Reasons for the Growth of democracy

Question 1

Industrialisation and Urbanisation

Answer 1

K - Britain was the first country to industrialise, creating new cities based on technology like Glasgow.
K - The 1870 Education Act introduced compulsory schooling that made it possible for all to learn and write.
A +  However, although industrialisation caused greater enfranchisement, political power remained with the rich white male landowners until well into the 20th centaury.  
E - To evaluate, industrialisation and urbanisation was the most important factor in making Britain more democratic. This is because it led to other factors which made Britain more democratic. Pressure groups for example, consisted of working class people who had gained an interest in politics through industrialisation and urbanisation.

Question 2

Pressure Groups

Answer 2

K - Violent Methods put pressure on the Government
K - Suffragette campaigns led to the creation of the “cat and mouse act”
A+ However, the suffragette campaign is limited in it’s importance since the violent methods of the groups resulted in opposition to the movement against MPs and voters who were offended by the violence.
E - To evaluate, pressure groups, although important, were not as significant as the First World War in the growth of democracy. This is because the government feared giving in to the violent methods used by groups like the suffragettes. The first world war justified giving women the vote as a reward for their contribution. MPs feared that supporting the suffragettes would lead to more violent campaigns.

Question 3

Party Advantage

Answer 3

K - Both the Conservatives and the Liberals thought that they would benefit from expanding the franchise.
K - The Liberals took action, the corrupt and Illegal practices act was arguably introduced to stop Conservative bribery.
A + It could be argued that neither party would take the risk of deliberately and significantly increasing the franchise in case the opposing party did benefit from it.
E - To evaluate, political advantage was a less important factor than industrialisation and urbanisation. This is because it was the increased interest in politics and government that convinced the parties that increasing the electorate would benefit them. They saw potential due to widespread education and leisure, if it were not for this then political parties wouldn’t be inclined to expand the franchise.

Question 4

The First World War

Answer 4

K - The representation of the people act of 1918 was passed, this gave some women the vote and was arguably passed as a reward for women’s contribution to the war effort.
K - Many women found themselves in higher paying, more essential lines of work, stereotypes had been broken, this made it difficult to justify not giving the vote to women.
A + It was not given to the young, poor women in the munitions factory for example, but the property owning, older, married women.
E - To, evaluate the First World War was the second most important reason for the growth of democracy. This is because it resulted in a change in attitude towards women and a change in the role of women in society. Author Robert Roberts said that the war “snapped the strings that had bound women in so many ways in the Victorian age”. Women were less likely to be viewed as the property of men, they became respected which justified giving them the vote.

Question 5

Examples of Developments Abroad

Answer 5

K - Many countries had given women the vote before 1914 such as new Zealand.
K - Britain prided its self as the “mother” of democracy.
A+ They were not forced to follow in the footsteps of other countries, there was no threat.
E - To evaluate, developments abroad were the least important reason for the growth of democracy. This is because the Government often chose to ignore these developments. For example, in New Zealand women were granted suffrage in 1893, in Britain this didn’t happen until 1918.