Chapter 23 / Section I: Pages 532-539 Chapter 23 / Section I: Pages 532-539 Changes in Great Britain and It’s EmpireChanges in Great Britain and It’s EmpireChapter 23 / Section I: Pages 532-539 Chapter 23 / Section I: Pages 532-539 Changes in Great Britain and It’s EmpireChanges in Great Britain and It’s Empire

This section is about:This section is about: How Great Britain How Great Britain

reformed its political reformed its political system and gave the system and gave the vote to more people.vote to more people.

How Ireland became part How Ireland became part of the United Kingdom of the United Kingdom and how Canada gained and how Canada gained some autonomy from some autonomy from Great Britain.Great Britain.

Look at pages 532 and 533Look at pages 532 and 533

We’ll cover sections We’ll cover sections I and II in this chapter. I and II in this chapter.

Let’s read the section Let’s read the section on the left.on the left.

And, even though we And, even though we won’t look at the won’t look at the section on Italy, look at section on Italy, look at the picture. The the picture. The caption asks: what caption asks: what signs of nationalism signs of nationalism does the picture show?does the picture show?

Ernest Renan (on page 532)

Page 534: Why is Great Britain a big Page 534: Why is Great Britain a big part of what American history classes part of what American history classes

study?study? Political changes in Great Political changes in Great

Britain:Britain: We’ve covered some of We’ve covered some of

them – the Glorious them – the Glorious Revolution, the Magna Revolution, the Magna Carta, William and Mary, Carta, William and Mary, Parliament, etc….Parliament, etc….

After the Industrial After the Industrial Revolution, England wanted Revolution, England wanted to improve conditions for to improve conditions for the workers and the poor.the workers and the poor.

Many also wanted some Many also wanted some political reforms – a greater political reforms – a greater voice in government and a voice in government and a demand that people be demand that people be able to able to votevote..

Demands for ReformDemands for Reform Middle-class and working class Middle-class and working class

people wanted more freedom people wanted more freedom and wanted a chance to be and wanted a chance to be represented in government.represented in government.

Many villages and towns had Many villages and towns had high food prices (poor harvests).high food prices (poor harvests).

City people faced difficult City people faced difficult conditions (working in the conditions (working in the factories).factories).

Many gathered peacefully in Many gathered peacefully in Manchester, but soldiers Manchester, but soldiers suddenly began to attack the suddenly began to attack the crowd (killing 11 and wounding crowd (killing 11 and wounding hundreds).hundreds).

This became known as the This became known as the Peterloo Massacre.Peterloo Massacre.

You can guess what kinds of You can guess what kinds of feelings these people had after feelings these people had after this.this.

British Parliament British Parliament

Britain had a Parliament (2 Britain had a Parliament (2 parts - below) since the parts - below) since the 1600’s.1600’s.

They were supposed to help They were supposed to help with laws and taxes (protect with laws and taxes (protect the rights of the people), and the rights of the people), and keep the monarchs under keep the monarchs under control.control.

The House of LordsThe House of Lords: inherit : inherit their positions or are their positions or are appointed.appointed.

The House of CommonsThe House of Commons: : elected by British people.elected by British people.

In the 1800’s, ordinary In the 1800’s, ordinary people were often unhappy people were often unhappy with one of these - which with one of these - which one?one?

The House of Lords The House of Commons

10 Oddities of the British Parliament

Representation and VotingRepresentation and Voting Representation in England was very unevenly distributed.Representation in England was very unevenly distributed. When towns/cities grew, the numbers didn’t always change in When towns/cities grew, the numbers didn’t always change in

Parliament.Parliament. This also meant people who owned land might get a little more This also meant people who owned land might get a little more

power/ representation. power/ representation. And, only men who had enough property could vote.And, only men who had enough property could vote. This was only 245,000 voters out of 9,000,000 people (1 in 36 This was only 245,000 voters out of 9,000,000 people (1 in 36

people) in England in the early 1800’s.people) in England in the early 1800’s. The Reform Act of 1832 helped some – now about 1-20 people The Reform Act of 1832 helped some – now about 1-20 people

could vote.could vote.

Movements for ReformMovements for Reform

In 1838, one group wanted In 1838, one group wanted more (the Chartists), asking more (the Chartists), asking that all adult men could vote that all adult men could vote (in a secret ballot for yearly (in a secret ballot for yearly elections).elections).

Parliament wouldn’t listen to Parliament wouldn’t listen to the Chartists (and 3 million the Chartists (and 3 million petition signers).petition signers).

Finally, by 1858, you didn't Finally, by 1858, you didn't need to own property to be in need to own property to be in Parliament.Parliament.

By 1867, all men could vote.By 1867, all men could vote. By 1872, they had secret By 1872, they had secret

ballots.ballots.

The Victorian AgeThe Victorian Age Queen Victoria was Queen Victoria was

running England at this running England at this time (from 1837 to 1901 time (from 1837 to 1901 – the longest reign in – the longest reign in the country’s history).the country’s history).

She felt it was not her She felt it was not her job to take sides, but job to take sides, but she was good at settling she was good at settling disagreements in disagreements in Parliament.Parliament.

She was very popular.She was very popular. Also, quiet and Also, quiet and

dignified, with a strong dignified, with a strong belief in proper behavior belief in proper behavior at all times.at all times.

61 years, 184 days

(as of 9 August 2013)

The Irish Question The Irish Question and… Part of the United and… Part of the United

KingdomKingdom People min Ireland also lived in People min Ireland also lived in

poverty and suffered under harsh poverty and suffered under harsh British rule.British rule.

By 1800, there was a strong hatred By 1800, there was a strong hatred of the British and the question was: of the British and the question was: Should the Irish be allowed to Should the Irish be allowed to govern themselves?govern themselves?

There had been revolutions in There had been revolutions in America and France to run their own America and France to run their own countries.countries.

By 1801, Ireland was made part of By 1801, Ireland was made part of the U.K., (The Act of Union) and the U.K., (The Act of Union) and even got 100 seats in the house of even got 100 seats in the house of Commons (no Catholics though).Commons (no Catholics though).

A lot of Irish people are Catholic, so A lot of Irish people are Catholic, so that’s a problem.that’s a problem.

After protests, by 1829, Roman After protests, by 1829, Roman Catholics were allowed in Catholics were allowed in Parliament. Parliament.

The Great Potato FamineThe Great Potato Famine

Ireland was a tough place to Ireland was a tough place to live in the 1800’s.live in the 1800’s.

Had a growing population.Had a growing population. Very little industry.Very little industry. Most people rented their Most people rented their

land.land. Potatoes were the main food Potatoes were the main food

– until a famine (plant – until a famine (plant disease) in 1845: disease) in 1845: when more when more than 1 million Irish died of than 1 million Irish died of hunger or diseasehunger or disease..

Britain didn’t help them out: Britain didn’t help them out: Irish farms that had meat and Irish farms that had meat and grain sent tried selling that, grain sent tried selling that, but no-one had money to buy but no-one had money to buy them.them.

Years of ChangeYears of Change

People suffered for years.People suffered for years. Some looked for better lives in Some looked for better lives in

North America.North America. Some looked for Some looked for

factories/shipping jobs in Great factories/shipping jobs in Great Britain.Britain.

But some Irish who stayed But some Irish who stayed began to demand began to demand home rulehome rule..

They wanted their own They wanted their own Parliament (and would still stay Parliament (and would still stay part of the U.K.).part of the U.K.).

Some were afraid the Roman Some were afraid the Roman Catholics would take that over.Catholics would take that over.

Ireland did get home rule Ireland did get home rule eventually (1914 – after WWI).eventually (1914 – after WWI).

Self-Government for CanadaSelf-Government for Canada

You think of Canada being You think of Canada being French (speaking), but French (speaking), but Great Britain won Canada Great Britain won Canada in the French and Indian in the French and Indian War (1763).War (1763).

People from Great Britain People from Great Britain then settled in/near then settled in/near Ontario.Ontario.

To keep peace, the British To keep peace, the British divided Canada.divided Canada.

Upper Canada (Ontario): Upper Canada (Ontario): BritishBritish

Lower Canada (Quebec): Lower Canada (Quebec): French.French.

Each would have their own Each would have their own Governor and elected Governor and elected legislature.legislature.

Lord Durham’s ReportLord Durham’s Report

There were rebellions in There were rebellions in Canada in 1836.Canada in 1836.

Lord Durham was sent Lord Durham was sent to check it out and to check it out and made two made two recommendations:recommendations: 1: Unite the two parts of 1: Unite the two parts of

CanadaCanada 2: Let Canada control it’s 2: Let Canada control it’s

own affairs.own affairs. In 1841, these ideas In 1841, these ideas

were accepted – except were accepted – except Britain still controlled Britain still controlled Canadian foreign policy Canadian foreign policy and trade.and trade.

The Dominion The Dominion of Canadaof Canada

People wanted to turn Canada People wanted to turn Canada into a “confederation” with into a “confederation” with “provinces” with their own “provinces” with their own governments – but still a governments – but still a central government.central government.

They began what was called a They began what was called a “dominion.” (1867)“dominion.” (1867)

They would have a Parliament They would have a Parliament (two houses), and a Prime (two houses), and a Prime Minister in charge.Minister in charge.

This group would handle This group would handle Canada’s own business.Canada’s own business.

Britain would still handle Britain would still handle Canada's foreign affairs.Canada's foreign affairs.

The British monarch would still The British monarch would still be Canada’s “head of state.” be Canada’s “head of state.”

Expansion of the DominionExpansion of the Dominion

Canada continued Canada continued to add more to add more provinces until they provinces until they reached the Pacific reached the Pacific Ocean (connected Ocean (connected by railroads). by railroads).

Hundreds of Hundreds of thousands of thousands of Europeans kept Europeans kept moving to moving to Canada’s new Canada’s new lands.lands.