3.1.2.1 Democracy and Participation - Voting and the Franchise Flashcards
1
Q
what is the franchise
A
the right to vote –> those that hold the franchise are eligible to vote in elections
2
Q
suffrage and the franchise
A
- those who hold the franchise is determined by legislation
- can be extended by one off events eg Scottish independence referendum 2014
- currently extended to all over 18 who are not a criminal, mentally incapable or a peer –> universal sufferage, 71.5% of the current population
3
Q
growth in the franchise and suffrage 200 years ago
A
- 200 years ago only 2.7% of the population had the franchise
- growth in the franchise reflects the changing nature of dem –> attitudes to race, class, gender and age have evolved
- previously excluded groups have been granted a more equal say in British politics and the way the country is run –> modern representative democracy (UK)
4
Q
name 8 events that expanded the franchise
A
- 1832 Reform Act
- Chartist Movement
- 1867 and 1884 Reform Acts
- Votes for Women
- Parliament Act 1911
- Representation of the People
Act 1918 - Representation of the People Act 1928 (Equal Franchise)
- Representation of the People Act 1969
5
Q
Great Reform Act 1832
A
- They wanted elections to become more fair and representative. –> during Indust R, Brit more economic, more urban industrial economy
–> middle class rose in power as economic force, but denied representation - Lord Grey persuaded King William IV to consider using his constitutional powers to create additional Whig Peers in the House of Lords to ensure the Bill’s passage – So Tory peers abstained from voting allowing the Bill to be passed.
- Opposition from the Pittite factions in parliament and the House of Lords.
- Rotten Boroughs were abolished (56) and 31 were reduced to one MP.
More seats were allocated to the new industrial towns where 67 new constitution. - They FORMALLY excluded women from voting in parliamentary elections.
- key factor of awarding the franchise was was property owning so 20% of men were allowed to vote. This increased the electorate by 300,000 people to 5.6%. (
6
Q
Chartist Movement
A
- Working class movement which emerged in 1836 in London
- -All men to have the vote (universal manhood suffrage)
- voting should take place by secret ballot
-Parliamentary elections every year, not every five years
-Constituencies should be of equal size
-members of parliaments should be paid
-the property of qualification for becoming a member of parliament should be abolished - -there were more radical elements within the movement such as outbreaks of violence and many arrests such as in 1839 when 4000 people marched into the town of Newport but were met with resistance from soldiers, which led to the death of Chartists
- -support for the movement were at its highest when petitions were signed by millions of working people that were presented to the House of Commons
- By the 1850’s, members of parliament accepted that further reform was inevitable despite the Chartists being able to secure 1.3million signatures
- However by 1918, five of the Chartists six demands had been achieved except for the parliamentary elections being held every year which could not be achieved (in the reform acts)
- Remember: the actual Chartists movement ended with none of their aims being added but they were added in later Reforms Act
7
Q
1867 and 1884 Reform Acts
A
- Increasing number of men who could vote in elections
-Extending the vote to all households and lodgers in boroughs who paid >£10 a year. Lowered property threshold which enabled land owners and tenants with very small amounts of land to vote.
- Campaign of the Chartist movement who were unhappy with limited enfranchisement that the 1832 act bought.
- At first, their demands were rejected by Parliament but later, MPs acknowledged that further reform was necessary
- Electorate in England and Wales doubled from 1 to 2 million men
8
Q
Votes for Women
A
- Campaigning for women to be able to vote in general elections –> new jobs like typis, teachers and nurses gave women from all backgrounds more opportunity to earn money and pay taxes
- changes to marriage laws gave women more independence and personal responsibility: divorce for cruelty, desertion etc.
- women needed to be given the franchise in order to achieve full gender equality with men
-The campaign ”Votes for women” formally started in 1867. This was the precedent for the campaign led by the suffragists. Suffragists used peaceful methods like lobbying petitioning, parades, public speaking. Suffragettes were determined to get the vote by any means, so used violence.
- Suffragist groups existed all over the country and had over 50,000 people. The weekly newspaper Votes for Women had a circulation of 22000 by 1909. Women’s sunday in 1908 was known as “monster meeting”. The suffragettes marched through central london to Hyde Park. There was a crowd of up to 300,000.
9
Q
Parliament Act 1911
A
- The Lords voted against The People’s Budget 1909 because they were land owners. The budget was only passed when the land tax proposal was removed.
- It sought to remove the power of the house of Lords to reject money bills and to veto bills that originated in the Commons
- The Lords were not in favour of it because it limited their power and gave more power to the Commons.
- The bill was finally passed in the Lords in August 1911, by 131 votes to 114, a very slim majority of 17.
10
Q
Representation of the People
Act 1918
A
- After the success of working women during WW1
- Pressure from the Suffragettes
- DLL replaced Herbert Asquith as prime minister and he was much more supportive of women’s right to vote than Asquith
- The bill was passed by an overwhelming majority
- Granted the vote to women over the age of 30 who met a property qualification and all men over the age of 21. (universal male suffrage)
- a reward due to all men who were away at war and women who joined the workforce at home
11
Q
why were the gov more keen to give women the vote after 1918 (5)
A
- universal men suffrage was debated alot due to the sacrifice of all classes during the war, so female suffrage was discussed too
- women contributed to the war effort at home and in non-combat roles overseas, providing they could take part in the defence of the country
- women had provided invaluable work during the war and should be rewarded
- DLL replaced asquith and was in more support
- suffragettes stopped their violence and aided the war; the gov was worried they would start again after the war
12
Q
Representation of the People Act 1928 (Equal Franchise)
A
- The Equal Franchise Act granted equal voting rights to women and men. As a result, both men and women could vote at the age of 21.
- Women wanted electoral equality with men. The vote was wanted for all women over 21 years old, regardless of property ownership, as prior to this act only women over 30 who met minimum property qualifications could vote. While the 1918 Equal franchise act had been passed, only ⅔ of women had received the
Vote. - a campaign for more equal treatment (eg equal pay for equal work, equality in sexual conduct and morals etc)
- Suffragettes partook in hunger strikes and public demonstrations, the most notable of them being Emmeline Pankhurst, their leader. Women protesting for their vote found themselves assaulted and/or imprisoned.
- Many liberals, such as David Lloyd George, supported women’s suffrage. Many political parties, such as Labour and the Conservatives, were often split about women’s suffrage as they either opposed it and women’s equality, knew openly supporting it would lower the party’s appeal, or knew that the house of Lords would never pass it.
- Winston Churchill, Chancellor of the Exchequer of the time, was opposed to the Women’s rights vote and argued that the country should not be put in the hands of a female majority.
13
Q
Representation of the People Act 1969
A
- The campaign was to reduce the voting age from 21 to 18 years old for all classes and genders; a change brought about by changing social climates
- since ww2 role and status of 18 year olds had been changing (gaining employment, higher education and financial independence, but were still minors)
- 18-20s found it hard to eg get married, buy/rent homes or secure bank accounts but the law did not see them as adults –> led to course cases as them being classed as orphans
- 1965: Latey Committee –> review mariage and property but reported voting age should be also be 18 not 21 (18 year olds were more financially independent, astute, better educated/better informed and mature)
14
Q
origin of the suffragists
A
- first petition to give women the vote was rejected in 1866; a variety of movements nationwide were created –> Manchester society for womens suffrage
- movements unified eventually by Millicent fawcett under the title of the ‘National union of Women’s suffrage Society’ nicknamed the suffragists
- internally democratic group with members electing their prez and decisions were made through elected committees
- mostly middle class women and some men –> campaigns for womens rights issues, marriage and employment rights
15
Q
describe the actions of the suffragists
A
- methods were peaceful, applied pressure though persuasion
- writing letters, giving educational lectures, holding peaceful marches and protests
NUWSS had more than 100,000 members in 400 branches in the country
