Growth of Western Growth of Western DemocraciesDemocracies

Bell work # 1Bell work # 1Neither floyd or larry don’t want Neither floyd or larry don’t want their teams loss to suggest that their teams loss to suggest that team members didn’t play goodteam members didn’t play good

Benjamin Disraeli Benjamin Disraeli Charles Egremont is the hero of Charles Egremont is the hero of

Benjamin Disraeli’s novel Sybil. Benjamin Disraeli’s novel Sybil. Disraeli was familiar with Britain’s “two Disraeli was familiar with Britain’s “two

nations.” A leading political figure, he nations.” A leading political figure, he moved in the world of aristocratic moved in the world of aristocratic luxury and elegance. In the 1840s luxury and elegance. In the 1840s however, travels around Britain opened however, travels around Britain opened his eyes to the appalling poverty of his eyes to the appalling poverty of factory towns and rural villages. factory towns and rural villages.

He did more than write about the gap He did more than write about the gap between rich and poor. As prime between rich and poor. As prime minister and leader of the Conservative minister and leader of the Conservative party, he worked to achieve many party, he worked to achieve many needed reforms.needed reforms.

Britain Becomes More Britain Becomes More DemocraticDemocratic

Earl Grey goal was to win support for a Earl Grey goal was to win support for a new election reform bill. Many lords new election reform bill. Many lords feared that the bill was the first step feared that the bill was the first step toward giving too much power to the toward giving too much power to the “rabble” the uneducated masses of “rabble” the uneducated masses of common people.common people.

In the end, Grey won his point. Later In the end, Grey won his point. Later historians agreed that the Reform Bill of historians agreed that the Reform Bill of 1832 was a turning point in British 1832 was a turning point in British politics.politics.

British parliamentary system would face British parliamentary system would face other challenges over the next 80 years. other challenges over the next 80 years. Again and Again, Britain would show the Again and Again, Britain would show the way to achieve greater democracy way to achieve greater democracy through reform rather than revolution.through reform rather than revolution.

Reforming ParliamentReforming Parliament 1815, Britain was a constitutional 1815, Britain was a constitutional

monarchy with a parliament and two monarchy with a parliament and two political parties. Still, it was far from political parties. Still, it was far from democratic.democratic.

Parliament was made up of the House of Parliament was made up of the House of Lords and the House of Commons. Lords and the House of Commons.

House of Lords had the right to veto any House of Lords had the right to veto any bill passed by the House of Commons.bill passed by the House of Commons.

Members of the commons were voted in, Members of the commons were voted in, but only 5 percent. but only 5 percent.

Only the wealthy country squires and Only the wealthy country squires and landowning nobles dominated politics and landowning nobles dominated politics and heavily influenced voters.heavily influenced voters.

Pressure for ChangePressure for Change 1820s reformers pushed to end religious 1820s reformers pushed to end religious

restrictions. Parliament finally granted restrictions. Parliament finally granted Catholics and non Anglican Protestants Catholics and non Anglican Protestants equal political rights.equal political rights.

Reform Bill of 1832- As revolts flared on Reform Bill of 1832- As revolts flared on the continent, Whigs and Tories battled the continent, Whigs and Tories battled over a reform bill. In the streets, over a reform bill. In the streets, supporters of reform chanted “the Bill, the supporters of reform chanted “the Bill, the Whole Bill, and nothing but the Bill!” Whole Bill, and nothing but the Bill!”

Parliament finally passed the Great Reform Parliament finally passed the Great Reform Act in 1832. It redistributed seats in the Act in 1832. It redistributed seats in the House of Commons, giving representation House of Commons, giving representation to large towns and eliminating rotten to large towns and eliminating rotten boroughs. It also, enlarged the number of boroughs. It also, enlarged the number of voters by granting suffrage to men with a voters by granting suffrage to men with a certain amount of property.certain amount of property.

ChartismChartism Many workers rejected the reform bill and Many workers rejected the reform bill and

called for more radical change. called for more radical change. 1830s protesters drew up the People’s 1830s protesters drew up the People’s

Charter, a petition that demanded Charter, a petition that demanded universal male suffrage, a secret ballot, universal male suffrage, a secret ballot, annual parliamentary election, and annual parliamentary election, and salaries for members of Parliament. Their salaries for members of Parliament. Their movement was known as Chartism.movement was known as Chartism.

1848, Chartists prepared a third petition 1848, Chartists prepared a third petition and organized a march. Soon after, the and organized a march. Soon after, the unsuccessful Chartist movement declined. unsuccessful Chartist movement declined. In time, however Parliament would pass In time, however Parliament would pass most of the major reforms proposed by the most of the major reforms proposed by the Chartists.Chartists.

The Victorian AgeThe Victorian Age 1800s, the great symbol in British life 1800s, the great symbol in British life

was Queen Victoria. Her reign, form was Queen Victoria. Her reign, form 1837 to 1901, was the longest in British 1837 to 1901, was the longest in British history. She set the tone for what is history. She set the tone for what is today called the Victorian age.today called the Victorian age.

Victorian ideals included duty, thrift, Victorian ideals included duty, thrift, honesty, hard work and, above all, honesty, hard work and, above all, Respectability. She embraced a strict Respectability. She embraced a strict code of morals and manners.code of morals and manners.

She worried that manners were She worried that manners were becoming far to loose and informal. becoming far to loose and informal. “Young People,” she fretted, “are “Young People,” she fretted, “are getting very American I fear in their getting very American I fear in their lives and ways.”lives and ways.”

Queen and Changing NationQueen and Changing Nation Under Victoria, the British middle class Under Victoria, the British middle class

and many members of the working class and many members of the working class felt great confidence in the future.felt great confidence in the future.

As the Victorian era went on , reformers As the Victorian era went on , reformers continued the push toward greater continued the push toward greater democracy.democracy.

Politics Transformed- 1860’s the old Politics Transformed- 1860’s the old political parties regrouped under new political parties regrouped under new leadership. Benjamin Disraeli, forged the leadership. Benjamin Disraeli, forged the old Tory party into the modern old Tory party into the modern Conservative party. The Whigs, led by Conservative party. The Whigs, led by William Gladstone, evolved into the William Gladstone, evolved into the Liberal Party.Liberal Party.

Universal male SuffrageUniversal male Suffrage 1867, Disraeli’s Conservative party pushed 1867, Disraeli’s Conservative party pushed

through a bill to give the vote to many through a bill to give the vote to many working class men. The Reform Bill of working class men. The Reform Bill of 1867 almost doubled the size of the 1867 almost doubled the size of the electorate. 1880, Gladstone and the liberal electorate. 1880, Gladstone and the liberal party turned to expand suffrage. Their party turned to expand suffrage. Their reforms extended the vote to farm reforms extended the vote to farm workers and most other men. By century workers and most other men. By century end, almost universal male suffrage, the end, almost universal male suffrage, the secret ballot, and other Chartist ambitions secret ballot, and other Chartist ambitions had been achieved.had been achieved.

Limiting the lords- Lords used their veto Limiting the lords- Lords used their veto power to block any attempt to increase power to block any attempt to increase taxes on the wealthy. 1911, a liberal taxes on the wealthy. 1911, a liberal government passed measures to restrict government passed measures to restrict the power of the Lords, or in other words the power of the Lords, or in other words to end their power to veto tax bills.to end their power to veto tax bills.