1.2a History of Suffrage Flashcards
Define Franchise/suffrage
Suffrage, or having the franchise, is the right and ability to engage in politics and vote in an election.
“Extending” the franchise means increasing the number of people who can vote in elections.
Expand Upon the Problems with the UK franchise
By the early 1800s, only 400,000 people could vote. Constituencies were boroughs or counties.
Rules meant that some wealthy individuals could vote multiple times, but others could not vote at all.
Different boroughs had different rules on who could vote.
Small “rotten” boroughs with few people living there had an MP, but growing industrial cities didn’t have enough representation.
1832 Great Reform Act
Many rotten boroughs were abolished, and representation was given to urban areas like Manchester.
In the counties, more people were given the franchise, like tenant farmers.
The Act gave the vote to middle class people in the boroughs, such as small landowners and shopkeepers.
Most working men could not vote still because the Act still required property.
1918 Rep of the People Act
1918 Representation of the People Act
The 1918 Act let women vote in general elections.
Women who were married, owned property, or graduates, and aged over 30 were given the vote
All men aged over 21 were given the vote
1928 Rep of the People Act
The 1928 Act extended suffrage to all women.
The 1928 Act was passed under a Conservative government.
1969 Rep of the People Act
1969 Representation of the People Act
The 1969 Act extended suffrage to people under 21, after attitudes towards adulthood changed in the UK.
