Chapter 11 Section 1Britain Becomes More Democratic

Lesson Objectives

• Describe how reformers worked to change Parliament in the 1800s.

• Understand the values that Queen Victoria represented.

• Summarize how the Liberal and Conservative parties helped bring the new ear to British politics.

Reformers sought to change Parliament in the 1800’s

• 1815 Britain was constitutional monarchy– Parliament; 2 political

parties, dominated by wealthy landowners

– Far from democratic• House of Commons elected

by less than 5% of the people

• House of Lords – Could veto any bill passed by

Commons– Held most of the power in

Parliament

Reformers sought to change Parliament in the 1800’s

• Some changes– 1820’s parliament allowed

Catholics & nonAnglican (Church of England) Protestants political rights

– With industrial revolution many rural towns lost so many people, had few or no voters• Land owners sent

representatives to Parliament became known as rotten boroughs

• Large new industrial cities had no representatives

Reformers sought to change Parliament in the 1800’s

• Reform Act of 1832– Battle between Whigs & Tories• Whigs – middle class w/ business interests• Tories – nobles, landowners w/ agricultural interests

– Redistributed seats in House of Commons• Gave representatives to large towns & cities• Eliminated rotten boroughs

– Suffrage to more men but kept property requirement for voting

– Gave greater political voice to middle class men

Reformers sought to change Parliament in the 1800’s

• 1830’s protesters known as Chartists drew up People’s Charter– Demanded: universal manhood suffrage, yearly

parliamentary elections, salaries for members of Parliament

– Presented petitions to Parliament twice w/ million+ signatures but Parliament ignored the petitions

The Victorian Age• From 1837-1901 (longest reign in

British history) Queen Victoria was great symbol in British life– Had little political power, but she

set tone for the Victorian age with strict code of morals

– Victorian values: duty, thrift, honesty, hard work, but most of all RESPECTABILITY

• Britain expanded its huge empire– India– 300 million subjects around the

world

Liberal & Conservative Parties helped bring a new era to British politics & extend right to vote to more people

Benjamin Disraeli – Tories> Conservative Party

William Gladstone – Whigs> Liberal Party

Liberal & Conservative Parties helped bring a new era to British politics & extend right to vote to more people

• 1868-1880 alternated control of Parliament– Gave vote to farmers– Pushed for reforms in Ireland– By 1900 many Chartist goals were achieved

including secret ballot– Early 1900’s House of Lords had begun to be

mainly ceremonial & had little power