DEMOCRACY REVISION UNIVERSAL ADULT EXAMPLES OF HOW FAR DID IT HOW LIMITED HISTORIOGRAPHY/QUOTES SUFFRACE WHAT WAS INTRODUCE EXAMPLES INTRODUCED DEMOCRACY The 2nd Parliamentary Reform 1) 400,000 extra voters 1) size of electorate doubles 1) vote still depended on D.G Wright argues ‘’democracy was Act 1867 allowing household from 1,120,000 to 2.5 million property undemocratic because of the number of (extension of the franchise) in the boroughs. 2) 1 in 3 males could now 2) 2 in 3 men were without males disenfranchised, as well as 2) Electorate extended to vote the vote as well as all women women’’ skilled working class who 3) Act led to improvements in had stayed in property for at political parties. least a year and lodgers paying a minimum of £10 rent a year. Plural voting still existed and 1884 3rd Parliamentary Reform Gave men in the country the 1) The electorate increased made up 7 % of the T.C Smout: “The 1884-85 Act failed to Act. The Representation of the same voting rights as in the from 2.5 million to 5 million. electorate. Live in servants. achieve or indeed never intended to People Act towns. In England and Wales 2) Franchise qualification in Sons living at home and achieve the granting of manhood (extension of the franchise) 2 in 3 men could now vote. counties the same as paupers still weren’t allowed suffrage in town and county. The act left Franchise extended to boroughs. to vote (12% of the some 40% of adult males in the UK householders who paid rates population.) without the vote. and stayed there for at least a Women were still not year. allowed to vote.

Representation of the People Gave all women over 30 who Gave some women the vote The right to vote was based Act 1918 were householders or the for the first time and on housing qualification. (extension of the franchise) wife’s of householders and extended the vote to all adult Women not granted the vote university graduates. The males. on equal terms as men. occupiers of property with £5 annual rent the vote

Representation of the People All women over 21 who Extended the franchise to all Act 1918 stayed in a constituency for women over the age of 21 over 6 months were granted and gave women the same the vote. voting rights as men

EQUAL REP The Second Parliamentary Counties and boroughs Parties had to develop MPs were still unevenly 1867 with less than10,000 national organisations as distributed. Did not alter (Redistribution of seats) people lost 1 MP boroughs increased the balance of political The remaining 45 seats voters. power. Electorate still redistributed to counties largely remained the and boroughs that had same more people since 1832, eg got 1 more MP

The Redistribution Act Constituencies were Moved Britain closer to Thomson argues that the 1885 reorganised into more a democracy 1884/1885 act emphasised public equal sizes by Put in place an electoral opinion and ensured more focus population. 79 towns system which is similar was put on it. with a population under to the present system 15,000 lost both their seats. Attempted to make each MP represent roughly the same number of people.

Secret Secret Ballot, voting An improvement Employers were still The chief commissioner of police now done in secret, towards democracy and bribing their workers to in London reported – “Since the Everyone who were able helped in ending vote passing of the Ballot Act we have to vote could be free patronage Between 1867 and never had the slightest trouble at from intimidation 1885. Four town were any election that has taken place disenfranchised due to in London and the places that corrupt practices used to be the worst are now the best 1883 Corrupt and Illegal Involvement in less intimidation plural voting still “Elections certainly became more Practices Act corruption could lead to new code of ethics had existed orderly” S. Wood: Britain 1850 - a heavy fine or moved forward towards some people voted for 1979, p36 imprisonment democracy. the same person as they agents had to account for donated to local the money they spent charities and churches dictated what campaign the money was to be spent on DEMO/PRINCIPLES 1911 Parliament Act could no Lords no longer had power to Not fully democratic as the longer prevent the Budget completely stop a Bill. Life of House of Lords still had Bills and could only delay the Government term reduced power powers despite not bills for 2 years. MP’s given a from 7 years to 5. being elected. salary of £400 a year Allowed working class people to become MP’s by giving them a salary. MP’s could not bribe their constituents so they had to listen to their wishes to get voted in. Now the elected members (Commons) have more power than the unelected (Lords) FORMATION OF The Liberal and LABOUR PARTY 1906 Conservative Party’s had another political rival. The working class now had a party to politically represent them.