Britain issue 1 reasons for democracy

Question 1

urbanisation & industrialisation

Answer 1

evidence:
- 31.8 million to 45.3 million population increase between 1871 - 1911
- 80% of people living in towns and cities by 1911.

• ‘white collar workers’ and workers from many other industries had a huge increase in job opportunities
• compulsory education from 1870s meant that the working class were more educated compared to 50 years earlier.

analysis:
- this meant more and more of the rich and upper classes were moving away from urban areas and into suburbs, and so cities were predominantly made up of the working class and in such environments began the cultivation of new political ideas which believed in power to the poorer classes/people thus leading to a slow but steady increase in democratic views in britain.

• This led to democracy in britain as the affect of this can be seen through an increase in wages of 10% between 1889 and 1900 which would have improved the quality of living for much of the working class in these fields.
• people become for politically aware allowing them to fight for reform with an informed outlook on the matter, making their fight more impactful.

counter analysis:
- it could be argued the revolution actually led to some industries suffering, such as the farms, as only 9% of people were actually employed here.
- it could also be argued that despite the change in towns and cities many people did not have a say as the representation of the people acts weren’t implemented initial decades after this social/economic change took place.

evaluation:
- eric hobsbawm; socio economic change “provided a firm lodging for the british working class within an industrial society”
- the revolution led to an increase in trade unions and other organisations which aimed to follow a new democratic system.

Question 2

political pressure groups

Answer 2

evidence:
- the national reform league; 1865, campaigned for the secret ballot, an equal distribution of seats, universal manhood suffrage.

• labour movement; in 1906, they campaigned “in the name of a million trade unionists” and they made it clear their wish for the people to be represented in parliament.
• women’s suffrage; in 1897 millicent fawcett formed the suffragists, but after their attempts did not seem to work, emmeline pankhurst created the suffragette movement, using more aggressive tactics to win the vote in 1903.

analysis:
- the increase in membership of 65,000 by 1867 and the work of robert lowe, who questioned how the working class were unable to vote, put immense pressure on the government, which argued by royden harrison, forced the government to pass reforms.

• the labour were able to pressurise the liberal government to pass democratising reforms, which went on to support the working classes as they had wished.
• this increased democracy as the lack of votes for women directly prevented britain from being democratic, and without the suffrage movements democracy could not have been achieved.

counter analysis:
- it could be argued that the women’s suffrage movements were not as impactful as they actually put a stop to their militant tactics at the beginning of WW1 to help with the war effort.

evaluation:
- labour movement campaigned for salaries for MPs which was introduced in 1911, in the parliament act. As N Lowe states, “The act was of major importance in the development of the constitution… democracy was safeguarded..an important step in the reduction of the powers of the aristocracy.”

Question 3

party competition and political advantage

Answer 3

evidence:
- liberals such as william gladstone believed they could get an advantage over their conservative enemies by passing reforms such as the corrupt and illegal practices act

• additionally, conservative stanley baldwin introduced the 1928 representation of the people act
• they were also responsible for the 1867 reform act which they had previously opposed, which increased the electorate to 2.5 million.

analysis:
- limited the amount of money which could be spent on elections

• were both done to attract the newly enfranchised voters, but did still provide many more people with the right to vote.

counter analysis:
- the women’s suffrage movements had been around long before the party competition began to take root, suggesting politicians had much more of a reason to listen to them rather than to do it primarily for political gains.

evaluation:
- it could be argued that there was an actual, genuine concern over democracy in britain that led to the passing of reforms rather than competition, eg the 1867 reform act.

Question 4

changing political attitudes and the influence of other countries

Answer 4

evidence:
- nations like the US and new Zealand had begun extending their franchise

• there was also a major change in political attitudes as women stayed home during the war and contributed to society whilst men could not.

analysis:
- britain did not want to fall behind and so was pushed into passing democraticising reforms.

• britain realised the potential women had and so the fight for their right to vote was being more widely accepted.

counter analysis:
- many historians believe that the reforms were only passed in an attempt to deflect questionable foreign policy pursuits on the 19th century.

evaluation:
kerr and mcgonigle argue that the reforms were less likely passed due to outside influence but most likely passed in order to fulfill their own parties interests.

Question 5

impact of the great war

Answer 5

evidence
- over 5 million men served in the war which lasted between 1914-1918.

• additionally, women were put to work in facilities that used to employ men, like munition factories, public transport, and farms, which proved women’s capabilities.

analysis:
- in 1918 the representation of the peoples act was passed which provided the vote for all men over 21 and some women over 30.

counter analysis:
- this act was not as impactful as women were not fully enfranchised until 1928.
- it could be argued that if it weren’t for the previous efforts of the suffrage movements, the government may have not felt like providing women with the vote was fair.

evaluation:
- as martin pugh argues, “The experience and response of the mass of people during the First World War were of major importance in shaping the modern pattern of British politics.”