WHY BRITAIN BECAME MORE DEMOCRATIC

Question 1

Factor 1

Answer 1

Socio-economic change Working class had more jobs Urbanisation of W/C = harder for gov to ignore problems as they clubbed together

Middle class = had more powerful die to industrial Rev and demanded the vote

Railways = spread or new ideas and newspapers informed people of the vote in rural areas CONCLUSION: made an impact as it didn’t hinder campaign for suffrage

HOWEVER IF THIS WAS SO IMPORTANT THEN WHY DIDNT IT HAPPEN EARLIER?

Question 2

Factor 2

Answer 2

PRESSURE GROUPS organised groups pressured the government Interest groups (national union of suffrage societies) demanded more political rights for women.

NUWSS helped women try demand for the VOTE .

Trade unions grew bigger

CONCLUSION: Without these groups gov would ignore and it kept the debate on the headlines

HOWEVER: IF IT WASNT FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF WORKING CLASS MIGRATING TO THE CITES THEN THERE WOULD BE LESS DEMAND FOR PRESSURE GROUPS

Question 3

Factor 3

Answer 3

Spread of new ideologies

First concept of ‘socialism’ is accepted particularly after Karl Marx (das kapital) translated into English

Now populations was more literate due to various education acts people could find an alternative to the “exploitive system”

Question 4

Factor 4

Answer 4

Political advantage

Both parties tried to outwit each their “stealing liberals clothes”

Passing of corrupt and illegal practises acts = liberals had better advantage

This still meant it wasn’t very democratic

CONCLUSION: may be sceptical view but gov could not ignore polices which may bring harm.