Party competition Flashcards
Topic sentence
Other Historians argue that party competition was key to the growth of democracy in Britain. Indeed, the Liberals and conservatives believed they could gain political advantage from passing reforms.
Evidence 1
Gladstone’s Liberals we’re convinced that reforms would benefit them at the expense of the Conservatives, for example, Gladstone was responsible for passing the Corrupt and Illegal Practices Act, 1883.
Analysis 1
This act was important to the growth of democracy because it limited the amount spent on elections, which reduced the advantages held by wealthy conservatives.
Evidence 2
Furthermore, the 1928 representation of the people act was passed by the conservative prime minister which ensured gender equality in voting, Baldwin passed this with the hope of attracting the newly enfranchised women to vote conservative.
Analysis 2
This act was important to the growth of democracy because it gave women the vote on equal terms to men which meant that they now had a greater say in how the country was run.
Counter Analysis
However some historians argue that women had been campaigning for equality in voting rights for decades and it would seem that politicians might have been more convinced by those arguments than attempting to disarm their political opponents.
Evaluation
To evaluate, it is clear that Britains growth in democracy was partly as a result of party competition. Politicians tried to ensure their own party’s political interests would be protected in times of change. Indeed historians FB Smith and Maurice Cowling both argue that party advantage was a decisive influence in the passing of the 1867 Reform Act. However, it is more convincing that politicians introduced reforming legislation such as because they were felt pressure from pressure groups such as the national reform league.
