The Growth of Democracy

The Growth of Democracy

Aims: • Define key political terms e.g. democracy. • Identify the reasons why Britain was not a democratic country in the 1800s.

Class Discussions Answer the following question in your group: Q. What is a democracy?

Democracy Demos People Kratos Power ‘Demokratia’ or Democracy Rule By The People

Key Features of a Democracy • Adult population has the right to vote • Voting is carried out in secret • All areas of the country represented • Choice of candidates/parties • Payment of representatives • Regular elections

The Demand For Change – The Industrial Revolution • Before 1750 most people in Britain worked on the land. • New machinery was developed to produce goods e.g. Power Loom. • These machines were housed in huge buildings called ‘factories’. • Towns/cities grew rapidly as people from the countryside moved to find work. • The owners of these factories and industries became rich and were known as the ‘middle classes’. • The middle classes did not have the right to vote at election. • Major towns and cities did not have any MPs in Parliament to represent them.

The Industrial Revolution and Urbanisation • Industrial Revolution created a new group of people – the middle class. • The middle classes did not have the right to vote at elections. • Urbanisation – towns/cities grew rapidly as people moved to find work. • Major towns and cities did not have any MPs in Parliament to represent them.

The Road to Democracy 1867 1884 1918 1832 1872 1911 1928

Reform Begins • The British government was worried that if they didn’t introduce reforms, revolution would happen – ordinary people would try to overthrow the government by force. • This had happened in countries like France, Germany and Italy. • Reform means ‘a change for the better’. • The franchise or right to vote was extended to most men.

1832 Reform Act • Before 1832 the upper class aristocracy were reluctant to give more people the right to vote. • The Industrial Revolution had created a wealthy group – the middle classes – who had made their wealth out of industries and factories. • The 1832 Reform Act finally gave the middle classes the vote. • Some areas were finally given an MP, other areas gained extra MPs so that the population of different areas could be fairly represented. • 5 out of 6 men still didn’t have the right to vote.

1867 Reform Act • It took 35 years before any further changes happened. • In 1867 the urban working class – those living in towns and cities – finally got the vote. • The number of people who vote increased to 1.2 million. • 35 boroughs lost an MP and many large cities gained an MP. This was to try and make constituencies of a roughly equal size.

Reform Begins • 1832 Reform Act – middle classes given the vote. Some areas lost MPs, others gained MPs. • 1867 Reform Act – working class in towns and cities got the vote. Some areas lost MPs, others gained MPs. • 1872 Secret Ballot Act – Voting would now be carried out in secret.

Further Reforms • 1883 Corrupt Practises Act – Candidates could only spend so much on their campaigns. • 1884 Third Reform Act - working class in the counties (rural areas) were given the vote. • 1911 Parliament Act – MPs were given a salary of £500 per year. This made it easier for working-class people to stand for Parliament. Elections had to take place every 5 years.

Further Reforms 1918 Representation of the People Act – all men over 21 and women over 30 got the vote. 1928 Equal Franchise Act – all women over 21 got the vote.

Was Britain a Democracy by 1900? • Most men (around 60%) had the vote but not all. • Bribery and corruption had been dealt with. • Equal constituencies of 50,000 voters had been set up. • However half the population i.e. women did not have the vote.

The Growth of Democracy