Simplified essay plans: challenge and transformation

Question 1

To what extent was Britain a democratic nation by 1886?/

Did Britain become more democratic in 1851-1886?

Answer 1

structure:
Agree 1: Prior to 1851
Agree 2: 2nd Reform Act 1867
Agree 3: Secret Ballot Act 1872
Agree 4: Conspiracy & Protection of Property Act 1875
Agree 5: Corrupt & Illegal Practices Act 1883
Agree 6: 3rd Reform Act 1884
Agree 7: Transport 
Disagree

Question 2

Agree 1: Prior to 1851

Answer 2

• 7% population could vote
• 7 year elections.
• Property Qualification meant w/c couldn’t stand for election

Question 3

Agree 2: 2nd Reform Act 1867

Answer 3

-All male lodgers paying £10+ got
the vote
–Franchise from 1/5 to 1/3 men.
–Votes had grown by 134%.

Question 4

Agree 3: Secret Ballot Act 1872

Answer 4

-Landlords could no longer threaten

–Irelands Catholics benefit as not pressured from protestants

Question 5

Agree 4: Conspiracy & Protection of Property Act 1875

Answer 5

• Decriminalised the work of TU.

–Allowed peaceful picketing.

Question 6

Agree 5: Corrupt & Illegal Practices Act 1883

Answer 6

-Limited party spending by 25%.

Question 7

Agree 6: 3rd Reform Act 1884

Answer 7

• 2/3 men had the vote.
  –Vote grew by 2m.
  –Ireland vote grew by 230%.

Question 8

Agree 7: Transport

Answer 8

-People can now travel to London. 
–Politicians reached isolated areas.
– Newspapers daily. 
–Forster Education Act 1870
—More people could read.

Question 9

Disagree

Answer 9

-Need to have lived in property
for 1+ years. 
-Hospitality gifts still offered. 
-Only 18% of population had the vote. 
–Plural Voting-Men could vote more than once. 
-No payment of MPs. 
–No parties to represent w/c.

Question 10

‘the social reforms of the period 1868-1885 were undertaken reluctantly and had limited impact’ assess the validity of this view

Answer 10

1. political advantage
2. pressure
3. wanted to help

Question 11

1. political advantage

Answer 11

- The electorate had
grown with the
increase of skilled
w/c men from 700k
in 1833 to 1.3m in
1866.

• Gladstone in 1866
  stated that it would
  be unwise for Parliament to ignore the “increased fitness of the working class for political
  power”.

Question 12

2. pressure

Answer 12

• In 1864 the National Reform Union was formed to promote the idea of common interests between the middle and working classes.
• 1864 Reform League which was a much more radical movement, working for man-
  hood suffrage and a secret ballot.
• By the 1870s, many trade unionists support-
  ed a new ideology called socialism which appeared to offer a brighter future for the
  working class. Socialists believed that industrialisation had made life better for the rich but worse for the poor people.
• The Fabian Society 1884 had 7000 members.

Question 13

3. wanted to help

Answer 13

• Towards the end of the period
  —Unemployment grew
  from 1872 1% in 1872 to
  11.4% in 1879.

Question 14

‘Gladstone’s policies towards ireland in the period 1868-1886 were a complete failure’ assess the validity of this view/Did Gladstone improve relations with Ireland up till 1886?

Answer 14

Yes:

• first land act 1870
• second land act 1881
• home rule 1886

no:

• home rule 1886
• first home rule bill 1886

Question 15

YES:

First Land Act 1870

Answer 15

Prevent unfair rents and unfair eviction. The Act set up the Land Tribunals that could intervene in Land disputes.

However, the wording and the tribunals often found in favour of the Landlords.

The failure of this act led to the formation of Irish Land League.

Question 16

The Second Land Act was passed in 1881:

Answer 16

Which promised the 3f’s - Fixed tenancies, Freedom to sell tenancy, Fair rents.

Question 17

Home Rule 1886:

Answer 17

-Gladstone gained support of Irish Nationalists
– Libs gained further 86 seats ousting Salisbury from office.
-Gladstone began his Third term as Prime Minister.
-Gladstone developed Land Purchasing
Acts using government money to help tenant buy land through £120 million worth of mortgages

Question 18

NO:

Home Rule 1886:

Answer 18

Ultimately it was
not a success as Gladstone developed
the Bill without consulting his party.

It led to a deep spilt in the Liberals It
alienated progressive Libs as well as
Whigs with even Chamberlain and
Trevelyan resigning.

Question 19

1st Home Rule Bill 1886

Answer 19

-Separate parliament in Dublin to
deal with Irish affairs.
 -That Britain
should continue to control foreign
affairs, defence and trade. -An end to
Irish representation at Westminster.