly was the recognized gov’t that Prussia would negotiate with • The Third Republic – when quarreling monarchists can’t agree on a new king, the National Assembly turns to a republic system • a Chamber of Deputies elected by universal male suffrage • a Senate chosen indirectly by gov’t officials • president elected by both legislative houses

15. The Third Republic • Adopted a constitution and a republican gov’t • Issues plaguing the Republic • Extreme nationalism calling for revenge on Germany • Struggle between political factions within bourgeoisie (upper-middle class) • Between 1871 and 1914, the French gov’t fell dozens of times due to the multiparty system in which no party could win a majority in the Legislative Assesmbly

16. The Boulanger Crisis • There was still heavy anti-republican support who wanted to overthrow the Third Republic • General Georges Boulanger was being groomed by the conservatives to overthrow the gov’t • When the threat coup d’etat was discovered by supporters of the republic, Boulanger was charged with treason and fled to Belgium • Conservative threat thwarted for now

17. The Dreyfus Affair • French Captain Alfred Dreyfus(Jewish) is falsely accused of passing secret information to the Germans (1894) • After Dreyfus is convicted of treason, he is sent to Devil’s Island • Years later, evidence of forgery comes in that someone else was passing secrets to Germans, but Dreyfus is not acquitted • The major in the French army who was the actual spy was acquitted to save the pride and reputation of the French army • Dreyfus, who was Jewish, is still guilty according to the army, French Catholic Church, political conservatives, and anti-Semitic newspapers • Pro-monarchists claim the Third Republic is corrupt!

18. liberal novelist Emile Zola, along with numerous liberals, radicals, and socialists call for a new trial for Dreyfus • president of France pardons Dreyfus and the conviction is set aside in 1906 • puts conservatives on the defensive for framing an innocent man and embracing anti-Semitism

19. French Opportunism Rejected • After Dreyfus, French socialism called opportunism began to make strides • Supported by trade unionists and socialists • Opposed “corrupt” republican gov’t • Opportunism is rejected overall • French socialists form their own party, the Socialist Party, and begin gaining seats in the Chamber of Deputies • The demands of workers led by the Socialist Party became a major issue in France between 1905 and 1914

20. Summary: France • The multiparty system of France did promote democracy • By WWI, universal suffrage existed in France • A social welfare system existed which was similar to Britain • Extension of suffrage and improvement of living conditions for all citizens • Even through Boulanger Crisis and Dreyfus Affair, the vast majority of French citizens supported the Third Republic