How DEMOCRACY INTRODUCTION

The Growth of Democracy One of the main themes of the late 19th and early 20th century. Democracy in a higher History essay must include: 1 The Franchise – The Vote – For Men and Women. A Secret Ballot - Safety from intimidation or Violence. Size of Constituencies – Fairness. Representation- having a choice of MPs and political parties which have different policies. 2. 3. 4.

“ It’s not our recession” Democracy Today - Do Not Copy Everyone aged eighteen or over can vote, except for “lunatics”, Lords and some criminals. Everyone’s vote is secret. Nobody has to tell anyone else how they have voted. Britain is divided into 630 constituencies. They vary in geographical size but each constituency has roughly the same amount of voters. Each Constituency sends one MP (Member of Parliament) to Parliament in London. Each voter in a constituency votes for one person whom they want to be their MP, from the list of candidates. Most of these candidates are from a political party (Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat, Scottish Nationalist etc,). In each constituency the candidate who gets the most votes becomes MP and sits in the House of Commons. MPs are paid a salary. The Party which has the most MPs forms the Government and its leader becomes Prime Minister. There must be a General Election at least every 5 years. Parliament consists of the House of Commons and House of Lords. The House of Commons has much more power than the House of Lords. Tory Defence Policy “ It’s not our recession” LABOUR LABOUR IN EVERYBODY OUT Vote for strikes & more Strikes & more Strikes: Conservatives

THE IMPACT OF DEMOCRACY Reform acts widened the franchise to increasingly include working people It produced movements which sought further reforms Trade Unions The Chartists Women’s Suffrage Movement It produced a change in response from Government away from Laisser-Faire towards State involvement. It produced changes in policy e.g. Liberal reforms ~ Pensions ~ National Insurance ~ School Meals. Labour reforms ~ Nationalisation ~ National Health Service ~ National Insurance. It produced strong central Government based on Westminster –

STEPS ON THE ROAD TO DEMOCRACY 1928 1948 End to Plural Voting Women over 21 get the vote 1918 Women over 30 get the vote. All men 21+ get vote 1911 MPs to be paid/Reduce power Lords 1884 The unskilled male worker gets the vote 1885 Redistribution of Seats Act 1872 1883 Corrupt & Illegal Practices act The ballot is secret 1867 The Skilled workers get the vote 1832 The Middle Class get the vote

GREAT REFORM BILL 1832

THE GREAT PERIOD OF REFORMS At the beginning of the nineteenth century power in Britain was in the hands of rich landowners. In parliament, in towns and cities, in the countryside, they ran affairs, and working people had little or no say in government. The system worked quite well during much of the eighteenth century. Most ordinary people were not interested in politics, and were used to obeying their “betters”. But the great changes that you are reading about forced governments to think more about the lives of working classes. The middle classes (factory owners, businessmen, professional people like lawyers, doctors etc) also felt that they should have a share in running the country. In 1832 very few people had a vote. During the century parliaments gradually and often reluctantly passed acts which gave more and more people this important privilege, which we now take for granted. .

Before 1832 –The Electoral System Depended Upon Property = LAND, This Was Wealth. Before 1832 you Had To Be Male And Own Property to be allowed to vote. In Scotland, before 1832 only 6,000 men were allowed to vote. 1832 1st Great reform Bill. Middle Classes Received, The Vote (e.g. factory owners, businessmen, professional people like lawyers, doctors etc). Now 1 in 6 of the male population could vote but poorer men and all women were still not allowed - This Was Still Not Democracy.

SO HOW DEMOCRATIC WAS BRITAIN AFTER 1832? Great Reform Bill 1832 Granted the vote to merchants, professionals and manufacturers. Only 1 in 6 adult males entitled to vote, no women Demands for a secret ballot refused. Some of worst rotten burghs gotten rid of but most big cities under-represented. The right to vote only to those who owned property of a certain value – no working class. SO HOW DEMOCRATIC WAS BRITAIN AFTER 1832?