Getting the Vote - Summarisation Flashcards
What does democracy mean?
Democracy means “rule by people”.
What were some of the problems of Britains democracy before
1832?
There was a lack of representation for new, densely populated towns and cities in the North;
There was an unfair distribution of seats - rotten boroughs;
Elections were controlled by the upper classes and landlords; Selected seats could also be bought;
Voting qualifications were inconsistent and limited. No women were allowed to vote. A rigged system for the wealthy:
There was a need to distribute MPs more fairly in Ireland and the North.
The number of voters was little, the “franchise” needed extending. Only a few men could vote in elections.
How many inhabitants did Manchester have before 1932? How many MPs were sent to Parliament?
Manchester had a population of 182,000 inhabitants. No MPs were sent to Parliament.
What is a rotten borough? Give an example of a rotten borough.
A rotten borough is a constituency with only a few voters but at least one MP. Old Sarum had only seven voters and it sent two MPs to Parliament. This is an example of a rotten borough.
What is a pocket borough? Give an example of a pocket borough.
Boroughbridge was a pocket borough owned by the Duke of Newcastle. Its 65 electors voted the way the Duke wanted. Boroughbridge sent two MPs to Parliament.
When did the Peterloo Massacre occur?
The Peterloo massacre occurred on 16 August 1819.
How many protesters were present during the Peterloo massacre? Who were the key individuals and parties involved?
60,000 protestors were present during the Peterloo. Key parties and individuals involved - Lord Liverpool, Henry Hunt, and the cotton workers.
The short-term and medium-term outcomes of the Peterloo Massacre?
15 people died and many protesters were jailed and injured. In response to the protest, the government issued the six acts. Which banned mass meetings, cheap newspapers, and the press.
Tension and pressure began to mount between the middle classes and the government. Eventually, in 1932, the Great Reform Act was issued.
Why was the Peterloo Massacre called the Peterloo Massacre?
The press wanted to link the event to the Waterloo Massacre.
Who was Henry Hunt?
He was a son of a farmer. He inherited huge estates. Upper class.
He tried for election but was unsuccessful in winning a seat in Parliament, but he spread awareness in the public and was able to sway opinions within the working class and earn their favour. He eventually won a seat in Parliament in 1832.
Who was Mary Fildes?
Born in the Republic of Ireland. Middle class.
She wanted reform in government and promoted this concept in public. She wanted men to have the vote. She was fairly successful in her aims.
Who was William Cobbett?
He was son of a tavern owner, and became a farm labourer, he was taught and educated by his father. Middle class.
He wanted reform. He published newspapers criticising the government. He wasn’t too successful in his goals.
Who was Arthur Wellesley?
He was the Duke of Wellington. An aristocrat and MP. Upper Class.
He resisted reform, and was initially successful in this endeavour, but he lost momentum. Most powerful men like Wellesley were opposed to change in the political state.
Why did early protests fail to bring change?
- Powerful men with a personal interest in politics, such as the Duke of Wellington, were opposed to change.
- Public meetings, such as that at St Peter’s Field (Peterloo Massacre), frightened authorities and produced a reactionary, violent response.
- The government was afraid of revolution. Especially since countries like France had been violently revolutionised.
When did the Great Reform Act take place?
The Great Reform Act was passed in 1832.
What did the Great Reform Act of 1832 achieve? How was the franchise extended?
MPs were distributed more evenly and the franchise was extended.
Men who earned more than 40 shillings a year or owned county land worth 50 pounds could vote in elections. Those in boroughs had to own property worth 10 pounds a year to gain voting rights.
How were the MPs distributed in 1832? (Statistics)
22 new boroughs were given one MP and 30 boroughs lost one MP.
There were 64 new county MPs.
What fraction of men could vote before 1932? What fraction of men could vote after 1832? Who could vote?
Before 1832, 1 in ten men could vote. After 1832, 1 in 5 men could vote.
Men who owned property worth at least £10 a year could vote.
Men in counties could vote if they owned property worth more than £50. Those who earned more than 40 shillings a year.
Why did the Chartists protest? What did they want?
Many people still didn’t have the vote after the Great Reform. This group of people formed the Chartists. These protestors demanded the following:
- A vote for every man over 21
- A secret ballot.
- The abolition of property qualifications for MPs.
- The payment of salaries to MPs.
- Equal sized constituencies.
- Annual parliaments.
Was the chartist doomed to fail? Why? What petitions did they pass onto Parliament?
The chartists put forward three petitions to Parliament (1839, 1842, and 1848), all of which were rejected.
- Its leadership was divided about whether to use persuasion (moral force) or violence (physical force) to achieve its aims.
- It attracted working-class people when times were hard and unemployment was high, so support varied.
- The power of the state was strong, so demonstrations were broken up quickly, so Parliament didn’t have to listen.
