1.2 A wider franchise and debates over suffrage. Flashcards
What was the Anglo-Saxon witan?
An assembly of aristocrats who advised the king on important matters
Why is the Magna Carta significant for democracy?
It established key legal principles like fair trials and protection from unfair treatment by the king.
What did the Magna Carta state about trials?
No one can be put on trial without credible witnesses.
Why did the English Civil War (1642-1651) occur?
King Charles I believed in the divine right of kings and ruled without Parliament’s approval, leading to conflict.
Who were the Levellers?
A political group during the English Civil War that advocated for equal voting rights for all men.
What did the Bill of Rights (1689) achieve?
It limited the monarchy’s power and strengthened Parliament’s authority.
What was the Great Reform Act of 1832?
An act that allowed some middle-class men to vote, beginning a process of democratic expansion.
What does ‘franchise’ or ‘suffrage’ mean?
The right to vote in public elections.
What was Chartism?
A working-class movement in the 1830s-40s demanding voting rights for all men.
Why did Chartism fail?
The government suppressed protests, but later reforms gradually expanded voting rights.
Who were the Suffragists?
A group led by Millicent Fawcett that campaigned peacefully for women’s voting rights.
Who were the Suffragettes?
A militant group led by Emmeline Pankhurst that used direct action to fight for women’s suffrage.
Why was the Representation of the People Act (1918) passed?
Women’s contributions to World War I helped change political attitudes towards suffrage.
What did the Representation of the People Act (1928) achieve?
It granted universal suffrage to all adults aged 21 and over.
What violent actions did the Suffragettes use to advance their cause?
They burned letterboxes, vandalized property, and assaulted anti-suffrage politicians to gain publicity.
How did the public and government respond to Suffragette violence?
Many viewed them as extremists or even terrorists, and Prime Minister Herbert Asquith refused to give in to their tactics, fearing it would encourage more violence.
What alternative argument suggests the Suffragettes’ violence was not the main reason women got the vote?
Some historians argue that women’s war work during World War I was more significant in proving they were responsible enough to vote.
What key change did the Representation of the People Act 1969 introduce?
It lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.
Why was lowering the voting age to 18 considered uncontroversial?
Young people had new responsibilities, such as university education, greater earning power, and increased sexual freedom due to easier access to contraception.
How did the UK align with international trends by lowering the voting age?
Other countries had already lowered the voting age, and the UK followed the global movement toward expanding democratic participation.
What is the Votes at 16 Coalition, and when was it founded?
It was founded in 2003 to bring together groups like the National Union of Students and the British Youth Council to campaign for lowering the voting age.
Where have 16- and 17-year-olds already been allowed to vote?
They could vote in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum and can now vote in Scottish and Welsh parliamentary elections.
Which political parties support lowering the voting age to 16?
Labour and the Liberal Democrats support it, while the Conservative Party opposes it.
What are the two main tactics used by the Votes at 16 campaign?
- Generating mass enthusiasm through social media, school debates, and the slogan “Engage, Empower, Inspire.”
- Seeking endorsements from MPs and members of the House of Lords, listing their supporters online.
Why did Jim McMahon’s Private Member’s Bill (2017-19) to lower the voting age fail?
It lacked parliamentary time, meaning there wasn’t enough opportunity for debate and a vote.
Why is it unlikely that the Conservatives will support lowering the voting age?
Younger voters tend to support left-wing parties like Labour, so the Conservative Party has little political incentive to back the change.
What are the main arguments for lowering the voting age to 16?
- 16-year-olds can marry, pay taxes, and join the army, so they should be allowed to vote.
- Citizenship lessons in schools help young people make informed political decisions.
- Voting at a younger age encourages lifelong civic engagement.
- Many 16- and 17-year-olds are politically active, supporting movements like Black Lives Matter.
- In the 2014 Scottish referendum, 75% of 16- and 17-year-olds voted, proving their engagement.
What are the main arguments against lowering the voting age?
- 16-year-olds still need parental permission for major decisions, like marriage or military service (except in Scotland).
- They may be more easily influenced by social media and peer pressure.
- Youth voter turnout is already low, so lowering the age could worsen disengagement.
- Most 16-year-olds are in school and don’t pay taxes, so they have less direct political experience.
What was the key argument in Hirst v UK (2005)?
John Hirst argued that prisoners should have the right to vote while serving their sentence.
How did UK politicians respond to the idea of prisoner voting?
In a 2011 parliamentary debate, 234 MPs voted against allowing prisoners to vote, while only 22 supported it.
What are the main arguments for allowing prisoners to vote?
- Encourages responsibility and rehabilitation.
- Keeps prisoners connected to society, aiding reintegration.
- Voting is a fundamental human right, as recognized by the European Court of Human Rights.
What are the main arguments against allowing prisoners to vote?
- By committing a crime, prisoners break their contract with society and should lose certain rights.
- Serious crimes deserve serious consequences.
- Voting is a privilege that should be reserved for law-abiding citizens.
