1.2 A Wider Franchise and Debates Over Suffrage

What happened in 1832?

1832 Great Reform Act

What was occurring in elections before 1832?

Voting was limited to wealthy landowners, boroughs often corrupt (rotten boroughs)

What did changes did the 1832 Great Reform Act bring about?

Gave the vote to middle-class men (property owners worth £10+ per year)

Abolished many rotten boroughs and redistributed seats

Increased electorate from 400,000 to 650,000 (still only 5% of adults)

What were the limitations of the 1832 Great Reform Act?

Working class, women, ethnic minorities still excluded

What happened in 1918?

1918 Representation of the People Act

Recognition of soldiers’ sacrifices and suffrage campaigns

What changes did the 1918 Representation of the People Act bring about?

All men over 21 and servicemen over 19 gained the vote

Women over 30 with property qualifications (householders, married to householders, graduates in university constituencies) gained the vote

Electorate trebled to about 21 million (43% women)

What happened in 1928?

1928 Representation of the People Act

What did the 1928 Representation of the People Act bring about?

Equal suffrage; all men and women over 21 could vote, regardless of property

Electorate expanded to 28 million, with women forming the majority of the electorate

What happened in 1969?

1969 Representation of the People Act

What did the 1969 Representation of the People Act bring about?

Lowered voting age from 21 to 18

Reflected social change in the 1960s recognition of youth culture, younger age of majority

UK among the first countries to reduce voting age

What is the full name of the suffragists and who led them?

National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies

Led by Millicent Fawcett

What were the methods used by the Suffragists?

Peaceful, constitutional methods; petitions, lobbying MPs, public meetings

Attracted middle-class and working-class women

Long-term strategy to prove women’s responsibility and rationality

Effective in building cross-party support, but progress slow before WWI

What is the full name of the Suffragettes and who led them?

Women’s Social and Political Union

Led by Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst

What were the methods used by the Suffragettes?

‘Deeds not words,’ militant tactics; protests, chaining to railings, window smashing, hunger strikes

Generated publicity and hostility

Helped keep suffrage an issue in the public eye, even if divisive

What was the overall impact of the work of the Suffragists and the Suffragettes?

Suffragists built legitimacy and political support

Suffragettes kept issue alive and urgent

Combination of both, plus contribution towards WWI, helped secure 1918 Act

What is a current movement to extend the franchise and who supports it?

Votes at 16

Campaign supported by Labour, SNP, Lib Dems and Green Party)

What are the arguments for votes at 16?

16-17s can work, pay taxes, join the army, marry etc, so should have a political voice

Engages young people earlier, encouraging lifelong participation

Already successful in Scotland and Wales (2014 independence referendum, Scottish Parliament, Senedd, local elections)

What the arguments against votes at 16?

16-17s may lack maturity and experience

Risk of being unduly influenced by parents or teachers

Low turnout amongst young voters could weaken legitimacy