1. Growth of Western Democracies 1815-1914

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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)

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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

35. 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

36. 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

37. 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

38. 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

39. 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

40. 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

41. 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

42. 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

43. 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

44. 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