Transcript Issue 1 continued - Deans Community High School

Issue 1 continued
Higher
New Political Ideas/Changing Ideology
and attitudes
• Liberalism = the right of individuals to express their opinions freely
• Democracy = the right of adults to choose the governments that
ruled them
• Growing support for new ideologies becoming more widespread
and accepted
• In the USA (civil war) and in Europe (French Revolution) struggles
were taking place for liberty and a greater political say for ‘the
people’
• Britain tended to support these moves elsewhere so how could the
British government continue to block these ideas in Britain? (A)
• Gladstone quote: Thus in 1866, Gladstone supported attempts to
secure reform and in 1884 his government introduced the
Representation of the People Act (Third Reform Act).
Socialism
• At its simplest, socialism = working class people produced
the wealth of the country yet they lived in the worst
conditions and were paid low wages
• Socialists wanted to change how country was run and take
wealth away from rich and use it to make life better for the
working classes
• In Britain, if large numbers of working people were denied
the vote they might be attracted to revolutionary socialism
• Socialism was seen as a threat by both businessmen and
landowners
• By allowing more working people the right to vote, it was
though they might be less likely to support revolutionary
socialist ideas (A)
New politics
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Whigs: supported moral reforms; they made Lord Grey Prime Minister 1830–
1834, and the Reform Act 1832 became their signature measure. It broadened
the franchise and ended the system of "rotten boroughs" and "pocket
boroughs" (where elections were controlled by powerful families)
Transition to the Liberal Party arose from a coalition of Whigs put together
more permanently under the former Tory Lord Palmerston in 1859
Tories: By the 18th century the Tories were politicians who favoured royal
authority, the established church and who sought to preserve the traditional
political structure and opposed parliamentary reform. After 1834 this political
group in the House of Commons preferred to use the term Conservative.
Broadened class representation, introduction of new politicians with
progressive ideas about reform
Lee argued that Lord Palmerston (Liberal PM) allowed younger politicians to
hold a high significance
Cont.
• Formation of Labour Party crucial towards advance in
democracy (A)
• The Labour Party's origins lie in the late 19th century, around
time when recognised need for political party to represent the
interests and needs of the urban workers, a demographic
which had increased in number and had recently been given
franchise
• Meant for first time, working classes had voice in Parliament
leading to pressure for more representation and undoubtedly
more democratic system (A)
• National party organisation
– Lee “to capture the new electorate mass party
organisation was essential”
Fear of violence
• Earlier in 19th century there was a feeling that allowing
some reform would reduce pressure for greater changes.
• Although fears of full-scale revolution faded,
demonstrations in Glasgow and riots after a large meeting
in Hyde Park, London 1866, worried the authorities
• Members of the Reform League marched to Hyde Park,
they found the gates locked
• Some marchers tore down the railings and trampled the
flower beds
• The middle class had nightmares of revolution. Some
reform would calm those fears (A)
Growing respectability of urban
artisans
• No longer fear re the working class revolution
• French Revolution of 1789 now over 70 years old
(Old ideas about tradition and hierarchy–of monarchy, aristocracy, and religious authority–
were abruptly overthrown by new Enlightenment principles of equality, citizenship and
inalienable rights)
• By 1860s skilled working men in cities (called artisans) were
more educated and respectable
• They attended night schools, took part in local politics and
were concerned with improving their living standards.
• Felt that working men were respectable and skilled, they
deserved the vote (A)
Cont.
• Education Acts in early 1870s in England and
Scotland meant working class was becoming
increasingly literate and educated
• In 1860s when civil war raged in USA some British
textile workers even chose to accept wage cuts
rather than work with cotton picked by slaves
• Politicians believed actions of textile workers
showed the working classes as thinking people
having ‘a moral conscience’ who deserved the
right to vote (A)
K e.g essay
Many historians believe that the increasing popularity of new political ideologies
inspired the disenfranchised to push for political change. Also the changes in attitude of
the ruling elite towards the lower classes helped encourage the British government to
extend the franchise.
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Who had political power in the 1850s? What was the attitude of these men towards
politics?
Explain why MPs and landowners were opposed to the idea of political reform e.g refer
to French Revolution
What 2 new political ideologies were becoming popular?
What rights should people have according to these ideologies?
The influence of writers and thinkers crucially important to the spread of new ideas e.g
John Stuart Mill wrote about the principles of democracy and liberty which helped
persuade many educated people of the need for political reform
Why was it difficult for British government to block democratic progress?
Why did attitudes of ruling elites change towards artisans after 1860s? Refer to
American Civil War, British textile workers’ strike
Describe how the ruling classes now viewed the skilled working class as a result of these
changes in attitudes
Argument
• Political reform no longer seen as a threat – struggles for liberty in Europe
and USA – Britain usually supportive of this, therefore difficult to argue
against democratic progress at home.
• American Civil War – Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.
with "a new birth of freedom," that would bring true equality to all of its citizens, ensuring
that democracy would remain a viable form of government.
• New political parties broadened representation of classes and
brought new politicians who wanted to push further reform
• Labour Party allowed working classes, for first time, to have a
voice in parliament hence leading to a more democratic
political system
• Mass party organisation critical to advancement of democracy