LEARNING INTENTIONSLEARNING INTENTIONS

• Explain the reasons that Britain became a democracy

• These reasons included:

• Industrial Revolution

• Other countries’ influence

• Pressure groups

• Education and newspapers

• World War One

• Party advantage

British EstablishmentBritish Establishment

Britain has historically been a very class-based and hierarchical society.

In the early nineteenth century the main planks of the establishment – the Monarchy, the Aristocracy and the Churches – ruled the country in their own interests.

George IV 1820-1830

British EstablishmentBritish Establishment

They did not favour the idea of sharing power with ordinary people.

It was felt that a man had to be wealthy and own property to have a proper stake in country.

The idea that someone who was not a property owner could vote was not accepted.

The House of Commons in the

eighteenth century.

The start of changeThe start of change

From the 1830s onwards this type of society began to decline – although it would take 100 years to make real change.

There were numerous factors which lay behind these changes. Each of them played their own role.

Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution

Between the 1750s and the 1840s, Britain went underwent huge changes.

These changes were linked to the new technology of the day, including new factory methods and transport reforms too.

Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution

This transformed the country from one where most people lived and worked in the countryside.

After this, most people lived in towns and cities and worked in large workplaces e.g. factories, mines, shipyards, etc.

Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution

Created a middle class who wanted the vote. As middle class were given the vote (1832), this increased demands for all men to vote and eventually women too.

Living and working so closely together inspired people to campaign for change in all their lives.

Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution

Another key part of the Industrial Revolution is the rise of Britain’s rail network.

Not only did this allow more people the chance to travel, it only gave this opportunity to political campaigners, and newspapers too.

Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution

Many of the other factors which are said to have influenced democracy – World War One, pressure groups, etc – can be traced back to the Industrial Revolution.

e.g. World War One partly about an arms race and empire building which can be traced back to the I.R.

Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution

Industrial revolution said to begin in the 1750s – almost 200 years before equal voting in Britain.

It may have helped create the conditions for democracy – but other factors must be important too.

Other countries’ influenceOther countries’ influence

Political revolutions took place around the world.

These included Italian Revolutions (1848), the Russian Revolution (1917) and the American Civil War (1865). The American and French Revolutions of the 1700s had an influence too.

Other countries’ influenceOther countries’ influence

Revolution in other countries lead to fears it might happen in Britain too. Many Britons were inspired by those overseas.

Ruling class believed it was better to give up some control rather than lose it all. This led to slow political change.

Other countries’ influenceOther countries’ influence

People maybe aware of foreign events – but no evidence of any real demand for revolution.

Furthermore, WW1 helped cause the Russian Revolution, suggesting WW1 is a bigger democratic influence.

Pressure Groups - MenPressure Groups - Men

Various groups campaigned to make Britain more democratic.

Groups such as the Chartists, Reform League and National Reform Union were active in the 1800s.

They used peaceful protests to get changes such as giving men the vote and paying MPs.

Pressure Groups - MenPressure Groups - Men

Campaign groups helped bring democratic issues to public attention.

Pressure groups brought public and politicians together on certain issues.

Pressure groups gave those that could not vote a chance to have political influence.

Pressure Groups - MenPressure Groups - Men

These groups (especially the Chartists) sometimes took part in riots, meaning the government could ignore them.

Also these groups had no interest in helping women gain the vote, so had only a limited influence on a truly democratic Britain.

Pressure Groups - WomenPressure Groups - Women

Groups such as the Suffragettes and Suffragists campaigned for women’s right to vote.

The Suffragists (NUWSS) used peaceful methods such as petitions and campaigns.

The Suffragettes (WSPU) were more extreme, using violence.

Pressure Groups - WomenPressure Groups - Women

At a time when women had a very limited political role, these pressure groups were an opportunity for them to participate.

They also allowed women to build relations with male campaigners and politicians who supported them.

Pressure Groups - WomenPressure Groups - Women

The violent actions of the Suffragettes may have stopped the government giving women the vote as they did not want to be seen to give in to terrorism.

The Suffragettes were also focused on all middle/upper class women voting, rather than everyone.

Education and newspapersEducation and newspapers

1855, Stamp Duty removed from newspapers, making them cheaper to buy. In 1856 there were 795 newspapers in Britain; by 1886 there were 2093.

1872, primary education becomes compulsory in Scotland (age up to 12).

The Scotsman newspaper was founded in Edinburgh

in 1817

Education and Education and newspapersnewspapers

More education enabled people to read about politics in newspapers and pamphlets.

This helped start working class political campaigns, which played a role in bringing about political change.

Education and Education and newspapersnewspapers

Newspapers did not focus entirely on political or social issues – included gossip too.

Many of the first pupils after 1872 were in their 50s (men) or 70s (women) before they could vote. This is clearly not the only influence.

World War OneWorld War One

During World War One, men were conscripted to fight abroad (from 1916) and women did many of the jobs the men left behind e.g. munitions factories.

In February 1918 (near the end of World War One) all men over 21 gained the vote and some women over 30.

World War OneWorld War One

Strong argument that men and women were given the vote as a ‘thank you’ for their war efforts.

Impossible to force men to fight then deny them the vote on their return.

World War OneWorld War One

After this it was difficult to argue that rich, educated women could not vote whilst even poor men had the right.

Women’s work during the war supported giving them this right, as did the suffrage campaigns suspending their demands for female suffrage.

World War OneWorld War One

Men had previously fought in wars e.g. the Boer War and not been given the vote afterwards.

Many of the women who did the most important war work were single and under-30 – the very women who did not get the vote in 1918.

Political advantagePolitical advantage

Political parties supported change so that they would gain the votes of new voters.

In 1867 the Conservatives by proposing giving more men the vote (‘dishing the Whigs’).

In 1918 the Liberal-led government gave all men and some women the vote.

Political advantagePolitical advantage

The Conservatives usually opposed extending the right to vote. However – led by Benjamin Disraeli - they proposed changes in 1867 so that working class men might vote for them.

This forced the Liberals to back the changes too. This famously known as ‘dishing the Whigs’.

Political advantagePolitical advantage

Changes in 1867 only gave the vote to a small number of other men, so this is only a small reason for more democracy.

Also in 1867 there were only really two political parties to vote for, so any voting rights would have minimal change in the country.

Giving the vote to working class men was described as a ‘leap in the dark’ because no-one knew

what the outcome would be

Political advantagePolitical advantage

In 1918, the Liberals were worried about growing influence of Labour.

All men over 21 and some women over 30 gained the vote. The Liberals did this in the hope it would attract working class men and women’s votes.

Political advantagePolitical advantage

Political advantage may have had some influence on the Liberals’ actions, but it was not the only factor.

The ‘New Liberals’, including David Lloyd George, had taken power and they genuinely supported a fairer voting system.