Reforms Continued in Britain In 2nd half of C19th process of political reform begun with First (Great) Reform Bill of 1832 was given further impetus. 1867, Second Reform Bill passed by parliament. Not only granted right to vote to middle classes, but also to better-off working classes. By 1850’s many workers began to move out of absolute poverty & gained greater social respectability; & as their social status improved pressures to give them the vote did so too. The Second Reform Bill increased size of electorate from c. 1.5 million to 2.5 million, many of newly enfranchised now being from the working classes. Interestingly, Second Reform Bill championed by conservative leader Disraeli. Realizing that it was only a matter of time before pressures forced the government to grant the right to vote to the voters, PM Disraeli took lead on the issue so as to win political sympathy of workers.

Reforms Continued in Britain (2) Further impt. reforms followed incl. Education Act (1870): Here for first time government accepted responsibility for establishing & running primary schools (before this the role had been played in only a limited way by religious organizations) The ‘Ballot Act’ of 1872 allowed for voting by secret ballot; Public Health Act of 1872 recognized state’s duty to interfere, even on private property, if conditions of work were unhealthy; the Artisans Dwelling Act of 1875 made state directly involved in housing members of working class

Major Socioeconomic Developments of 2nd Half of C19th Rapid Population Growth (Improvements in healthcare, agriculture etc.) Greater Mobility & Increased Emigration (Railways, steamships, emancipation of serfs etc.) Second Industrial Revolution (Rapid improvements in production & use of steel, chemicals, electricity & oil, (rather than textiles & steam), & Britain no longer always leading the way Ascendancy of Middle Classes (growing in numbers & prosperity, middle classes increasingly satisfied with their lot, became defenders of status quo)

REFORM vs. REVOLUTION (1) As pace / spread of industrialization increased, size of urban proletariat also expanded, & by latter half of C19th, workers increasingly became more politically active & began to organize more coherently within Trade Unions, to participate more actively in political parties, & to defend / employ ideology of socialism. Marxism, rather than the ‘Utopian Socialism’ of earlier times was having an ever-greater impact.

REFORM vs. REVOLUTION (2) By end of century, with broad based electoral systems being established throughout much Europe (Russia remaining a key exception), many workers now had right to vote, (1) harder for politicians to ignore their demands; (2) opportunity to use established electoral & governmental processes to try & achieve goals. Major debate within European socialist parties incr. centered around choice between revolution or reform through democratic processes & institutions. ... & With Glasses  KARL MARX (Without Glasses)