1. What is a Democracy? Universal suffrage, where every man and woman have the right to vote regardless of class. Secret ballot must be in place to prevent corruption. Equal sizes of constituencies Regular elections Elected members of government. Voters must have civil rights, such as freedom of speech and the right to stand in elections.

2. 1858 Abolition of Property Qualification for Parliamentary Candidates Act Why was this act passed? Passed by Liberal government of Lord John Russell Continued pressure from radical Liberal MPs for the government to meet another Chartist demand not met in the 1832 Reform Act. What did the Act do? men did not have to own property in order to stand as candidates in parliamentary elections. Assessment of the Act In theory meant any man could become a MP Made little difference in reality to working class men as campaigning was too expensive and any potential voters (who still had to own or rent property) were middle and upper class. Even in 1865, 44% percent of MPs were landed gentry or aristocrats.

3. The Second Parliamentary Reform Act 1867 Terms of the Act Redistribution of seats » Counties and boroughs with less than10,000 people lost 1 MP » The remaining 45 seats redistributed to counties and boroughs that had more people since 1832, eg Liverpool got 1 more MP The franchise (the vote was granted to): – Men in towns (boroughs) who paid rates or paid £10 annual rent – Men in rural areas (counties) whose property was valued at £5/year – Business owners whose premises had a rateable value of £12/year

4. The Second Parliamentary Reform Act, 1867 Why passed? (read: Morrison p.54 -56) Political advantage: Disraeli ‘dishes the Whigs’ Increasing popularity in the moral right for all men to be involved in government. Based on contemporary writers (political philosophers) eg John Stuart Mill: On Liberty (1860). Public sympathy for freedom for black US slaves in the US Civil War. Increased public pressure for reform. Evidence: – 1864 National Reform Union. Middle class Manchester merchants/manufacturers and radical MPs. Had money. – 1864 national Reform League. Trade Unionists, communists, left wing, working class and left wing intellectuals. Had high membership. – Both societies cooperated effectively. In 1866, Hyde Park (London) riots. Pressure from Whigs turning to Liberalism. Party name changes to Liberals. – Attracts property owning middle class (new industrialists) from growing industrial towns and cities

5. Second Parliamentary Reform Act 1867 Assessment of the Act Increased electorate to 2.5 million men (1 in 3) Increased electorate in growing industrial towns and cities (boroughs)of England and Scotland. Enfranchised skilled working class in boroughs. Cons and Libs had to reorganise into national parties with national policies to represent the increase in electorate and capture votes from the boroughs Reduced the number of independent MPs BUT No real change in the balance of political power – still only 2 parties Electorate still mostly middle and upper class due to property qualification still required. Overall – this act effected a gradual movement towards democracy in GB

6. Secret Ballot Act 1872 Why passed: Radical Liberals pressure: John Bright Lib MP concerned about tenants who faced eviction if they did not vote (in open ballot) for their landlord who was also their MP. Secret ballot would eliminate such intimidation What the act did: required that British general elections to Parliament and local government election use the secret ballot.British general electionsParliamentsecret ballot Voting was to be done so the individual’s vote was confidential to avoid them being susceptible to bribery and intimidation Assessment of the act: Reduced intimidation but bribery was still endemic in the system.

7. 1883 Corrupt and Illegal Practices Act Why passed Corruption and influence still lingered in smaller towns often dominated by one or two large employers Radical Liberals concerned to make the system less open to abuse. Terms of Act Election expenses determined by size of constituency Fines and prison terms for those MPs and their agents who exceeded the allowed expenses Assessment “Elections certainly became more orderly” S. Wood: Britain 1850 - 1979, p36

8. 1884 3 rd Parliamentary Reform Act The Representation of the People Act Why was the act passed? To extend the franchise to males in counties and boroughs on an equal basis. Liberals could win more votes. Political advantage Terms of the Act Franchise extended. 2 in 3 can now vote Same £10/yr rent in towns and counties Assessment of Act Electoral system now more equal The parliament was now “…elected by 5 millions of men, of whom three fifths belong to the labouring population. It is a revolution which has been peacefully and silently accomplished. The centre of power has been shifted.” Joseph Chamberlain, radical Lib MP BUT – no women, male domestics, sons at home, paupers, soldiers in barracks and those who had failed to pay rates. So, still 40% adult males still with no vote (unenfranchised)

9. The Redistribution Act 1885 Why passed? House of Lords would only allow the 1884 Bill to pass if a redistribution of seats was considered too. Terms of the Act Constituencies were reorganised into more equal sizes by population Assessment of Act Combined with the 1884 Act, the franchise was widened to the working class. Now Parliament would have to take into account the views of the majority of people. One more step towards democracy.

10. The Parliament Act 1911 Terms of the Act Took away House of Lords’ power of veto over money bills Could only delay other Bills twice. Life of Government term reduced from 7 years to 5. MPs paid annual salary (£400) Assessment of the Act Secures the supremacy of the House of Commons over the House of Lords. Now the elected members (Commons) have more power than the unelected (Lords) Another step nearer to democracy.

11. The Parliament Act 1911 Why passed? In 1909 Liberals proposed £16 million/yr extra taxes to pay for old age pensions. The ‘People’s Budget’ Tories and House of Lords (Tory majority) blocked the proposal. PM Asquith (Lib) appeals to King George V for help. King says, if needed he would create 250 new Liberal peers which would have removed the Tory majority. The prospect of a Liberal majority in the Lords was too much for the Tories so they back down. The budget and Parliament bill are passed.

12. Votes for Women 23. Why no vote by 1914? Traditional attitude of British society that women were not deserving of or responsible enough to have the vote. PM Asquith delayed the progress of a bill going through parliament for women to get the vote in 1913 Militant actions of Suffragettes First World War stopped the process of passing a bill for women to get the vote.

13. Representation of the People Act 1918 24.Why change in attitudes over votes for women? War work – munitions, medical services, military organisations – WAACS, WRENS, WRAFS Coalition government Libs and Cons. 1916 Lloyd Georg Lib PM(more sympathetic to the cause) Moral precedent – if returning soldiers after the war were to get the vote then women who also made huge sacrifices for the country during the war must also get the vote.

14. 25. Terms of the Act All men regardless of money qualification 21 yrs + enfranchised Women 30 yrs old enfranchised. 26. Assessment of Act 8.5 million women now enfranchised BUT many disappointed by the age bar and other qualifications, eg householders, wives of householders, graduates. One more step but not fully democratic yet.

15. The Equal Franchise Act 1928 27. Women tended to vote Conservative so Conservative government see opportunity for more votes. More women = more votes for Conservatives. 28. It widened suffrage by giving women electoral equality with men - women were now able to vote from the age of 21 29. Equality of franchise for all men and women aged 21 yrs + BUT full democracy? Time for a summary to assess how democratic GB was by 1928.