11

The Growth of The Growth of DemocracyDemocracy

WHY? WHY?

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AgendaAgenda

The focus for this part of the course The focus for this part of the course is on the background changes in is on the background changes in society that caused an increased society that caused an increased demand for democracy.demand for democracy.

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Why? Essay – The PlanWhy? Essay – The Plan

Urbanisation and industrialisationUrbanisation and industrialisation Means to spread democracy – Means to spread democracy –

transport: trains, post, newspaperstransport: trains, post, newspapers Attitude to working class vote – Attitude to working class vote –

education and religioneducation and religion Attitudes of Political PartiesAttitudes of Political Parties Pressure groups – trade unions and Pressure groups – trade unions and

suffragettessuffragettes

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Urbanisation & Urbanisation & Industrialisation Industrialisation

DefinitionsDefinitions Urbanisation = the movement of Urbanisation = the movement of

people from the countryside to the people from the countryside to the towns.towns.

Industrialisation = Industrial Industrialisation = Industrial revolution - Extensive mechanisation revolution - Extensive mechanisation of production systems resulting in a of production systems resulting in a shift from home-based hand shift from home-based hand manufacturing to large-scale factory manufacturing to large-scale factory production, coal mines and ship yards. production, coal mines and ship yards.

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Total Population 1815 --- 12.15 million 1821 --- 14.21 million 1831 --- 16.37 million 1841 --- 18.55 million 1851 --- 20.88 million

Changes in the Cities

Bradford 13 104 Glasgow 77 329 Liverpool 82 376 Manchester 70 303 Leeds 53 172 London 957 2362

1801

1851

Figures in Thousands

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1850

IT WAS A PERIOD OF RAPID CHANGE IN BRITAIN

New ideas and new technology were being put into practice.In the Country New technology, new machinery made

farming more effective.

Result: Those who worked the land were out of work - in order to find work, they moved from country to the towns.

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1850

IT WAS A PERIOD OF RAPID CHANGE IN BRITAIN

New ideas and new technology were being put into practice.In the Country New technology, new machinery made

farming more effective.

Result: Those who worked the land were out of work - in order to find work, they moved from country to the towns.

From Ireland Due to famine and other domestic problems the Irish moved into towns, again in the hope of work and a better life.

Town could not cope with the increase in demand for houses which the influx caused.

Result: Housing was not planned well enough. Overcrowding. Poor Sanitary Conditions. Disease. Houses deliberately built near factories. Drinking water polluted.

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Industrialisation: demand Industrialisation: demand for wider suffragefor wider suffrage Middle ClassMiddle Class

Britain had changed. Industrialisation had created Britain had changed. Industrialisation had created or expanded new classes like the middle class who or expanded new classes like the middle class who were educated and politically motivated to were educated and politically motivated to demand a greater share in political power. The demand a greater share in political power. The middle class saw themselves as wealth generators middle class saw themselves as wealth generators in GB as it was their factories that made GB rich, in GB as it was their factories that made GB rich, now they felt they should have a say in running now they felt they should have a say in running the country as well.the country as well.

Analysis - Analysis - Middle class get vote in 1832 but Middle class get vote in 1832 but increasingly demand political power on town increasingly demand political power on town councils – For example, the Chamberlain’s in councils – For example, the Chamberlain’s in Birmingham – or later as MPs in Parliament – For Birmingham – or later as MPs in Parliament – For example, Joseph Chamberlain.example, Joseph Chamberlain.

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Working ClassWorking Class At the same time the very poor At the same time the very poor

working and living conditions e.g. working and living conditions e.g. long hours, low pay, dangerous long hours, low pay, dangerous conditions etc, of the working class conditions etc, of the working class gave them an interest in more gave them an interest in more political power in order to improve political power in order to improve their conditions.their conditions.

AnalysisAnalysis – The government had – The government had ignored the working class because ignored the working class because they did not have the vote. But as they did not have the vote. But as the working class had an interest to the working class had an interest to improve their poor working improve their poor working conditions – they first formed trade conditions – they first formed trade unions and then demanded the vote.unions and then demanded the vote.

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Urbanisation: demand for Urbanisation: demand for wider suffragewider suffrage

Small rural communities moved from the Small rural communities moved from the countryside to the growing industrial countryside to the growing industrial towns or cities like Paisley, Glasgow or towns or cities like Paisley, Glasgow or Manchester. They moved for jobs and Manchester. They moved for jobs and housing yet the new towns were terrible housing yet the new towns were terrible places to live e. g. overcrowded disease places to live e. g. overcrowded disease ridden, poor housing and living standards ridden, poor housing and living standards etc. etc.

Analysis – Analysis – As with industrialisation, the As with industrialisation, the working class demands to improve their working class demands to improve their living conditions were ignored as they did living conditions were ignored as they did not have the vote. The working class not have the vote. The working class sought the vote to try and force sought the vote to try and force government to improve these conditions.government to improve these conditions.

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Urbanisation: demand for Urbanisation: demand for equal votesequal votes

Urbanisation also changed the political map of Urbanisation also changed the political map of Britain as the new industrial towns had little or Britain as the new industrial towns had little or no representatives. MPs still mainly represented no representatives. MPs still mainly represented rural areas. The 19th Century also saw a great rural areas. The 19th Century also saw a great demand for equal votes e.g. The Scottish demand for equal votes e.g. The Scottish Highlands had 8 MPs and a few thousand Highlands had 8 MPs and a few thousand inhabitants at this time yet a city like Glasgow inhabitants at this time yet a city like Glasgow had only 3 MPs yet ½ million inhabitants. had only 3 MPs yet ½ million inhabitants.

Analysis - Analysis - Fewer people elected more MPs in Fewer people elected more MPs in the Highlands than in cities like Glasgow which the Highlands than in cities like Glasgow which was clearly unfair. This led for a demand for the was clearly unfair. This led for a demand for the redistribution of MPs to make voting more equal. redistribution of MPs to make voting more equal. By having equal sized constituencies (voting By having equal sized constituencies (voting areas) all votes should be equal in strength.areas) all votes should be equal in strength.

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TransportTransport

In the 19th Century trains transported not In the 19th Century trains transported not only goods but also ideas as well. The only goods but also ideas as well. The growing railway system not only allowed growing railway system not only allowed goods to move quicker but it allowed goods to move quicker but it allowed national newspapers to grow and an national newspapers to grow and an efficient postal system which aided the efficient postal system which aided the growth of national political movements. growth of national political movements. The growing popular press, after the 1850s The growing popular press, after the 1850s spread the idea that many of their skilled spread the idea that many of their skilled working class readers deserved the vote; working class readers deserved the vote; the unskilled working class could not afford the unskilled working class could not afford newspapers and so were largely ignored.newspapers and so were largely ignored.

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Analysis – Analysis – Transport allowed easy Transport allowed easy movement of democratic ideas – eg. movement of democratic ideas – eg. Early democratic movements like Early democratic movements like the Chartists failed as could not the Chartists failed as could not communicate quickly/efficiently with communicate quickly/efficiently with all areas. Now trains allowed all areas. Now trains allowed movement of speakers, letters and movement of speakers, letters and national newspapers which spread national newspapers which spread ideas of democracy.ideas of democracy.

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Attitude to Working Class Attitude to Working Class VoteVote

EDUCATIONEDUCATION - - Compulsory primary education – Compulsory primary education –

introduced 1870 (England). introduced 1870 (England). AnalysisAnalysis – In the 19 – In the 19thth Century many Century many

thought illiterate people did not deserve thought illiterate people did not deserve the vote. Better education made the the vote. Better education made the working class more deserving of the vote. working class more deserving of the vote. It also made the working class better able It also made the working class better able to campaign for the vote – e.g. produce to campaign for the vote – e.g. produce pamphlets, organise meetings etc.pamphlets, organise meetings etc.

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RELIGION –RELIGION – The working class in the early 19The working class in the early 19thth Century were Century were

also denied the vote as they were felt to be also denied the vote as they were felt to be immoral.immoral.

Believed that poor people deserved to be poor - Believed that poor people deserved to be poor - many examples of self inflicted poverty such a many examples of self inflicted poverty such a drunkenness and immorality. drunkenness and immorality.

Later 19Later 19thth Century saw a great religious revival Century saw a great religious revival and with it the conviction that some of the more and with it the conviction that some of the more ‘deserving poor’ (those better off working class ‘deserving poor’ (those better off working class who were educated, sober and hard working) who were educated, sober and hard working) had a right to vote.had a right to vote.

The development of Methodism and the The development of Methodism and the Temperance movement made the poor now Temperance movement made the poor now seem more moral.seem more moral.

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Analysis – Analysis – Like education, many Like education, many thought the working class were thought the working class were immoral and not deserving of the immoral and not deserving of the right to vote. But with the growth of right to vote. But with the growth of working class religion, self help working class religion, self help groups (e.g. cooperatives) – the groups (e.g. cooperatives) – the working class were now viewed in a working class were now viewed in a better light.better light.

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Political Parties - AttitudePolitical Parties - Attitude

Liberal PartyLiberal Party – – Leader William Gladstone saw the Leader William Gladstone saw the

better off skilled working class as better off skilled working class as their natural supporters.their natural supporters.

They had middle class values of They had middle class values of hard work, education and moral hard work, education and moral values.values.

Called them the ‘respectable elite’.Called them the ‘respectable elite’.

1818

The generally peaceful behaviour of skilled The generally peaceful behaviour of skilled workers, their interest in political matters workers, their interest in political matters and their educational achievements were and their educational achievements were noted by Gladstone in 1866 when he stated noted by Gladstone in 1866 when he stated that it would be unwise for Parliament to that it would be unwise for Parliament to ignore the “increased fitness of the ignore the “increased fitness of the working class for political power”.working class for political power”.

The Liberals did not want to give the vote The Liberals did not want to give the vote to the poorer unskilled working class who to the poorer unskilled working class who they viewed as little better than criminals.they viewed as little better than criminals.

1919

Conservatives – Conservatives – Did not wish to give vote to the working Did not wish to give vote to the working

class yet their government passed the class yet their government passed the 1867 Reform Act (1868 in Scotland). 1867 Reform Act (1868 in Scotland). Why?Why?

Their leader Disraeli persuaded them that Their leader Disraeli persuaded them that they could not ignore reform and to allow they could not ignore reform and to allow the Liberals to pass the reform act might the Liberals to pass the reform act might alienate potential new votersalienate potential new voters

2020

Conservatives passed 1867 Reform Conservatives passed 1867 Reform Act which gave the vote to 1 in 3 Act which gave the vote to 1 in 3 working men (yet had always voted working men (yet had always voted against it!). They thought the new against it!). They thought the new voters would support them as a thank voters would support them as a thank you.you.

1884 Act passed in an attempt to get 1884 Act passed in an attempt to get support for the Liberal Party and support for the Liberal Party and distract the working class from distract the working class from socialism.socialism.

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Analysis Analysis – At first political parties were – At first political parties were against widening the franchise. But then against widening the franchise. But then both the Liberals and Conservatives saw both the Liberals and Conservatives saw advantages in doing so:advantages in doing so:1. To stop potential unrest from the 1. To stop potential unrest from the working class.working class.2. They believed that the party who did 2. They believed that the party who did give the working class the vote would be give the working class the vote would be rewarded with their loyalty. For example, rewarded with their loyalty. For example, the skilled working class following 1867 the skilled working class following 1867 voted Conservative and the unskilled voted Conservative and the unskilled following 1884 voted Liberal.following 1884 voted Liberal.

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Pressure GroupsPressure Groups

Chartists –Chartists – Campaigned for political change in the Campaigned for political change in the

1830s and 1840s.1830s and 1840s. Peoples’ Charter – eg. Universal suffrage, Peoples’ Charter – eg. Universal suffrage,

equal constituencies etc.equal constituencies etc. Though they ultimately failed to achieve Though they ultimately failed to achieve

their goals at the time, they certainly had their goals at the time, they certainly had an influence on the 1867 Reform Act.an influence on the 1867 Reform Act.

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The National Reform Union (1864) The National Reform Union (1864) – – Mainly Liberal middle class Mainly Liberal middle class organisation that wanted a limited organisation that wanted a limited vote for skilled workers.vote for skilled workers.

The Reform League (1864) – The Reform League (1864) – More More radical working class organisation that radical working class organisation that demanded universal male suffrage.demanded universal male suffrage.

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Trade Unions –Trade Unions – Played an influential role in the growth of Played an influential role in the growth of

democracy.democracy. TUC formed in 1868 deliberately set out to TUC formed in 1868 deliberately set out to

pressurise governments into further pressurise governments into further change.change.

Working with the Liberal Party at the end of Working with the Liberal Party at the end of the 19the 19thth Century to introduce reforms and Century to introduce reforms and to campaign for widening of the franchise.to campaign for widening of the franchise.

Sponsoring the new Labour Party in Sponsoring the new Labour Party in Parliament after 1906 certainly helped get Parliament after 1906 certainly helped get the Parliament Act passed in 1911.the Parliament Act passed in 1911.

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Suffragists and SuffragettesSuffragists and Suffragettes – – Biggest pressure groups.Biggest pressure groups. Began to campaign for the extension Began to campaign for the extension

of the franchise from the late 19of the franchise from the late 19thth Century onwards.Century onwards.

NUWSS – peaceful campaign methods NUWSS – peaceful campaign methods – petitions, marches, lobbying etc.– petitions, marches, lobbying etc.

WSPU – after 1906 – more militant – WSPU – after 1906 – more militant – eg. Arson, hunger strikes, cat and eg. Arson, hunger strikes, cat and mouse etc.mouse etc.

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Analysis – Analysis – The early pressure The early pressure groups like the Chartists failed to groups like the Chartists failed to change attitudes. However, well change attitudes. However, well organised groups like the National organised groups like the National Reform Union, the Reform League, Reform Union, the Reform League, Trade Unions, the Suffragists and Trade Unions, the Suffragists and Suffragettes did put pressure on Suffragettes did put pressure on governments to change. This is governments to change. This is evident when working class men got evident when working class men got the vote in 1867 and 1884 and the vote in 1867 and 1884 and women in 1918.women in 1918.