Why Did Brittain Become A Democracy Flashcards
What did Britain undergo between 1851-1928 and what were they started by?
Britain underwent numerous democratic changes started by the Great reform act 1832 (gave the vote to middle class men
What other reforms took place which made Britain a more democratic country?
Introduction of secret ballots, payment of MPs and limitation on the power of the House of Lords
What did the industrial revolution do to Brittain?
Transformed it from a country where most people lived and worked in the countryside to an urban country
Where did most people work during the industrial revolution?
Large workplaces e.g. Factories, mines, shipyards etc e.g. Shipyards in Glasgow, jute mills in Dundee, mines in Ayrshire
What did the industrial revolution create?
A middle and working class who lived together and started to develop shared identities leading to trade unions
What did the industrial revolution link to?
It was industrialisation that bought Britain into conflict with Germany, based on competing economies and the arms race, thus leading to WW1
What are arguments for the influence of the industrial revolution?
As middle class were given the vote (1832) this increased demands for all men to vote and eventually women
Living and working so closely together inspired people to campaign for change in all their lives, especially when they saw shared problems
What are the arguments against the influence of the industrial revolution?
Industrial revolution said to begin in the 1750s almost 200 years before equal voting in Brittain
Clearly other factors must have played a role too
When was stamp duty removed from newspapers and what did this mean?
Was removed in 1855 meant newspapers were cheaper to buy
When did primary education (up to age of 13) become compulsory in Scotland?
1872
What does better education and newspapers link to?
Better education and political awareness amongst the working classes encouraged the rise of the Labour Party and working class political candidates
Arguments for influence of better education and newspapers?
More education enabled people to read about politics in newspapers and pamphlets
Helped start working class political campaigns, which played a role in bringing about political change
Arguments against influence of better education and newspapers?
Newspapers did not focus entirely on political or social issues - gossip too
Many of the first pupils after 1872 were in their 40s (men) or 60s (women) before they could vote - again clearly not the only influence
What revolutions took place around the world?
Italian revolution (1848)
Russian revolution (1917)
American civil war (1865)
What did other British empire countries do?
Gave the vote to women (before Britain) e.g. Australia, NZ
What does other countries influence link to?
World War One was a major cause of the Russian revolution, suggesting that ww1 may be more important factor overall
Arguments for influence of other countries?
Revolution in other countries lead to fears it might happen in Britain too
Ruling class believe it better to give up some power than lose it all
Embarrassing for Britain if other countries in British empire appear to be ahead
Arguments against influence of other countries?
People possibly aware of foreign events - no evidence of any real demand for revolution
Other countries did not give women the vote e.g. USA France
What were men conscripted to do during WW1 (from 1916)?
Fight abroad
What did many women do while men were off fighting?
Did many of the jobs men left behind e.g. Munitions factories
What does WW1 link to?
WW1 largely caused by industrialisation so can be said to be a more important factor
Arguments for influence of WWI?
Strong argument that men and women were given the vote as a thank you for their war efforts
Impossible to force men to fight then deny them the vote on their return
After this it was difficult to argue that rich, educated women could not vote whilst even poor men had the right
Also women’s work during the war supported giving them this right
Arguments against influence of WWI?
Men had previously fought in wars e.g. Boer wars and not been given the vote after
Many of the women who did the most important work were single & under 30 - the women who didn’t gain the vote in 1918
