Electoral Reforms Political Parties –1700s, both Whigs and Tories represented wealthy landowners –Extension of franchise forced the parties to reorganize to attract middle class support: Whig party evolved into the Liberal party Tory party evolved into the Conservative party

Political Leadership The Victorian Age –2 brilliant prime ministers: William Gladstone Benjamin Disraeli

Political Leadership William Gladstone –Liberal party prime minister and Education Act of 1870 –Free nonsectarian elementary schools. Ballot Act of 1872 –Introduced the secret ballot in British elections. Reform Bill of 1884 –Extended the franchise to most farm workers.

Political Leadership Benjamin Disraeli –Conservative party leader in Commons mid-1860s. Reform Bill of 1867 –Believed reform would broaden the Conservative Party voter base. –Extended the vote to all middle class males and the “best-paid workers.” –Prime minister between

Growth of Democracy Rise of Labor –Many workers felt existing political parties didn’t do enough to address their issues –Labor union growth Rise of Socialism –1884, Fabian Society was formed with the aim of establishing a Socialist government

Growth of Democracy Labour Party –Founded in 1900 –Headed by Ramsay MacDonald –Combined the forces of labor and socialism 1st coalition government –Liberal party won the 1906 elections, but only with Labour party backing. –Price for support = socialist legislation

Growth of Democracy 1st coalition government (cont’d.) –Financing such sweeping legislation required passage of new taxes. –Conservative party-led House of Lords opposed new taxation. –1911 Parliament Act Removed all money bills from the House of Lords’ control. Royal threat to pack Lords with new peers.

Growth of Democracy Women’s Rights –Married Women’s Property Acts (1870/82) Gave women increased legal control over family earnings and property. –Women’s Social Political Union “suffragettes” 1918: women over 30 granted the franchise 1928: lowered the voting age for women to 21

The Irish Problem Since the Act of Union in 1801, Ireland had been united with GB and was governed by the British Parliament. Following Catholic Emancipation in 1829, the number of Irish Catholics in the House of Commons grew considerably. –Demanded home rule under which Ireland would acquire its own parliament.

The Irish Problem For centuries, English rulers had encouraged English and Scottish Protestants to settle in northern Ireland. –Many settled in Ulster. –Political and economic control in North. –Opposed to home rule.

The Irish Problem Potato Famine 1845 –Accelerated hatred of the British government which did little when crops failed. –Fanned revolutionary fervor among the Catholics. –Parliament resisted home rule to protect Protestant political power.

The Irish Problem Gladstone and Home Rule –Home Rule for Ireland would cap Gladstone’s career. Separate and independent parliament to sit in Dublin with full taxation and appointment powers. –Home Rule bill failed. Conservatives and anti-home-rule Liberals coalition. –Gladstone’s government fell. –Liberal party split. Ulster volunteers.

The Irish Problem 1914: Home Rule finally pushed through Parliament by the Liberals. –Unenforceable because of opposition in Ulster where the volunteers formed an illegal militia. –Response of the Irish nationalists? Formed a militia of their own. –Summer, 1914, Ireland on the brink of civil war when WWI intervened.

Decline of the Austro- Hungarian Empire The Makeup of the Austrian Empire –More than 12 different nationalities. Germans of Austria and Magyars of Hungary were the 2 largest groups, but neither was a majority in the empire. Other nationalities: Poles, Czechs, Croats, Slovaks, and Romanians. Each had strong sense of ethnic pride. Each resented Austrian rule.

Decline of the Austro- Hungarian Empire, cont’d. The Revolution of 1848 –Metternich had dominated empire from 1809 to Conservative, reactionary. Anti-democratic and anti- nationalist.

Decline of the Austro- Hungarian Empire, cont’d. Emperor Francis Joseph ( ). –Conservative. Repressive. –Prestige weakened by loss of Italian territories to Sardinians during Italian unification.

Decline of the Austro- Hungarian Empire, cont’d. Francis Joseph (cont.) –To regain popular support, experimented with decentralization. October Diploma of 1860 expanded authority of aristocratic assemblies in Hungary, Bohemia, and other provinces. –Magyars refused participation.

Decline of the Austro- Hungarian Empire, cont’d. The Compromise of 1867: Dual Monarchy –In 1866, Prussia defeated Austria in the Austro-Prussian (Seven Weeks) War. Imperial prestige at a low point. –Magyars pressed demands for independence from Austrian rule. Hungarian statesman, Francis Deak demanded Hungary be recognized as a separate kingdom. –Francis Joseph agreed.

Decline of the Austro- Hungarian Empire, cont’d. The Compromise of 1867: Dual Monarchy, cont’d. Result: Divided the Hapsburg empire into 2 distinct units: –The Austrian Empire &The Kingdom of Hungary. –Each had its own constitution and parliament. –Francis Joseph: Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary. –Placated the Magyars only. –Nationalist movements among other minorities would lead to WWI.