Democratic Reforms in Democratic Reforms in Britain Britain

Democratic Reforms and Democratic Reforms and Activism Activism

• British Government systemBritish Government system

• Monarchy the Head of State Monarchy the Head of State

• 1. House of Lords 1. House of Lords – Appointed or inherit Appointed or inherit

• 2. House of Commons 2. House of Commons – Elected Elected

Just who IS allowed to vote?Just who IS allowed to vote?

• Not terribly democratic Not terribly democratic

• About 6% of the MALE population can About 6% of the MALE population can votevote– Property ownership restrictions Property ownership restrictions – No voice in the government for most No voice in the government for most

Reform Bill of 1832Reform Bill of 1832

• Who were the first to demand voting Who were the first to demand voting rights?rights?– Wealthy middle class men Wealthy middle class men – Merchants, Bankers, Artisans Merchants, Bankers, Artisans

• Suffrage – right to vote Suffrage – right to vote

• Why were the British leaders afraid to Why were the British leaders afraid to allow the protest to continue? What allow the protest to continue? What country were they particularly concerned country were they particularly concerned about?about?

3. Reform Bill of 18323. Reform Bill of 1832

• Passed to hopefully stop a bloody Passed to hopefully stop a bloody revolution like the one in Francerevolution like the one in France

• Eased the property rights so some Eased the property rights so some wealthier middle class men could vote wealthier middle class men could vote

• 1 in 5 could now vote 1 in 5 could now vote • Modernized the districts so that there were Modernized the districts so that there were

no longer “Rotten boroughs”no longer “Rotten boroughs”– Districts where no one lived but the Aristocracy Districts where no one lived but the Aristocracy

kept the vote kept the vote

Gerrymandering Gerrymandering

• The deliberate The deliberate rearrangement of rearrangement of the boundaries of the boundaries of congressional congressional districts to districts to influence the influence the outcome of outcome of elections.elections.

Gerrymandering Gerrymandering

• Mass. 1812 Elbridge Gerry makes a Mass. 1812 Elbridge Gerry makes a political district that looks like a political district that looks like a salamandersalamander

• concentrate opposition votes into a few concentrate opposition votes into a few districts to gain more seats for the districts to gain more seats for the majority in surrounding districts (called majority in surrounding districts (called packing), or to diffuse minority strength packing), or to diffuse minority strength across many districts (called dilution).across many districts (called dilution).

Chartist Movement Chartist Movement

• Workers demand suffrage as well Workers demand suffrage as well

• Present demands in the People’s Charter of Present demands in the People’s Charter of 18381838

• Directions Directions – Read the Chartists movement through one time Read the Chartists movement through one time

silently to yourself underlining key ideas or silently to yourself underlining key ideas or phrases and CIRCLING THINGS YOU DO NOT phrases and CIRCLING THINGS YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND (def, concepts, ect)UNDERSTAND (def, concepts, ect)

– Once you finish go back to things you circled and Once you finish go back to things you circled and try and WRITE OUT WHAT YOU THINK IT MEANStry and WRITE OUT WHAT YOU THINK IT MEANS

Chartist MovementChartist Movement

• Unto the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom Unto the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in Parliament assembled, the of Great Britain and Ireland in Parliament assembled, the Petition of the undersigned, their suffering countrymen. Petition of the undersigned, their suffering countrymen.

• Humbly Sheweth, That we, your petitioners, dwell in a land Humbly Sheweth, That we, your petitioners, dwell in a land whose merchants are noted for enterprise, whose whose merchants are noted for enterprise, whose manufacturers are very skilful, and whose workmen are manufacturers are very skilful, and whose workmen are proverbial for their industry. proverbial for their industry.

• The land itself is goodly, the soil rich, and the temperature The land itself is goodly, the soil rich, and the temperature wholesome; it is abundantly furnished with the materials of wholesome; it is abundantly furnished with the materials of commerce and trade; it has numerous and convenient commerce and trade; it has numerous and convenient harbours; in facility of internal communication it exceeds harbours; in facility of internal communication it exceeds all others. all others.

• For three-and-twenty years we have enjoyed For three-and-twenty years we have enjoyed a profound peace. a profound peace.

• Yet, with all these elements of national Yet, with all these elements of national prosperity, and with every disposition and prosperity, and with every disposition and capacity to take advantage of them, we find capacity to take advantage of them, we find ourselves overwhelmed with public and ourselves overwhelmed with public and private suffering. private suffering.

• We are bowed down under a load of taxes; We are bowed down under a load of taxes; which, notwithstanding, fall greatly short of which, notwithstanding, fall greatly short of the wants of our rulers; our traders are the wants of our rulers; our traders are trembling on the verge of bankruptcy; our trembling on the verge of bankruptcy; our workmen are starving; capital brings no workmen are starving; capital brings no profit, and labour no remuneration; the home profit, and labour no remuneration; the home of the artificer is desolate, and the of the artificer is desolate, and the warehouse of the pawnbroker is full; the warehouse of the pawnbroker is full; the workhouse is crowded, and the manufactory workhouse is crowded, and the manufactory is deserted. is deserted.

• We have looked on every side, we have We have looked on every side, we have searched diligently in order to find out the searched diligently in order to find out the causes of a distress so sore and so long causes of a distress so sore and so long continued continued

• We can discover none in nature, or in We can discover none in nature, or in Providence. Providence.

• Heaven has dealt graciously by the people; Heaven has dealt graciously by the people; but the foolishness of our rulers has made but the foolishness of our rulers has made the goodness of God of none effect. the goodness of God of none effect.

• The energies of a mighty kingdom have The energies of a mighty kingdom have been wasted in building up the power of been wasted in building up the power of selfish and ignorant men, and its resources selfish and ignorant men, and its resources squandered for their aggrandisement. squandered for their aggrandisement.

• The good of a party has been advanced to The good of a party has been advanced to the sacrifice of the good of the nation; the the sacrifice of the good of the nation; the few have governed for the interest of the few have governed for the interest of the few, while the interest of the many has few, while the interest of the many has been neglected, or insolently and been neglected, or insolently and tyrannously trampled upon. tyrannously trampled upon.

• It was the fond expectation of the people It was the fond expectation of the people that a remedy for the greater part, if not that a remedy for the greater part, if not for the whole, of their grievances, would for the whole, of their grievances, would be found in the Reform Act of 1832. be found in the Reform Act of 1832.

• They were taught to regard that Act as a They were taught to regard that Act as a wise means to a worthy end; as the wise means to a worthy end; as the machinery of an improved legislation, machinery of an improved legislation, when the will of the masses would be at when the will of the masses would be at length potential. length potential.

• They have been bitterly and basely They have been bitterly and basely deceived. deceived.

• The fruit which looked so fair to the eye The fruit which looked so fair to the eye has turned to dust and ashes when has turned to dust and ashes when gathered. gathered.

• The Reform Act has effected a transfer of The Reform Act has effected a transfer of power from one domineering faction to power from one domineering faction to another, and left the people as helpless another, and left the people as helpless as before. as before.

• Our slavery has been exchanged for an Our slavery has been exchanged for an apprenticeship to liberty, which has apprenticeship to liberty, which has aggravated the painful feeling of our aggravated the painful feeling of our social degradation, by adding to it the social degradation, by adding to it the sickening of still deferred hope. sickening of still deferred hope.

• We come before your Honourable We come before your Honourable House to tell you, with all humility, House to tell you, with all humility, that this state of things must not that this state of things must not be permitted to continue; that it be permitted to continue; that it cannot long continue without very cannot long continue without very seriously endangering the stability seriously endangering the stability of the throne and the peace of the of the throne and the peace of the kingdom; and that if by God's help kingdom; and that if by God's help and all lawful and constitutional and all lawful and constitutional appliances, an end can be put to it, appliances, an end can be put to it, we are fully resolved that it shall we are fully resolved that it shall speedily come to an end. speedily come to an end.

• We tell your Honourable House that the We tell your Honourable House that the capital of the master must no longer be capital of the master must no longer be deprived of its due reward; that the laws deprived of its due reward; that the laws which make food dear, and those which by which make food dear, and those which by making money scarce, make labour cheap, making money scarce, make labour cheap, must be abolished; that taxation must be must be abolished; that taxation must be made to fall on property, not on industry; made to fall on property, not on industry; that the good of the many, as it is the only that the good of the many, as it is the only legitimate end, so must it be the sole study legitimate end, so must it be the sole study of the Government. of the Government.

• As a preliminary essential to these and As a preliminary essential to these and other requisite changes; as means by other requisite changes; as means by which alone the interests of the people can which alone the interests of the people can be effectually vindicated and secured, we be effectually vindicated and secured, we demand that those interests be confided to demand that those interests be confided to the keeping of the people. the keeping of the people.

• When the State calls for defenders, When the State calls for defenders, when it calls for money, no when it calls for money, no consideration of poverty or ignorance consideration of poverty or ignorance can be pleaded in refusal or delay of can be pleaded in refusal or delay of the call. the call.

• Required as we are, universally, to Required as we are, universally, to support and obey the laws, nature and support and obey the laws, nature and reason entitle us to demand, that in reason entitle us to demand, that in the making of the laws, the universal the making of the laws, the universal voice shall be implicitly listened to. voice shall be implicitly listened to.

• We perform the duties of freemen; we We perform the duties of freemen; we must have the privileges of freemen.must have the privileges of freemen.

• WE DEMAND UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE. WE DEMAND UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE.

• The suffrage to be exempt from the The suffrage to be exempt from the corruption of the wealthy, and the violence corruption of the wealthy, and the violence of the powerful, must be secret. of the powerful, must be secret.

• The assertion of our right necessarily The assertion of our right necessarily involves the power of its uncontrolled involves the power of its uncontrolled exercise.  exercise.  

• WE DEMAND THE BALLOT. WE DEMAND THE BALLOT.

• The connection between the The connection between the representatives and the people, to be representatives and the people, to be beneficial must be intimate. beneficial must be intimate.

• The legislative and constituent powers, for The legislative and constituent powers, for correction and for instruction, ought to be correction and for instruction, ought to be brought into frequent contact. brought into frequent contact.

• Errors, which are comparatively light Errors, which are comparatively light when susceptible of a speedy when susceptible of a speedy popular remedy, may produce the popular remedy, may produce the most disastrous effects when most disastrous effects when permitted to grow inveterate through permitted to grow inveterate through years of compulsory endurance. years of compulsory endurance.

• To public safety as well as public To public safety as well as public confidence, frequent elections are confidence, frequent elections are essential. essential.

• WE DEMAND ANNUAL PARLIAMENTS. WE DEMAND ANNUAL PARLIAMENTS. • With power to choose, and freedom With power to choose, and freedom

in choosing, the range of our choice in choosing, the range of our choice must be unrestricted. must be unrestricted.

• We are compelled, by the existing laws, to We are compelled, by the existing laws, to take for our representatives, men who are take for our representatives, men who are incapable of appreciating our difficulties, or incapable of appreciating our difficulties, or who have little sympathy with them; who have little sympathy with them; merchants who have retired from trade, and merchants who have retired from trade, and no longer feel its harassings; proprietors of no longer feel its harassings; proprietors of land who are alike ignorant of its evils and land who are alike ignorant of its evils and their cure; lawyers, by whom the honours of their cure; lawyers, by whom the honours of the senate are sought after only as means the senate are sought after only as means of obtaining notice in the courts. of obtaining notice in the courts.

• The labours of a representative, who is The labours of a representative, who is sedulous in the discharge of his duty, are sedulous in the discharge of his duty, are numerous and burdensome. numerous and burdensome.

• It is neither just, nor reasonable, nor safe, It is neither just, nor reasonable, nor safe, that they should continue to be gratuitously that they should continue to be gratuitously rendered. rendered.

• We demand that in the future We demand that in the future election of members of your election of members of your Honourable House, the Honourable House, the approbation of the constituency approbation of the constituency shall be the sole qualification; and shall be the sole qualification; and that to every representative so that to every representative so chosen shall be assigned, out of chosen shall be assigned, out of the public taxes, a fair and the public taxes, a fair and adequate remuneration for the adequate remuneration for the time which he is called upon to time which he is called upon to devote to the public service. devote to the public service.

• Finally, we would most earnestly impress Finally, we would most earnestly impress on your Honourable House, that this on your Honourable House, that this petition has not been dictated by any idle petition has not been dictated by any idle love of change; that it springs out of no love of change; that it springs out of no inconsiderate attachment to fanciful inconsiderate attachment to fanciful theories; but that it is the result of much theories; but that it is the result of much and long deliberation, and of convictions, and long deliberation, and of convictions, which the events of each succeeding which the events of each succeeding year tend more and more to strengthen. year tend more and more to strengthen.

• The management of this mighty kingdom The management of this mighty kingdom has hitherto been a subject for has hitherto been a subject for contending factions to try their selfish contending factions to try their selfish experiments upon. experiments upon.

• We have felt the consequences in We have felt the consequences in our sorrowful experience—short our sorrowful experience—short glimmerings of uncertain enjoyment glimmerings of uncertain enjoyment swallowed up by long and dark swallowed up by long and dark seasons of suffering. seasons of suffering.

• If the self-government of the people If the self-government of the people should not remove their distresses, it should not remove their distresses, it will at least remove their repinings. will at least remove their repinings.

• Universal suffrage will, and it alone Universal suffrage will, and it alone can, bring true and lasting peace to can, bring true and lasting peace to the nation; we firmly believe that it the nation; we firmly believe that it will also bring prosperity. will also bring prosperity.

• May it therefore please your Honourable May it therefore please your Honourable House to take this our petition into your House to take this our petition into your most serious consideration; and to use your most serious consideration; and to use your utmost endeavours, by all constitutional utmost endeavours, by all constitutional means, to have a law passed, granting to means, to have a law passed, granting to every male of lawful age, sane mind, and every male of lawful age, sane mind, and unconvicted of crime, the right of voting for unconvicted of crime, the right of voting for members of Parliament; and directing all members of Parliament; and directing all future elections of members of Parliament future elections of members of Parliament to be in the way of secret ballot; and to be in the way of secret ballot; and ordaining that the duration of Parliaments ordaining that the duration of Parliaments so chosen shall in no case exceed one year; so chosen shall in no case exceed one year; and abolishing all property qualifications in and abolishing all property qualifications in the members; and providing for their due the members; and providing for their due remuneration while in attendance on their remuneration while in attendance on their Parliamentary duties. Parliamentary duties.

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

1.1. What are the problems the charter What are the problems the charter sites with the country?sites with the country?

2. Where does the charter lay the 2. Where does the charter lay the blame for these problems?blame for these problems?

3. What is the overall feelings towards 3. What is the overall feelings towards the Reform Act of 1832? Are they the Reform Act of 1832? Are they happy with the outcome? Why or happy with the outcome? Why or why not?why not?

Discussion Questions Discussion Questions

4. What does the charter say the outcome will 4. What does the charter say the outcome will be if things continue the way they are? What be if things continue the way they are? What must be done?must be done?

5. 5. Required as we are, universally, to support Required as we are, universally, to support and obey the laws, nature and reason entitle and obey the laws, nature and reason entitle us to demand, that in the making of the laws, us to demand, that in the making of the laws, the universal voice shall be implicitly listened the universal voice shall be implicitly listened to.to.

What Philosopher would agree with this What Philosopher would agree with this statement? Why? What is this an example of?statement? Why? What is this an example of?

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

6. What is the first demand made in 6. What is the first demand made in the Charter? What are the the Charter? What are the stipulations placed on this demand?stipulations placed on this demand?

7. What is the second demand? Why 7. What is the second demand? Why do they want to use a ballot instead do they want to use a ballot instead of speaking the vote?of speaking the vote?

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

8. What is the third demand? What is the 8. What is the third demand? What is the reasoning behind this?reasoning behind this?

9. What are the problems with the current 9. What are the problems with the current representatives that are up for election?representatives that are up for election?

10. What is the solution proposed to fix 10. What is the solution proposed to fix this issue?this issue?

11. What is the overall tone of the 11. What is the overall tone of the charter?charter?