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Standard Grade Britain 1830-1930

Standard Grade Britain 1830-1930. Growth of Democracy. Before 1932. Most people could not vote Rotten & pocket boroughs Different methods of voting in each area No secret ballot – voters had to publicly declare vote at hustings Bribery & corruption

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Standard Grade Britain 1830-1930

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  1. Standard GradeBritain 1830-1930 Growth of Democracy

  2. Before 1932 • Most people could not vote • Rotten & pocket boroughs • Different methods of voting in each area • No secret ballot – voters had to publicly declare vote at hustings • Bribery & corruption • New industrial towns had no representation in Parliament, (e.g. Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham) • MP had to own land & was unpaid

  3. Great Reform Act of 1932 5/6 men still could not vote & no women!

  4. The Chartists • Chartist movement founded in 1838 • 1839, 1842 & 1848 – petitions signed by hundreds of thousands of ordinary people & presented to Parliament – REJECTED • 1848 petition – thousands of forged signatures (eg Queen Victoria) • Movement failed because of in-fighting • People’s Charter: • Vote for all men over 21 • Payment for MPs • No property qualification for MPs • Equal sized constituencies • Annual elections • Secret Ballot

  5. 1858 • Property qualification for MPs abolished

  6. Second Reform Act 1867 In towns the franchise was granted to: • Male house owners over 21 • Male lodgers who paid £10 rent a year **************** In the countryside the franchise was given to: • Males who owned property worth £5 a year • In England & Wales – males renting property of over £12 a year. • In Scotland - males renting property of over £15 a year. Franchise = the right to vote

  7. Second Reform Act 1867Impact • Over 1,200,000 new voters • 35 boroughs lost one MP, 17 lost 2. • Some counties gained MPs, • Many large cities were given a third MP • Gave the vote to some of the urban working class • Attempt to equalise the size of constuituencies • 7 more MPs to Scotland to represent cities • In Glasgow electorate rose from 18,000 to 47,000 “Leap in the dark” No one was sure how the new voters would react.

  8. 'A leap in the dark' (Punch cartoon) This political cartoon refers to Lord Derby's comment that Disraeli was taking a 'leap in the dark' when he sponsored the second Reform Act. By using popular support for reform to introduce a Bill extending the vote to urban working-class electors, he believed the Tories would stand to gain in subsequent elections.Punch, p. 47 (3 August 1867)

  9. The Secret Ballot Act 1872

  10. The Secret Ballot Act 1872 • The Act made sure local landowners or employers could not put pressure on voters who may have depended on them for a home or living. • Before this Act voters were often victimised if they did not vote a certain way. • IMPACT: Elections more civilised with some control over the proceedings and people being allowed to vote as the wished.

  11. Corrupt Practices Act 1883 • Bribery outlawed • Candidates could only spend so much on their campaigns

  12. Third Reform Act 1884-85 • Extended voting rights to more working class men • All adult male householders • Removed difference between voting rights between the burghs & the counties • Further redistribution of seats – number of Scottish seats increased to 72. • In Scotland 60% of all adult males could now vote

  13. Payment of MPs • 1911 MPs given a salary • Working class people could stand for Parliament • Helped growth of new Labour Party • Life of Parliament limited to 5 years

  14. Labour Party founded • 1888 Scottish Labour Party founded by James Keir Hardie • He failed to be elected in Scotland but elected as first Labour MP in London 1892 • 1893 – Founding of Independent Labour Party of Great Britain • 1906 General election – 29 seats including 2 in Scotland • 1924 – Ramsey MacDonald first Labour Prime Minister

  15. Representation of the People Act 1918 • All men over the age of 21 the right to vote (and aged 19 if the men had been on active service in the armed forces). • Women of property over the age of 30 gained the right to vote – (Notice: not all women, could vote – but it was a start). • The bill was passed by an overwhelming majority in the House of Commons (385 for to 55 against)

  16. Summary • By the early 1800s the parliamentary system was out of date. • The new towns had no representation in the Commons, while sparsely populated places in the countryside still sent two MPs to the Commons. • 1832 was a key year for introducing reform. • 1867 took the “leap in the dark” further. • The years from 1832 up to 1911 saw a dramatic change in the franchise qualifications, voting conditions, and qualifications for MPs. • 1918 – all men over 21, women over 30 (who held property).

  17. In your revision: • Think about the changes between 1832 & 1928. Take account factors such as: • The number of people who could vote • The kind of people who could vote • The places that were represented in Parliament • How voting took place • The qualifications to become an MP.

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