The Growth of Democracy

Aims:

Define key political terms e.g. democracy.

Identify the reasons why Britain was not a democratic country in the 1800s.

Class Discussions

Answer the following question in your group:

Q. What is a democracy?

Democracy

Demos People

Kratos Power

‘Demokratia’ or Democracy

Rule By The People

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

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.

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.

The Road to Democracy

1832

1867

1872

1884

1911

1918

1928

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.