Widening The Franchise And Debates Over Suffrage Flashcards
What was the Anglo-Saxon witan?
An assembly of aristocrats that advised their ruler. This was arguably an early form of democracy in the UK
What was the start of democracy in the UK?
When King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta in 1215.
What did the Magna Carta do to protect people’s rights?
Everyone had the right to a fair trial.
What are two examples of Parliament and its actions during the Tudor and Medieval periods?
In the medieval period, Parliament developed the right to give money to the monarch.
Henry VIII had to use Parliament to make his separation from the Catholic Church and creation of the Church of England legally valid.
What was created stating that the monarch was not above the law? When was it made?
The Petition of Right; in 1628
Which democratic movement started in the English Civil War? What did it want?
The Levellers; for every man to have the right to vote
What were the Reform Acts of the 19th century? Who did they allow to vote?
The Reform Act of 1832 allowed some members of the middle class to vote
The Reform Acts of 1867 and 1884 allowed more working-class people to vote.
Which Act made voting compulsory? When was it passed?
The Ballot Act; in 1872
What did a man’s right to vote depend on in the 19th century?
Whether or not he owned property
What was the main group created to convince Parliament to give women the right to vote?
The National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (the suffragettes)
What were the two Acts passed to give women an equal right to vote?
After women’s work in WW1 a Representation of the People Act was passed (in 1918) to allow all men over 21 and all women over 30 who could prove they owned property to vote.
In 1928, another Representation of the People Act was passed to allow all people over 11 to vote, which created universal suffrage.
When was the voting age lowered to 18?
In 1969
When was the voting age in Scottish referendums lowered to 16?
2015
