Why Britain became more democratic 1851-1928

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  • Why democracy grew in Britain 1851-1928
    • Expansion of education
      • The 1870 Education Act in England and 1872 Education Act in Scotland made elementary education compulsory.
      • Higher levels of literacy meant that more people were capable of reading newspapers and developing their own understanding of politics.
    • Industrialisation and urbanisation
      • Railways grew dramatically and so ideas and news spread more quickly. It also enabled politicians to move around the country campaigning.
      • New class identities were created and the middle class saw themselves as overseers of a new capitalist economy. They wanted greater say in the politics of the country.
    • Pressure groups
      • The reform league was an alliance of mddle class and skilled working class men who campaigned from the 1860s to extend the vote.
      • Trade unions campaigned for democratic reform including the extension of the vote to all men from the 1880s.
      • Suffragists and suffragettes campaigned in the early 20th century for votes for women.
    • Political advantage
      • The 1867 Reform Act gave the vote to unskilled workers in the towns. Was originally a Liberal party idea that was put through by the Conservative party.
      • The reforms acts of the 1880s were designed to extend the vote to unskilled workers. Was put through by the Liberals in the hope that workers would support the liberals.
      • The Liberals and the Conservatives both modernised their party structure to become mass participation parties. This meant that each party sought to maximise its support and win support away from each other.
    • Impact of WWI
      • WWI helped to somewhat break old notions of heirarchy and status.
      • The 1918 Franchise Act gave all men over 21 the vote in recognition of ordinary solider's key role in winning the war. Women took up all "men's" jobs while men were away fighting and so some women over 30 got the vote.
    • Changing attitudes
      • The shift away from 'laissez faire' politics to collectivist politics led to further democracy as it acknowledged everyone.
      • The impact of events abroad such as the 1861-65 American Civil War (e.g the 1863 Gettysburg Address) led to the emancipation of slaves and a worldwide shift in attitude towards the working classes.

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