19 th Century England “An Era of Reform”

Civil Unrest Absent While most European nations faced civil unrest in the mid-19 th century (Rev. of 1848), England solved her problems with reform efforts. While most European nations faced civil unrest in the mid-19 th century (Rev. of 1848), England solved her problems with reform efforts.

Why Reform? England was not without social problems, BUT: England was not without social problems, BUT: –English aristocrats accepted reform –Industrialization had created a strong, wealthy middle class determined to gain corresponding political power –Early reforms often dealt with matters of interest to the middle class –Victorian compromise –Workers were excluded from the political process and were often cruelly exploited.

Background Tory administration (Castlereagh) responsible for defeat of Napoleon Tory administration (Castlereagh) responsible for defeat of Napoleon –Conservative policies favored the aristocrats and angered the common citizens. Serious economic problems due to huge military expenditures made during the wars and large-scale postwar industrial unemployment. Serious economic problems due to huge military expenditures made during the wars and large-scale postwar industrial unemployment.

Corn Laws: 1815 English farmers faced disaster due to cheap, continental imported grains. English farmers faced disaster due to cheap, continental imported grains. –Hurt the landed aristocracy (already threatened by the growing econ. clout of the middle class factory owners) –The poor loved the cheap prices Tory Parliament passed the corn laws, putting an import tariff on foreign grains Tory Parliament passed the corn laws, putting an import tariff on foreign grains

Responses The poor rioted against the higher prices and the middle class formed the Anti-Corn Law League SO: The poor rioted against the higher prices and the middle class formed the Anti-Corn Law League SO: Coercion Acts of 1817 Coercion Acts of 1817 – suspended “habeas corpus,” providing for arbitrary arrest and punishment –Drastically curtailed freedom of the press and public mass meetings

Peterloo Massacre: 1819 Public continued to protest Public continued to protest Peaceful public meeting in Hyde Park broken up by the police Peaceful public meeting in Hyde Park broken up by the police –4 killed and hundreds wounded –Public (poor and middle class) was outraged!!!

Six Acts: 1819 In response to public protest Parliament passed the 6 Acts. In response to public protest Parliament passed the 6 Acts. –Revoked freedom of the press, speech and assembly –Strengthened police powers and police brutality ok’d –Flimsy arrests became the norm.

1820 Cato Street Conspiracy Cato Street Conspiracy –Extremists plotted to blow up the entire British cabinet Elections of 1820 Elections of 1820 –Younger more liberal Tories and some Liberal reps won Parliamentary seats –Even English aristocrats were frightened by the loss of their civil liberties –This led to an era of reforms

Victorian Era ( ) Queen V succeeded her uncle King William IV at age 18 and married her cousin, Prince Albert. Queen V succeeded her uncle King William IV at age 18 and married her cousin, Prince Albert. Encouraged reforms Encouraged reforms –Accepted by the aristocrats because together with the middle class, they all preserved their own interests at the expense of the poor –Middle class controlled the House of Commons and the aristocracy controlled the army, House of Lords, and the Church of England

Great Reform Bill of 1832 Annulled the Enclosure Acts Annulled the Enclosure Acts –No more new enclosures Redistricting Redistricting –No more rotten boroughs Suffrage for factory owners & those paying large rents, as well as the traditional aristocratic voters Suffrage for factory owners & those paying large rents, as well as the traditional aristocratic voters –***Ended the era of squirearchy*** –***Major shift in political power***

Reform Legislation Slave Act of 1833 Slave Act of 1833 Factory Act of 1831 (Age 9) Factory Act of 1831 (Age 9) New Poor Law of 1834 (workhouses) New Poor Law of 1834 (workhouses) Municipal Reform Law of 1835 (officials to reside in the city limits for at least 5 years prior to their election to the city councils) Municipal Reform Law of 1835 (officials to reside in the city limits for at least 5 years prior to their election to the city councils) Repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846 Repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846 –Due to fear of revolution

Chartism Workers were astounded that all of these reforms failed to bring them prosperity and political power. Workers were astounded that all of these reforms failed to bring them prosperity and political power. Chartism became their solution Chartism became their solution –Linked the solution of their economic plight to a program of political reform Petitioned Parliament to adopt the 6 points of their “Great Charter” Petitioned Parliament to adopt the 6 points of their “Great Charter”

Chartism Demands included: Demands included: –Universal Male Suffrage –Secret ballot for voting –Elimination of property qualifications for members of Parliament –Salaries for MP’s –Annual elections for Parliament –Redistricting to create equal electoral districts Demands were perceived as dangerously radical for their day Demands were perceived as dangerously radical for their day

Failure of Chartism Chartism as a whole failed Chartism as a whole failed –Supporters were split between those who favored violence and those that advocated peaceful tactics The return of prosperity and lower food prices coupled with slow but steady wage increases in the 1850’s and 1860’s robbed the movement of momentum The return of prosperity and lower food prices coupled with slow but steady wage increases in the 1850’s and 1860’s robbed the movement of momentum

Lord Palmerston Dominant political power in England from Dominant political power in England from –Variety of positions included Foreign Secretary, Home Secretary, and Prime Minister Preoccupied with colonial problems in China and India and British interests in the Am. Civil War Preoccupied with colonial problems in China and India and British interests in the Am. Civil War –Sepoy Rebellion –2 nd Opium War Little Attention to domestic affairs Little Attention to domestic affairs

Realignment of British Political Parties Tired of Palmerston’s blunders, the Whigs and Tories reorganized to defeat him. Tired of Palmerston’s blunders, the Whigs and Tories reorganized to defeat him. Tories became the Conservative Party Tories became the Conservative Party Whigs became the Liberal Party Whigs became the Liberal Party

Reform Prime Ministers Palmerston died in 1865 Palmerston died in 1865 Disraeli (Tory) and Gladstone (Whig) alternated with one another, sharing power for most of the rest of the century Disraeli (Tory) and Gladstone (Whig) alternated with one another, sharing power for most of the rest of the century Both were reformers Both were reformers

Gladstone (1809 – 1898) Budget Expert (orig. Chancellor of the Exchequer) Budget Expert (orig. Chancellor of the Exchequer) –Supported free trade and fiscal responsibility Supported Irish Home Rule Supported Irish Home Rule Wanted extension of democratic principles to include a greater % of the British population Wanted extension of democratic principles to include a greater % of the British population

Disraeli (1804 – 1881) Wanted an aggressive foreign policy Wanted an aggressive foreign policy –Favored the expansion of the British Empire, particularly in Africa Supported the extension of the franchise to include the working class Supported the extension of the franchise to include the working class

Great Reform Bill of 1867 Promoted by Disraeli Promoted by Disraeli Redistribution of Parliamentary seats to provide more equitable representation Redistribution of Parliamentary seats to provide more equitable representation Extended the vote to include all adult male citizens who paid 10 pounds or more rent annually. Extended the vote to include all adult male citizens who paid 10 pounds or more rent annually. ***Almost all men over 21 could now vote*** ***Almost all men over 21 could now vote*** 1868: Liberal majority elected by new electorate—lasted for next four terms. 1868: Liberal majority elected by new electorate—lasted for next four terms.

Liberal Reforms Ballot Act of 1872 (secret ballot) Ballot Act of 1872 (secret ballot) Civil Services Reform Act of 1870 (civil service exams) Civil Services Reform Act of 1870 (civil service exams) Education Act of 1870 ($$ for schools all over England, even in poor areas) Education Act of 1870 ($$ for schools all over England, even in poor areas) University Act of 1870 (no religious tests for admission) University Act of 1870 (no religious tests for admission) Representation of the People Act of 1884 (all males over 21 could vote; redistricting created 1 rep per 50,000 citizens Representation of the People Act of 1884 (all males over 21 could vote; redistricting created 1 rep per 50,000 citizens

Disraeli’s Reforms Food and Drug Act (regulated sale and quality of food and drugs) Food and Drug Act (regulated sale and quality of food and drugs) Public Health Act (gov’t standards for sanitation) Public Health Act (gov’t standards for sanitation)

Who’s Left Out??? Women!!! Particularly after the 1867 great reform bill. Women!!! Particularly after the 1867 great reform bill.