Growth of Western Democracies 1815-1914

Democratic Reform in Britain Reforming Parliament Reformers Press for Change Not everyone could vote (Catholics & Non-Anglican Protestants) 1820s Catholics & Non-Anglican Protestants given the right to vote Unequal Representation-Rotten boroughs had representatives while newer industrial towns had no representation

Democratic Reform in Britain Reforming Parliament, continued Reform Act of 1832 Whigs and Tories battled over a bill to reform Parliament Passed the Great Reform Act of 1832 Redistributed seats Got rid of rotten boroughs Expanded the electorate Not quite democracy, but gave more power to the middle class

Democratic Reform in Britain Reforming Parliament continued The Chartist Movement Reforms didn’t help the rural or urban workers Workers formed the Chartists and prepared the Peoples Charter demanding further reform Universal male suffrage Annual Parliamentary elections Salary for Parliament Secret ballot Failed 3 times then disbanded Parliament eventually passed most of the reforms

Democratic Reform in Britain The Victorian Age 1807-1901 Queen Victoria set the tone Symbol of a Nation’s Values Duty Thrift Honesty Hard work Respectability

Democratic Reform in Britain The Victorian Age continued A Confident Age Middle and working class felt confidence in the future Confidence grew as British Empire grew Reformers continued to push for reform

Democratic Reform in Britain A New Era in British Politics Benjamin Disraeli Tory leader that forged the party into the Conservative Party William Gladstone Whig leader that forged the party into the Liberal Party Both fought for reform and alternated as Prime Minister from 1868-1880

Democratic Reform in Britain A New Era in British Politics continued Expanding Suffrage Disraeli and Conservative Party passed the Reform Bill of 1867 Gave more working class men suffrage Gladstone and Liberal Party extended suffrage even more by the end of the 1880s Gave vote to farmworkers and most other men Achieved secret ballot Achieved most of the Chartist’s ambitions

Democratic Reform in Britain A New Era in British Politics continued Expanding Suffrage continued Transformed from a constitutional monarchy to a parliamentary democracy Limiting the Lords In early 1900s the House of Lords were slowly became nothing more than a ceremonial body with little power

Social and Economic reform in Britain A Series of Reforms Parliament passed a wide variety of important new laws Free Trade and Corn Laws In early 1800s imports were taxed to protect local economies Free traders believed that a hands of approach to the economy would lead to prosperity Without tariffs competitors would benefit from open competition

Social and economic reform in Britain A Series of Reforms, continued Free Trade and the Corn Laws, continued Some tariffs repealed in 1820s Fierce debate erupted over the Corn Laws Farmers and wealthy land owners wanted to keep the laws Free traders wanted laws repealed Parliament repealed Corn Laws in 1846 after widespread crop failures

Social and Economic Reforms in Britain A Series of Reforms, continued Campaign Against Slavery Enlightenment thinkers in the 1700s against slavery Under pressure from the abolition movement Britain was the first to abolish the slave trade in 1807 Slavery continued until 1833 when it was banned completely

Social and Economic Reform in Britain A Series of Reforms, continued Crime and Punishment In early 1800s more than 200 crimes were punishable by death Capital offenses included murder, shoplifting, sheep stealing and impersonating an army veteran Executions were public occasions Bodies were donated to science

Social and Economic Reform in Britain A Series of Reforms, continued Crime and Punishment, continued Reformers reduced the number of capital offenses By 1850 the death penalty was only for murder, piracy, treason and arson Criminals were sent to penal colonies in Australia In 1868 public executions were ended More reforms improved prison conditions and outlawed debtor prisons

Social and Economic Reform in Britain Victories for the Working Class Parliament began passing laws to improve social conditions in 1840 During the early 1900s they passed additional reforms to help the men, women and children who made up the working class Improving Working Conditions In 1842 mine owners forbidden from employing women or children under the age of 10

Social and Economic Reforms in Britain Victories for the Working Class, continued Improving Working Conditions, continued 1847 law restricting the amount of hours a woman or child could work 1800s many laws making working conditions

Social and Economic Reform in Britain Victories for the Working Class, continued The Growth of Labor Unions Early in the Industrial Revolution unions were banned Under pressure workers organizations were slowly accepted Trade unions legalized in 1825, but could not strike

Social and Economic Reform in Britain Victories for the Working Class, continued The Growth of Labor Unions, continued Between 1890 and 1914 Unions grew and gradually won more rights Unions got higher wages and shorter work hours for members Continued to press for other reforms

Social and Economic Reform in Britain Victories for the Working Class, continued Later Reforms Both parties passed reforms to benefit the working class Disraeli passed public health and housing bills Gladstone got free elementary education for children Gladstone opened government jobs based on merit

Social and Economic Reform in Britain Victories for the Working Class, continued Later Reforms, continued Fabian Society pushed for reform through the legal system instead of violence Fabian’s were small, but had great influence In 1900 socialists and union members formed the Labour Party Labour Party surpassed the Liberal Party in membership

Social and Economic Reform in Britain Victories for the Working Class, continued Labor Reforms, continued Early in the 1900s many social reforms were passed Accident, health, and unemployment insurance Old age pensions (retirement benefits)

Social and Economic Reform in Britain The Struggle to Win Votes for Women Strong opposition to women’s suffrage Suffragist Revolt Early 1900s many women were convinced only aggressive tactics would work Interrupted speakers in Parliament Collected petitions and huge public demonstrations Smashed windows and burned buildings Hunger strikes

Social and Economic Reform in Britain The Struggle to Win Votes for Women Victory At Last 1918 women over 30 given the right to vote 1928 younger women given the right to vote

Social and Economic Reform for Britain Instability for Ireland The English began conquering Ireland in 1100 AD Ireland was colonized in the 1600s by the English and Scottish Irish resented English rule, especially the absentee landlords Irish peasants lived in desperate poverty, paying high rent to English landlords Irish Catholics had to pay tithes to the Church of England

Social and Economic Change for Britain Instability for Ireland, con’t Rebellions were common Irish Nationalism Nationalists campaigned for freedom and justice in 1800s Irish Catholic League held massive meetings demanding the repeal of unfair laws Under pressure Parliament issued the Catholic Emancipation Act Other injustices remained

Social and Economic Change for Britain Instability for Ireland, con’t Struggle for Home Rule 1845 Potato Famine left Irish bitter towards the British 1850s Fenian Brotherhood tried to physically force the British out of Ireland Parliament debated the idea of home rule for decades

Social and Economic Change for Britain Instability for Ireland, con’t Struggle for Home Rule “Irish question” disrupted British Politics Gladstone made reforms to ease Irish farmers burdens Did away with tithes to the church Made laws limiting rents and protecting tenant farmers rights 1914 law passed giving the southern counties of Ireland freedom, but did not go into effect until 1921

France Under Napoleon III After revolution of 1848 Napoleon III rose to power Napoleon III was liked by all classes Bourgeoisie saw him as a strong leader who would restore order His promise to end poverty impressed gave hope to the lower class All classes were attracted to his name Napoleon III unfortunately was not anything like his uncle

France Under Napoleon III Limits on Liberty The Second Empire appeared to be a constitutional monarchy Napoleon III was actually more like a dictator Universal male suffrage existed, but the elections were “managed” so supporters of the empire were elected Debates limited Newspapers were strictly censored In the 1860s Napoleon eased control and introduced a new constitution

France Under Napoleon III Promoting Economic Growth Napoleon III promoted investing in industry and railroad building Ferdinand de Lesseps organized the building of the Suez Canal Linked the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea through Egypt Napoleon made changes Legalized labor unions Extended public education to girls Created a small public health program Still most people lived in poverty

France Under Napoleon III Foreign Adventures Napoleons biggest failures were foreign affairs Maximilian placed on the throne in Mexico After 4 years France left Maximilian overthrown and killed Helped Italy overthrow Austria-Hungary Received Nice and Savoy United Italy turned on Napoleon and challenged the border between France and Italy France and Britain won Crimean War, but France didn’t have much to show for it

France Under Napoleon III A Disastrous War with Prussia Prussian leader Otto von Bismarck tricked France into war Franco-Prussian War a disaster for France Napoleon III captured German forces advanced towards Paris Paris put under siege and citizens reduced to eating rats and circus animals

Challenges of the Third Republic Provisional government set up that evolved into the Third Republic In 1871 legislature accept a harsh peace with Germany France gave up Alsace and Lorraine Had to pay a huge sum to Germany French were eager to avenge their loss

Challenges of the Third Republic The Paris Commune 1871- rebels set up the Paris Commune Goal was to save the Republic from the royalists Communards (the rebels) included workers, socialists, bourgeois republicans National Assembly ordered the Commune disbanded Rebels refused A civil war raged for weeks Rebels set fire to government buildings and toppled monuments Government forces butchered 20,000 Communards ending the Civil War Paris Commune suppression left bitter memories that deepened the social divide

Challenges of the Third Republic Government Structure Third Republic lasted 70 years Two house legislature Chamber of Deputies (lower house) elected by universal male suffrage Elected president (just a figurehead) Premier or prime minister had the real power There were many political parties and none of the parties could win a majority so they formed coalition governments with multiple parties forming alliances Coalition governments are unstable Many changes in government In the first 10 years there were 50 different governments

Challenges of the Third Republic Political Scandals Despite frequent government changes France made economic progress Paid Germany the huge sum on money they owed Expanded overseas empire 1880s and 1890s series of political scandals rocked the nation Popular minister of war General Boulanger, rallied royalists and ultranationalists who wanted revenge on Germany Accused of plotting against the republic and so fled the country A nephew of the president was caught selling nominations for the Legion of Honor, France’s highest award President was forced to resign Challenges of the Third Republic

Anti-Semitism and the Dreyfus Affair High ranking army officer, Alfred Dreyfus, was accused of spying for the Germans At the military trial neither Dreyfus nor his lawyer were allowed to see the evidence This was rooted in antisemitism, hatred of Jews The military elite hated that Dreyfus, a Jewish soldier, had reached such a high rank Despite proclaiming his innocence Dreyfus was convicted and condemned to life on Devil’s Island, a desolate penal colony off the coast of South America In 1896 new evidence was found and pointed to another officer, Ferdinand Esterhazy The army refused to grant Dreyfus a new trial

Anti-Semitism and the Dreyfus Affair Deep Divisions Dreyfus Affair scarred France for decades Royalists, ultranationalists, and Church officials said that Dreyfus supporters were undermining France Dreyfusards, mostly liberals and republicans, upheld ideals of justice and equality despite the public anger 1898-Emile Zola accused the army and government of suppressing the truth He was convicted of libel and fled into exile Slowly the Dreyfusards made progress and the evidence against Dreyfus was forged Dreyfus was finally cleared of all charges and released in 1906

Anti-Semitism and the Dreyfus Affair Calls for a Jewish State The Dreyfus case reflected the rise in antisemitism across Europe In some areas of Europe Jews were treated equally, but most were forced into ghettos in Eastern Europe or slums in Western Europe Antisemitism grew among the lower middle class who felt insecure in their social and economic position They became aggressive and intolerant of outsiders and became violent in their hatred of the Jews The Dreyfus Affair and the pogroms of Russia prompted a call for an independent Jewish state Zionism, a movement to reestablish a Jewish state in Palestine, was launched Anti-Semitism and the Dreyfus Affair

Reforms in France France achieved serious reforms in the early 1900s Regulation of wages Regulating working hours Regulating safety conditions for workers Free public elementary schools Attempt to reduce the influence of the Catholic Church

Reforms for France Separating Church and State France tried to repress the Catholic Church Republicans were upset the church had supported the army and the government in the Dreyfus Affair Republicans also felt that the church opposed progressive reforms Closed church schools Passed laws to separate church and state Stopped paying the salaries of the church

Reforms for France Women’s Rights Under Napoleonic code women had few rights 1890s women groups sought reform 1896-married women have the right to their own wages 1909-French Union for Women’s Suffrage founded Legal protests Men were afraid the women would vote with the Church Women didn’t get the right to vote until after WW II

Looking Ahead By 1914 France was the largest democracy in Europe Constitution that protected basic rights Economy was generally prosperous Overseas empire was second only to England Outlook not all good Coalition governments rose and fell at the slightest pressure Germany was a huge threat loomed to the east Many still wanted revenge for the Franco-Prussian War Wanted Alsace and Lorraine back Chance came in 1914 with the outbreak of WW I