British Government

Great Britain

Ireland

Scotland

Wales

England

Constitutional Monarchy

Constitutional Monarchy

Began – 1688 Glorious Rev.

Most Progressive

Ruler limited by law

Monarch needed Parliament’s consent

Parliament needed monarch’s consent

Previous Limits1215 Magna CartaKing John limits king’s power

English Bill of RightsSecured Constitutional Monarchy

The English Cabinet

The CabinetExecutive CommitteeOriginally temporaryActed in ruler’s nameOnly represented majority party

Why: Stalemate possible b/w Parliament and Monarch

The CabinetBegan: Wm. and MaryMost influential ministersAppointed and dismissed at willEnd of rule: for support chose

majority party members (Whigs)Assured king majority vote*Cabinet now link b/w king and

Parliament

Rise of the Prime

Minister

Background

1 minister dominated cabinet during Hanoverian DynastyGerman dynastyLast Stuart Anne died 1714

George I & II- little English, no interest in British affairsLack of knowledge- leads to

reliance on ministers

Prime Minster Emerges

Sir Robert Walpole1721 George I appts. him first Lord

of the Treasury1721-1741 unofficial ruler of BritainFirst Prime Minister Set pattern for modern British

politics

The SystemCabinet – center of power and policy making

Leader of majority party in Parliament led cabinet as prime minister

A SummaryWorks best if only 2 parties

AdvantagesExecutive, majority party will get

legislation passed

DisadvantagesMinority has little sayPossibility of frequent elections

(party not support PM, party balance)

George III

Tried to take back power

US issue- “No taxation w/out representation”Average GB citizens did not have

these rights

Ulterior motive- break away from mercantilism

British Reform Legislation

Reform Bill 1832

Why: pressure from merchants & factory owners

Purpose: set up new districts for electing members of ParliamentOld districts- medieval villages now

empty (owner had vote)New cities (Manchester, Sheffield)

no elected reps (grew after districts formed)

Reform Bill 1832SignificanceEnd to injustice- new cities got

voteMore men gained suffrage (men

who paid certain amount in rent gained vote, not just landowners)

Most all middle class voted now 20% voting (2x’s more)

Reform Act of 1867

Why: Growing prosperity & social responsibility of working classSome politicians convinced to

extend suffrageReform League (John Bright)-

pushed Parliamentary action

Reform Act of 1867

1866 Lord Russell introduces idea- defeated by Conservatives & antidemocratic Liberals

Conservative Disraeli (led House of Commons) gets bill passedAccepted liberal amendmentsVoting 1,43 mil to 2.47 mil

(working class)

Reform Act of 1867

Disraeli wanted Conservatives to get support of new votersSaw change inevitable- let

Conservatives get credit (responsive to social change)

Believed growing mid class would be Conservative

Disraeli v. Gladstone

GladstoneLiberal PM 1868-1874Began as a Conservative

Wanted old institutions opened1870 Exams for Civil Service 1871 Abolished purchase of

officers’ commission1872 Secret BallotAnglican requirement dropped for

universities

GladstoneEducation Act of 1870Govt. est. and run elementary

schools (instead of church)Church had been given little

money= inadequate schoolsNO education in areas no churchWhy? Democracy does NOT work

with society of illiterates

GladstoneGoals: Remove old abuses without

destroying existing institutionsCitizens compete on ability

Recognizes trade unionsStress individualism, free trade, competition (solve social probs)Significance- state-building brings loyalty

DisraeliConservative PM 1874-1880

Favored paternalistic legislation

Action: few specific programs

Richard Cross- Home Sec.Responsible for social legislation

Disraeli1875 Public Health Act- state interfere on private property

in matters of health, well-being

1875 Artisans Dwelling Act-State provide housing to working

class

1875 Conservatives offer protections to trade unions Allowed to strike

Loss of Power by House of

Lords

David Lloyd GeorgeLiberal

Minister of Finance

1909- Prime Minister

Social Welfare

Social Welfare ProgramOld-age pensions

Accident/illness insurance for workers

Unemployment benefits

FUNDING: income taxes (wealthy)“People’s Budget”

People’s BudgetOnly House of Commons passed

**Issue- place of House of Lords in British govt.Liberals want to limit powerLiberals win next 2 elections but

lords refuse reformsKing threatened to appt. new

liberal- minded lords (pass reform)Lords vote to limit own power

People’s BudgetResolved- House of Lords only delay bills passed by House of Commons After 2 yrs. bills become law

**One step closer to fully democratic govt.

Friday

Papers Back

Notebooks Back

Get out Greek DBQ documents

POV

Irish Question

The BasicsIreland controlled by British for nearly 300 years1801- directly from London

1870’s Irish nationalists seek home ruleIrish Home Rule Party- seek

independence

Liberals support home ruleGladstone’s bills defeated

IssuesPrices of farm products drop1000’s can’t pay rent2000 families pushed out of homes Angry farmers, nationalists

become violent

1870-1880’s- Protestants and Catholics work together for home rule

A Change1900’s Irish Protestants turn against home ruleLived in N. Ireland (Ulster)Fear being a minority

1914 Home Rule bill passedWWI broke put month before bill

to take effect

Social IssuesAnglo Saxons (British)- English

Celts (Irish)- Gaelic

English see Irish as inferior, lazy people (treat poorly)

English- Protestant

Irish- Catholic (no representation, no vote)

Political IssuesProtestants (minority) and Catholics (majority)Who control govt?Home Rule?

1936 Ireland gained independence (N. Ireland independent for Protestants)

Economic IssuesGladstoneTenant Laws- land back to IrishHenry & Elizabeth- bought out

Irish land & est. British farmsCromwell finished conquest

Irish wanted British landlords out

British Empire

EmpireColonies key to prosperity- benefit BritainMercantilism

1700’s- focus is on gaining & controlling colonies

1763 British strongest colonial and navel power in Europe

Empire SizeExtending on Indian subcontinent

N. America- east of Mississippi

Islands in Caribbean- SUGAR

Canada- largest part of Empire

Navigation Laws 1660 & 1663- tight control of colonies