1. The Growth of Democracy

2. Aims:  Define key political terms e.g. democracy.  Identify the reasons why Britain was not a democratic country in the 1800s.

3. Class Discussions Answer the following question in your group: Q.What is a democracy?

4. Democracy DemosPeople KratosPower ‘Demokratia’ or Democracy Rule By The People

5. Key Features of a Democracy  Adult population has the right to vote  Voting is carried out in secret  All areas of the country represented  Choice of candidates/parties  Payment of representatives  Regular elections

6. The Demand For Change – The Industrial Revolution  Before 1750 most people in Britain worked on the land.  New machinery was developed to produce goods e.g. Power Loom.  These machines were housed in huge buildings called ‘factories’.  Towns/cities grew rapidly as people from the countryside moved to find work.  The owners of these factories and industries became rich and were known as the ‘middle classes’.  The middle classes did not have the right to vote at election.  Major towns and cities did not have any MPs in Parliament to represent them.

7. The Industrial Revolution and Urbanisation  Industrial Revolution created a new group of people – the middle class.  The middle classes did not have the right to vote at elections.  Urbanisation – towns/cities grew rapidly as people moved to find work.  Major towns and cities did not have any MPs in Parliament to represent them.

8. The Road to Democracy 1832 1867 1872 1884 1911 1918 1928

9. Reform Begins  The British government was worried that if they didn’t introduce reforms, revolution would happen – ordinary people would try to overthrow the government by force.  This had happened in countries like France, Germany and Italy.  Reform means ‘a change for the better’.  The franchise or right to vote was extended to most men.

10. 1832 Reform Act  Before 1832 the upper class aristocracy were reluctant to give more people the right to vote.  The Industrial Revolution had created a wealthy group – the middle classes – who had made their wealth out of industries and factories.  The 1832 Reform Act finally gave the middle classes the vote.  Some areas were finally given an MP, other areas gained extra MPs so that the population of different areas could be fairly represented.  5 out of 6 men still didn’t have the right to vote.

11. 1867 Reform Act  It took 35 years before any further changes happened.  In 1867 the urban working class – those living in towns and cities – finally got the vote.  The number of people who vote increased to 1.2 million.  35 boroughs lost an MP and many large cities gained an MP. This was to try and make constituencies of a roughly equal size.

12. Reform Begins  1832 Reform Act – middle classes given the vote. Some areas lost MPs, others gained MPs.  1867 Reform Act – working class in towns and cities got the vote. Some areas lost MPs, others gained MPs.  1872 Secret Ballot Act – Voting would now be carried out in secret.

13. Further Reforms  1883 Corrupt Practises Act – Candidates could only spend so much on their campaigns.  1884 Third Reform Act - working class in the counties (rural areas) were given the vote.  1911 Parliament Act – MPs were given a salary of £500 per year. This made it easier for working-class people to stand for Parliament. Elections had to take place every 5 years.

14. Further Reforms  1918 Representation of the People Act – all men over 21 and women over 30 got the vote.  1928 Equal Franchise Act – all women over 21 got the vote.

15. Was Britain a Democracy by 1900?  Most men (around 60%) had the vote but not all.  Bribery and corruption had been dealt with.  Equal constituencies of 50,000 voters had been set up.  However half the population i.e. women did not have the vote.