How Suffrage Has Developed In UK Since 1832 Flashcards
How did suffrage develop in Britain?
-developed via an evolutionary process
-in 1832 only 2.7% allowed to vote but once eligibility of vote expanded it was inevitable that momentum for political reform would continue until whole population enfranchised
-transitions from oligarchy to democracy largely peaceful but were outbreaks of popular protests such as working class movement of chartists + suffragettes
-but by end of process all adults except prisoners + peers could vote
What were the acts involved in the universal suffrage extension timeline?
-great reform act 1832
-second reform act 1867
-third reform act 1884
-representation of the people act 1918
-representation of the people act 1928
-representation of the people act 1969
What was the great reform act 1832?
-passed by Whig gov’t of lord grey
-1/5 male adults could vote which was 5.6% of population
-abolished ‘rotten borough’ — constituencies that had almost no voters but elected 2 MPs each election
What was the second reform act 1867
-passed by cons gov’t of Disraeli
-allowed working class men in cities to vote doubling electorate size
What was the third reform act 1884?
-passed by Gladstone’s liberal gov’t
-established uniform franchise across country for men
-all working class men who met property qualification could vote
-40% adult men still excluded
What was the representation of the people act 1918?
-product of first political + social changes caused by WW1
-passed by David Lloyd George in wartime coalition gov’t
-all men over 21 or 19 for veterans could vote
-women over 30 who met property qualification could vote
What was the reforestation of the people act 1928?
-passed by Baldwin’s cons gov’t
-women received vote on equal terms to men
-property qualifications were removed
-synoptic link — several measures to expand franchise by cons govt which is example of the ‘reform that you may preserve’ stand of conservatism often associated with Burke
