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Reforms to Great Britain and Its Empire

Reforms to Great Britain and Its Empire. Reforms of the 1800s. Industrial Revolution brought wealth and power to G. Britain. Ideas of the Enlightenment and the French and American Revolutions supported government protection of individual rights and civil liberties. Reforms.

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Reforms to Great Britain and Its Empire

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  1. Reforms to Great Britain and Its Empire

  2. Reforms of the 1800s • Industrial Revolution brought wealth and power to G. Britain. • Ideas of the Enlightenment and the French and American Revolutions supported government protection of individual rights and civil liberties.

  3. Reforms • G. Britain was one of the first nations to limit the power of the monarchy-since the Glorious Revolution of 1688 Parliament was the real ruler of the country. • Problems: Only property owners could vote. People voted out in the open, so others could see how they voted-bribery. In some districts nobles sometimes controlled who would be the representative in the House of Commons. • Reform Bill of 1832: Took seats in the House of Commons away from less populated areas and gave them to the industrialized cities. It gave people with less property the right to vote.

  4. More Reforms… • Factory Act of 1833: Aimed at reforming the horrible working conditions of women and children

  5. More and More Reforms! • Slavery was abolished in all British colonies in 1833.

  6. Victorian Age • Queen Victoria ruled for 63 years (1837-1901). • Longest reigning British monarch. • Longest reigning woman in history. • Britain enjoyed a time of relative peace. • Known as the “Grandmother of Europe” because she arranged marriages for her 9 children and 42 grandchildren across the continent.

  7. Disraeli and Gladstone • Victoria gave her prime ministers a free hand and didn’t interfere. Two P.M.’s dominated British affairs from 1868-1894. • Benjamin Disraeli: (1868, 1874-1880) • Leader of the Conservative Party • Helped gain control of the Suez Canal and Queen V became empress of India. • Mainly concerned with foreign issues • Queen’s favorite P.M.

  8. William Gladstone: (1868-1873 and after Disraeli) • Domestic and financial affairs. • Education Act-national elementary ed • Secret ballot when voting • Failed to solve the “Irish Question”

  9. Ireland • 1801 Act of Union linked Ireland to G. Britain. • Most Irish hated British rule. • Little representation in Parliament. • Most Irish were Catholic, upset at having to support the Anglican church. • Policies that helped British industry hurt Irish farmers.

  10. Ireland Both Ireland and the United States were changed forever when a fungus struck the Irish potato crop in 1845. The fungus returned year after year, causing plants to wilt and rot. In the already poor nation, hunger led to disease and starvation. Unable to work or pay rent, many families were evicted from their homes. Many died in the streets or countryside as relief efforts proved insufficient. Famine and disease probably killed more than 1 million people. More than 2 million people left Ireland between 1845 and 1855 for the United States.

  11. Canada • British North America Act of 1867-created 4 provinces • Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick • Expanded by purchasing the NW Territories in 1869 and 1870. • 1890s-discovery of gold in the Yukon. • Alberta and Saskatchewan joined in 1905.

  12. Australia • 1770 claimed by Captain James Cook • After the American Rev. used as a penal colony-the first convicts arrived in 1788 and founded the town of Sydney. • Free settlers arrived soon after. • Aborigines: Original inhabitants of Australia

  13. New Zealand • Sighted by Captain James Cook. • Private companies developed in the 1820s-1830s. • Maori: Original inhabitants of New Zealand. • Discovery of gold in 1861 brought new waves of immigrants. • 1893-First country in the world to grant women the right to vote.

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