Britain as a Democracy Flashcards
What is a democracy?
Greek origin
Demos - The people
Kratos: Power or Rule
It ensures that everyone’s voice counts when the government makes a decision.
2 types of democracies in Britain?
Constitutional Monarchy - the king is our monarch
Government - British citizens elect MPs (Member of parliament) and political party
How many MPs / constituencies are in UK
650
What are the 3 biggest candidates in the UK
Conservative
Labour
Liberal Democrats
What is the magna carta?
1215 King John signed a document setting out laws (human rights) - there were 63 clauses.
Its latin meaning Great Charter.
What 3 things were wrong with voting system in 1820’s?
- Suffrage - who could vote e.g. under 18, women and poor men not able to vote
- Representation in Government e.g. some cities didn’t have MPs; only men were allowed to be MPs
- Government e.g. corruption/bribery
*****What is the Peterloo massacre?
16 August 1819, thousands of people gathered in Manchester to take part in a peaceful protest to ask Parliament for a fairer political system and more voting rights.
Massacre as some died and lots injured.
What is constitutional democracy?
Britain ruled by government and monarch
What is protectorate?
A country or state protected by another country or state e.g. Panama was controlled by US
What is Glorious Revolution?
1688‐89
Shift from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy
What does suffrage mean?
Allowed to vote in politics
Why did Suffragette (WSPU) form?
1903-1918
Suffragists campaigned for women to vote
6 Feb 1918 - The Representation of the People Act women > 30 years were allowed to vote.
What does WSPU stand for?
Women’s Social and Political Union
What was the Suffragette motto?
Deeds not words
Who was the leader of the WSPU?
Emmeline Pankhurst
list 6 methods that suffragettes used to protest?
Attacks on property
Petitions
Wrote to Parliament
Marches
Arson
Bombs
Refusing to go to prison
Publicity
Hunger strikes (then being force fed in prison)
smashing windows on private property and governmental buildings
disrupting the postal service
burning public buildings
attacking Church of England buildings
holding illegal demonstrations
burning politicians unoccupied homes
ruining golf courses and male-only clubs
chaining themselves to buildings
disrupting political meetings
planting bombs
handcuffing themselves to railings
2 points for for why women won the vote in 1918?
e.g. Suffragettes used propaganda (misleading) posters to gain support
e.g. they marched, they wrote to government, they signed petitions etc…
What was Equal Franchise Act
1928, women voted reduced from 30 to 21 years.
4 or 6 point question on ‘The Suffragette movement’
Define ‘suffrage’
When did it start ?
Which 2 groups?
Why did it start ?
What was WSPU and its slogan?
What tactics did they use to win?
*****
Suffrage means the right to vote in politics
Suffragette movement occurred in 20C
2 groups: Suffragettes and Suffragists - the difference between the 2 groups was the way they campaigned.
Suffragists - within law
Suffragettes - caused problems and broke the law
Tactics
Suffragists - debate and petitions and non-violent marches
Suffragettes - 1903 WSPU (Women’s Social and Political Union) was formed by Emeline Pankurst and her daughters. They took more direct and sometimes illegal action (give examples). 300,000 activists in a march in 1908. Slogan was ‘Deeds not Words’
1918 - ‘Representation of the People Act’ law was passed allowing women to vote.
1928 - Equal Franchise Act
What is the Great Reform Act
1832
Changed which parts of the country sent MPs to Parliament. Removed ‘rotten boroughs’
Gave new industrial towns MPs.
Gave middle class men the right to vote.
***What was wrong with voting system 1820s?
Rotten Boroughs - small areas could be bribed
Some areas no MPs
Only rich people could become MPs (not paid)
Noone under 18 could vote
Only men could be MPs
Powerful landowners
House of Lords more powerful than House of Commons
Voting was not secret
Threats and bribes
