Growth of Democracy: essays

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Growth of Democracy essays

• What progress did Britain make towards becoming a
  democracy between 1850 and 1914?
• Would you agree that the Representation of the
  Peoples Act of 1918 virtually completed the
  democratisation of Britain?
• By 1928 , the essential of democracy had been
  achieved. How far would you agree with this
  statement?

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By 1928 , the essential of democracy had been
achieved. How far would you agree with this
statement?

• Intro You need to define your terms of reference
  i.e. the essentials of democracy
• Then you can go on to to discuss each one of the
  essentials in turn or take each step on the road
  to democracy and evaluate whether and to what
  extent it advanced the cause of democracy

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The essentials of democracy

• Universal suffrage (one man one vote)
• A system which allows the unhindered use of the
  vote (secret ballot)
• A system which gives equal weight to each vote
  (equal constituencies) regular elections
• Right to participate in the political process
  (e.g. to stand for election)
• Government by elected representatives (HOC)
• Government based on majority support
• Basic freedoms e.g. freedom of speech,assembly

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Franchise in 1850 context

• Had been set by the reform Act of 1832
• Franchise based on property
• Therefore deeply undemocratic since democracy is
  based on voting as of right not property
• Voters mainly from upper land owning classes,
  large tenant farmers from middle class

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The Second Reform Act (1867)

• MPs were taken from very small boroughs and
  counties (52 seats). The following groups were
  now entitled to vote
• Boroughs- all householders who paid rates and had
  lived in the property for at least one year
  lodgers paying 10 a year
• Counties- owners of property valued at 5 for
  rates tenants of property valued at 12 for
  rates

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Comment on 1867 Act

• Electorate up from 1.5 million to 2.5 million
• 1 in 3 men could vote before ratio was 1 in 7
• Most new voters were in the boroughs (skilled
  artisans benefited the most)

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Comment on 1867 Act

• Largest increases were in large industrial
  boroughs e.g. Manchester and Leeds
• In counties and smaller boroughs the balance of
  political forces remained the same- landowners,
  middle class still in control

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Comment on 1867 Act- step towards democracy

• Right to vote still based on property and its
  value- undemocratic
• MPs still unevenly distributed, with too many in
  the counties and small boroughs
• New industrial areas such as lowlands of Scotland
  seriously under-represented

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Dealing with corruption

• Democracy implies the exercise of the vote free
  of fear, intimidation and corruption. 2 laws
  passes by Gladstone to curb abuses
• The Ballot Act (1872)- introduced the secret
  ballot( enquiry had revealed scale of corruption)
  Intimidation declined, but corruption was not
  completely wiped out
• Corrupt and Illegal Practices Act (1883)- set
  limits on the amount to be spent on elections and
  how it could be spent. Also made corruption
  offence by law. Thorough and effective

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Representation of the People Act(1884)

• Franchise in the counties to be the same as the
  boroughs since 1867, not that simple, 20
  regulations
• Electorate doubled up to 5 million
• 2 out of 3 men could vote

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Representation of the People Act(1884)

• Right to vote still linked to complex series of
  property-related qualifications rather than
  universal suffrage
• Still groups not included- live in servants, sons
  living at home, paupers (12 of population)

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Representation of the People Act(1884)Comment

• Many who were technically qualified still could
  not vote because they were unable to prove that
  they were qualified and so could not get on the
  electoral register
• It is estimated that 2.5 million men were in this
  situation- mainly from the lower working class

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Representation of the People Act(1884)Comment

• In 1913, only 63 of adult males were registered
  to vote
• Plural voting still existed, accounted for 7 of
  electorate
• Women not allowed to vote, move towards democracy
  but far less than often supposed

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Redistribution of seats Act(1885)

• Aimed to make constituencies equal
• Vast majority of constituencies now had only one
  MP

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Redistribution of seats Act(1885)

• Boundaries were redrawn so that most
  constituencies had an approximate population of
  50,000
• Redistribution ended the old problem of too many
  MPs in the South of England as small boroughs
  lost MPs to industrial areas
• Brought into being a recognisably, modern
  system of electoral representation

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Obstacles removed

• House of Lords able to reject legislation passed
  by HOC
• Passing of Parliament Act of 1911 significantly
  restricted power
• Removed lords power over Bills dealing with
  finance and removed right to veto outright other
  bills
• Only able to delay Bills for 2 sessions of
  Parliament
• Elections to be held now every 5 years rather
  than 7 further strengthened democracy
• Payment of MPs established salary of 400 a year

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How well represented were the new voters by 1900?

• Franchise had been extended to the lower middle
  class and much of the working class
• However MPs remained gentlemen of means main
  change was increasing number of MPs whose wealth
  came from industry rather than land

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How well represented were the new voters by 1900?

• MPs not paid until 1900 and no separate Labour
  party yet for working class to vote for.
• Methods of electioneering had to change to
  attract voters national parties/ less
  independent MPs

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Representation of the People Act(1918)

• Significant step/ arguably more important in
  enfranchising all men than in giving the vote to
  some women
• 8.5 million women over 30 were given the vote and
  13 million men over 21
• Plural voting reduced
• Distinction between county and borough ended,
  single member constituencies
• Increased number of MPs for industrial areas
• The industrial working class become for the first
  time the majority for industrial cities
• 1928 female franchise made the same as men- 21

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• Conclusion
• Tie up all the key areas of analysis which you
  have developed during the course of your essay
• Historiography Remember your quotes throughout
  to back up your arguement