widening the franchise - did attempts help britain to become more democratic by 1918

Question 1

in order to be considered a democracy what must exist and what does this mean

Answer 1

in order to be considered a democracy universal suffrage must exist meaning all adults despite age, race, gender, occupation etc have the right to vote

Question 2

KU - a number of acts of parliament were introduced in an attempt to widen the franchise - what was the first?

Answer 2

The second reform act, 1867 - this gave the vote to all male householders in towns or boroughs and to those who payed at least £10/year in rent

Question 3

KU - what was the later act introduced to help further widen the franchise

Answer 3

the representation of the people act 1918 - this gave all men over 21 the vote (19 if they had seen active service) and SOME women over 30 received the vote but with clauses such as marriage or a university degree

Question 4

why did attempts to widen the franchise support britain in becoming a more democratic country by 1918

Answer 4

the introduction of these acts meant the franchise had increased from approx 5 million in 1914 to 21 million just 4 years later all men of all social class

Question 5

why did the attempts to widen the franchise NOT help britain to become a more democratic country by 1918

Answer 5

because it took a further 10 years (1928) before the introduction of the EQUAL FRANCHISE ACT which would allow women to gain the vote on equal terms as men

Question 6

upon evaluation and considering atempts made to widen the franchise - would it be accurate too define britain as a fully democratic country by 1918

Answer 6

no as in 1918 still aprox 22% of women over 30 couldn’t vote and no women under 30 whilst men age 21 and in some cases younger could vote