CONSTITUENCIES: The number of MPs did not increase or decrease but the dispersion of MPs changed significantly, many rotten boroughs were stripped of their MPs and franchise was distributed more evenly to towns and larger populated areas.
f)
Despite introducing a slightly more fair political system the 1832 Reform Act still progressed very little towards democracy as the majority of men and still no women were were given the right to vote. Voting was still corrupt, there was a property qualification for MPs and the government was largely made up of the wealthier citizens in society. However the act did help propel the issue of reform into the centre of politics, leaving hope for further reform.
--1.3--
a)
The Chartists held six basic demands that they called 'The Six Points of the People's Charter'. These points included: All men be given the vote, introduction of secret ballot, abolition of property qualifications for MPs, MPs to be given a wage, Abolition of town/county distinctions and an
annual elections to be held. The chartist gained popularity through their campaign to bring democracy to the masses who were living in poverty, there
belief that this would improve the living conditions of many of the working class helped to gain them further support.
b)
The chartists failure lies in their poor leadership and being badly organised. Digression into other issues and being split in two left the chartists cause to be abandoned and unsuccessful.
c)
There was an increased social change in the 1850's, brought on by urbanisation and industrialisation. Despite these changes the government was still largely ruled by the middle and upper class, and only a small minority could vote for any change.
d)
Lord John Russell earned the name 'Finality Jack' his belief that the 1832 Reform act was 'Final.' Russell stepped down in 1852 and abandoned his position, putting forward proposals to increase the electorate through reducing the property qualification needed.
e)
Population growth and movement influenced the need for reform. Figures within parliament supporting reform became akin to heroes, such as, future president, Gladstone whose popularity soared when he declared that every man be 'entitled to come within pale of the constitution.' This further influenced the atmosphere outside of parliament, pressurizing the government also was the works of authors such as John Stuart Mill and the peoples support of the American Civil War and Italian Liberty, immense pressure outside the parliament for reform also included working class riots and protests.
f)
Cholera had swept the nation, proof of moral conscience in the urban working class, many protests for reform including Hyde Park riots triggered fears of an uprising similar to that of the French Revolution.
g)
Electorate was increased by 400,000 voters allowing those paying £1 in tax or with savings over £50 to be given the vote. Qualifications for the franchise in counties was reduced from £50 to £15. The act itself was passed by Disraeli, a conservative, thus taking it away from the liberals and
making themselves stronger as a party and changing the political dynamics of the time.
h)
The ballot act of 1872 introduced a secret voting system allowing voters to cast their vote in private, away from the eyes of their influential landlords. Previously the elections took place in public. This allowed crooked MPs to bribe or intimidate voters otherwise punishing them later for not
showing loyalty. The Ballot Act significantly reduced the amount of corruption and malpractice that had took place in previous elections. The Corrupt and Illegal Practices Act of 1883 further reduced corruption through reducing the amount of money candidates could spend in election depending on the size of constituency and reasons for expenditure. Candidates were now to be held accountable for all their spending and involvement in corruption was punishable by law. The act also outlined what practices were out with the law for candidates, among imprisonment and fines candidates were disqualified for seven years.
--1.4--
a)
LIBERAL SPLIT IN 1886
This brought about a loss in support for the liberals, as Gladstone proposal for Irish Home Rule split the party in two and lost many important figures, such as Joseph Chamberlain and historians, Arnold and Dicey. After the proposal, the Whig party was left hugely split and weaker than ever before.
LIBERAL CHANGE OF POLICY
The change brought a vast reform in the party and resulted in two opposing views: Old Liberalism which was ruled by the orthodox individualism of liberalism, and New Liberalism which proposed the government interventionist thinking.
BOER WAR
Unlike the Conservatives, who were united in their approach to the war, the liberals were in three minds, opposition, supporting and remaining neutral. The disunity remained through out the war and helped promote the decline of the Liberal Party.
LANSLILDE GIVING FALSE PICTURE OF LIBERAL STRENGTH
The liberals triumph was due to severe loss of popularity of other parties such as conservatives, who lost voters through their proposal to end free trade and the importing of Chinese slaves to South Africa. Despite this surprising victory, the liberals majority was gradually dropping.
LIBERALS WERE STRUGGLING BY 1914
The Liberal government was under pressure from three fronts; women's suffrage campaigns, many industrial disputes on the rise and the turmoil in Ireland resulting in mutiny of British Officers.
RISE IN LABOUR MEANT AN INEVITABLE DECLINE IN LIBERAL POPULARITY.
Though Liberalism was the most sympathetic to working class from the two available parties in Britain of 1800s, there was now a new party that offered the working class the government it wanted. The arrival of the Labour meant that the working class could vote for a better representative of there votes thus taking the vote of the working class away from the Liberals.
EFFECTS OF WORLD WAR ONE
The impact of total war and Asquith's inability to provide strong efficient leadership resulted in his resignation in 1916. The arrival of new Prime Minister Lloyd George brought a split in the liberals as many thought that he had betrayed them through conspiring with the conservatives. The split in the House of Commons betweens the 'Asquithian' supporters and the 'Lloyd George' Liberals extended to constituencies too.
b)
The rise in the Labour party as they took the working class vote from the liberals and rendered them irrelevant in the British political arena.
The Liberal split had a negative impact on the party as they became weaker and the Lloyd George coalition was over powered by their counter part: the Tories, as they were the largest party in parliament at the time.
The loss and devastation caused by the war had resulted a loss in trust and faith in the government, thus reducing the popularity of the government that happened to be in power at that time.
c)
Power was reduced through the passing of the Parliament Act which stripped the Lords of having power over Bills which concerned taxation and government expenditure and only allowing them to make amendments to other bills, in which a delay of only two sessions was allowed
d)
They were more were more enthusiastic as the current electoral system did not allow a fair representation of smaller parties and gave the larger parties more dominance despite the fact that smaller parties such as the Liberals had a a lot of support from all over the country. The introduction of proportional representation would mean that the Liberals would gain a more seats in parliament.
1.5
a)
The political reforms cleaned up the election process allowing for privacy of votes and a fairer redistribution of parliamentary seats. More importantly the extension of the franchise to the middle class and working class men alongside women in 1918 & 1928 thus extending the franchise to most Britain on equal terms by 1928.
b)
Initially the political system was severely flawed, undermining those considered not wealthy enough and denying a large majority the right to vote. The 1832 reform act propelled the issue of democracy to the centre of politics, allowing for many for laws to be passed that brought about a fairer system, where as previously the parliament was not representative on a social, economic and geographic level. The journey to a fairer political system started with the First Reform Act of 1832, which extended the franchise to the middle class and redistributed parliamentary seats. This is followed by the second reform act which has a similar more effective result. In 1867 the Ballot Act, saw the introduction of a secret ballot brought down corruption and an end to intimidation. The Corrupt and Illegal Practices Act of 1883 reduced the amount of corruption through setting strict and effective limits on the expenditure of candidates. The franchise was further extended to give two out of three men the vote in 1884 through the Third Reform Act. The next year The Redistribution of The Seats Acts established many single member constituencies. The Parliament Act of 1911 inhibited the powers of the House of Lords and limits the life a parliament to five years. 1911 was also the year that saw the introduction of the payment to MP's, which meant that anyone could stand up for MP. The 1918 Representation of the People Act meant that all men over 21 and women over 30 were given the vote. In 1928 women and men were given the vote on equal grounds.