extending the franchise

Question 1

franchise/suffrage

Answer 1

• suffrage/having a franchise is the right and ability to vote in elections and engage in politics
• ‘extending’ the franchise means increasing the number of people who can vote in elections

Question 2

problems with UK franchise

Answer 2

• by early 1800s only 400,000 could vote
• some rules meant the wealthy could vote multiple times but others couldn’t vote at all
• consistencies were called boroughs or counties, small ‘rotten’ borough with few people had MPs, but growing industrial cities didn’t have enough representation
• constituency reform was needed
• women were excluded as were many working class men

Question 3

1832 great reform act

Answer 3

• many rotten boroughs were abolished and representation was given to urban areas like Manchester
• in counties mor were given the franchise like tenant farmers
• gave middle class the vote such as small land owner and shopkeeper
• women and most working class men couldn’t vote as you had to have property

Question 4

1918 rep of the people act

Answer 4

• let women vote (over 30, owned property, were married, or graduates)
• all men over the age of 21 could vote
• passed by wartime coalition government
• act was partly passed to give working class men who served the country the vote

Question 5

1928 rep of the people act

Answer 5

• extended suffrage to all women
• passed under a conservative government

Question 6

1969 rep of the people act

Answer 6

• extended suffrage to people under 21 after attitudes towards adulthood changed in the UK
• passed under a labour government

Question 7

suffragettes

Answer 7

• suffragettes such as the woman’s social and political union (WSPU) used direct action and militant methods to show the urgency of women’s suffrage (e.g. setting fire to buildings)
• campaigners were often imprisoned for their actions (those in prison went on hunger strike an were force fed)

Question 8

suffragists

Answer 8

• tried to achieve the vote using peaceful methods, trying to get a bill passed in the houses of parliament
• suffragists tried to organise cross-party support and lobby politicians of the importance of female suffrage
• used peaceful demonstrations + gathered support with petitions
• successful in getting bills to parliament but none were made into law

Question 9

voting at 16 - campaign group

Answer 9

• votes at 16 coalition is a group run by several different campaign groups such as the national union of students (NUS) and the British youth council

Question 10

arguments for votes at 16

Answer 10

• 16-18 year olds can pay income tax and join the army but are not represented in parliament
• young people are taught bout citizenship and politics in school, so are educated about politics

Question 11

arguments against votes ay 16

Answer 11

• argued that those under 18 are not mature enough to make political decisions
• youth turnout is usually low in elections, so under 18 turnout isn’t expected to be different

Question 12

political support for votes at 16

Answer 12

• brought to parliament in 2008 in a private members bill, but ran out of time in parliament
• movement has had some success, 16s-18s were able to vote in the Scottish independence referendum
• all major parties in UK mainly support under 18s voting apart from conservatives