Topic 1: Democracy + Participation - SUFFRAGE Flashcards
What is suffrage / the franchise?
the right to vote in free elections.
What was the first UK piece of legislation altering the franchise? When was it?
Great Reform Act 1832 - franchise is extended to shopkeepers + small farmers, and those whose property attracts rent of £10 a year. nearly 6% of adult population could now vote! (no women)
Who were excluded from the Second Reform Act 1867?
women and the propertyless
What was the Ballot Act 1872?
It introduced secret ballots
Who is the franchise extended to in the Third Reform Act 1884?
most working men. (21+) about 60% of all adults now had the right to vote.
What act gave the first female votes?
Representation of the People Act 1918 - women over 30 who are either married or a property owner in their own right or a graduate.
Describe the Equal Franchise Act 1928
It extended the franchise to all adults over 21, including women!
Describe the THIRD Representation of the People Act
1969- voting age in UK is reduced from 21 to 18
What was the most recent piece of suffrage legislation in the UK?
SCOTTISH ELECTIONS ACT 2016. - in 2014, 16/17 yr olds could vote on the referendum of Scottish independence. Under the 2016 act, this is extended to all Scottish elections.
What was the NUWSS and how did they behave?
National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies / SUFFRAGISTS. peaceful campaigns such as peaceful protests, organising petitions, writing letters etc. By 1914 they had 100,000 members.
What was WSPU and why was it created.
the Women’s Social and Political Union / SUFFRAGETTES. created by members of the NUWSS who felt the pace of change was too slow. directly created by Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters (1903)
How did the suffragettes behave?
violently & illegally. EG: chaining themselves to railings, blowing up buildings, going on hunger-strikes in prison, destroying letters in post boxes, disrupting political meetings etc.
What groups are still currently excluded from the franchise in the UK?
-under 18s (England / N Ireland)
-prisoners
-those sectioned under the Mental Health Act
-peers serving in the House of Lords
-essentially the homeless
What are arguments in favour of extending the franchise to 16/17 year olds?
-The internet and social media now enable young people to be better informed about politics.
-With the spread of citizenship education, young people are now better informed about politics than ever before.
-If one is old enough to serve in the army, get married or pay tax, one should be old enough to vote.
What are arguments against extending the franchise to 16/17 year olds?
-People of 16 and 17 years old are too young to be able to make rational judgements.
-Many issues are too complex for younger people to understand.
-Few people in this age group pay tax so they have a lower stake in society.
-It is argued by some that the very young tend to be excessively radical as they have not had enough experience to consider issues carefully.
