The final phase - development after 1885 Flashcards
Explain the democratic deficiencies in the electoral system after the 3rd reform act
-The Franchise
- all women and a subtantial minority of men not eligible to vote
- residency requirements also limited the electorate
Explain the democratic deficiencies in the electoral system after the 3rd reform act
- Registration
- extremely complicated & lengthy business
- each new reform act added new franchises to existing ones causing uncertainty is people were eligible to vote or not
- several millions were eligible to vote but not registered
Explain the democratic deficiencies in the electoral system after the 3rd reform act
-Plural Voting
- No legal limit to the number of votes for which a man might qualify in different constituencies
- By 1910, estimatedly 500,000 plural voters, many of which were middle-class men
Explain the democratic deficiencies in the electoral system after the 3rd reform act
-Distribution of seats
- underrepresentation: Sotland & the North
- overrepresentation: South & rural areas
Explain the democratic deficiencies in the electoral system after the 3rd reform act
-Cost of elections
- electoral expenses remained extremely high
- Aswell as working without a salary, MPs would also have to pay the expense of the electoral returning officer
- Consequently, 20% of the total seats were uncontested
What were the implications of the democratic deficiencies of the electoral system following the 3rd reform act
-the working class
- The working class formed a majority of the population, but a much smaller majority of the electorate
- the distribution of seats was also weighted against them
What were the implications of the democratic deficiencies of the electoral system following the 3rd reform act
-the middle class
- middle class massively over represented:
- the m/c who comprised about 20% of the adult male population formed 40% of the electorate
What were the implications of the democratic deficiencies of the electoral system following the 3rd reform act
-the middle class
- the cost of elections also favoured dominance by the rich & limited voter choice
How many adult males could vote in 1885
- 60% of adult males can vote
What would be obstacles to further reform in 1885
- too bigger change neccessary to be passed in the future
- HofL likley to interfere, as Tories held majorities even when they weren’t in office
- Aristocrats
- Middle classes - who benefit from current system
Who wished to further reform in 1885
- The system was criticised by radicals, socialists and trade unionists.
- The Liberal Party also called for reform, demanding manhood suffrage in the 1890s
- & after 1905 introducing a series of bills against plural voting.
Why was the Liberal Party always likely to be susceptible to disunity
- it was a coalition of expedience (most convenient thing to do, not for passion or belief)
Critical, the Liberal divide was not over…
political reform
Summarise the reasons for growing tension in Ireland after 1867
Unrest
- nationalists & republicans ‘FENIANS’ pose a seriously violent, what independence for Ireland, assassinations
Summarise the reasons for growing tension in Ireland after 1867
Religion
- protestsant vs catholic division
Summarise the reasons for growing tension in Ireland after 1867
Land
- fixed tenure, fair rent, free sale were incredibly controversial topics
Summarise the reasons for growing tension in Ireland after 1867
Relation with Great Britain
- Increasingly tense, violent & problematic
- British government policy getting more & more coercive
Explain why Irish Home Rule was so controversial
Opposition from Unionists: Moral/Principle
- For the Protestants in North/East, home rule = ‘Rome rule’
- An Irish government would threaten the rights of landowners, protestants and British subjects in Ulster.
Explain why Irish Home Rule was so controversial
Opposition from Unionists: Empire
- Fear that this would be the first step in the loss of empire
Explain why Irish Home Rule was so controversial
Opposition from Unionists: Political Expedience
- It wasn’t the answer - fears that the Irish would object to remaining aspects of British rule and their lack of representation, and will want independence.
- Home Rule would reduce Britain’s capacity to deal with problems in Ireland
Explain why Irish Home Rule was so controversial
Supporters of Home Rule: Moral/Principle
- Nationalism is the deeply held view of the Irish people.
Explain why Irish Home Rule was so controversial
Supporters of Home Rule: Empire
- This would enhance rather than weaken the empire (and prestige too).
Explain why Irish Home Rule was so controversial
Supporters of Home Rule: Political Expedience
- The only solution to end the cycle of violence and economic misery in Ireland.
- A new constitutional settlement could allow men of property to dominate instead of hot-headed troublemakers like Parnell.
Explain why Irish Home Rule was so controversial
Supporters of Home Rule: Practical
- A peaceful solution which would restore law and order and save parliamentary time + continued expense on coercion (taxes).
Who do the liberals divide
Gladstone
- Agrees to Home Rule
- He poorly manages the liberals calling for a national measure, which destroys his party, while trying to destroy the conservatives
Who do the liberals divide
Hartington
- leader of the Whig faction refuses to join the cabinet in the liberal coalition
- he wants Whig coercion
Who do the liberals divide
Chamberlain
- ls against home rule
- Cares about the empire, against coercion
Who do the liberals divide
Salisbury
- once Gladstone’s ministry falls, he decides the Tories aren’t going to interfere or get involved
What do the election results from 1880-1905 reveal about the changing state of parties
- The unionists join with the Conservatives
- Liberal seats decline, Conservatiev seats rise
- 1887, Liberals separate out
- 1892, Labour gets first seats in HofC
How did the labour party grow
Trade Unions
- The labour party grew out of the Trade Unions influence, as only sponsorship by a T.U could provide necessary funding to enable w/c men to be MPs without a paid salary
- Clear movement/ Political organisation
- Set up the parliamentary committee –> review legislative proposals influencing politicians of existing parties
How did the labour party grow
Limits & Restrictions to Trade Unions
- Trade Unions don’t prioritise politics
- the w/c’s members showed little inclination to seek out & embrace a new polictical alleigance
How did the labour party grow
Liberal Party Decline
- After 1895, the liberal party was an ineffective oppositition so they became more in favour of separate representation for the working class in parliament
How did the labour party grow
Limits & Restrictions to Liberal Party decline
- the experience is with the liberal party, not evolving, no continuity
- even in decline lliberals dominated opposition, in the pre-war period, slow decline
- Lib-Lab pact reinforced this
- hence, the liberals restricted the independence of the labour party
How did the labour party grow
New Ideological Groups
- Karl Marx –> various groups were influenced by his ideas
- 1884 - The Social Democratic Federation, The FABIAN society, The Independent Labour Party & the Labour Revolutionary Committee
How did the labour party grow
Limits & Restrictions to New Ideological Groups
- neither developed any priorities or tactics all were affliliated members, but consensus was hard to achieve
How did the labour party grow
Improved Education
- Since the Forster’s education act 1870, there was increased accessibility of new writing on landowners & wealth inequality & newspapers
- increased aspiration & ability to campaign with people expectant of representation, engaging in their own interests