Reforms in Britain First Quick Review Great Britain

Reforms in Britain

First: Quick Review! Great Britain – Monarchy to Democracy Houses of Parliament – Commons/Lords were in control Great Reform Act of 1832 – Change seats, expand votes Reforms didn’t’ benefit workers Chartist Movement – suffrage, anonymous elections, $$$ Queen Victoria – Symbol of British life Values – duty, honesty, hard work, respect

More Review! Britain became powerful! Huge empire. Queen sees workers struggle, supports them New Era of Politics! Universal Male Suffrage! Democracy! House of Commons takes the power!

Reform: Economics New laws in Britain increased prosperity: Free Trade: Removed tariffs on British exports Promotes competition, lowers prices for everyone Hurts other countries, great for Britain Corn Laws: Increase tariffs on imports – Buy British! Great for local businesses Bad when there were hard economic times Corn laws later repealed

Reform: Slavery Britain was shipping huge amounts of Slaves to America Middle Passage – Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade 1807 – Abolish Slave Trade Slavery still legal… just can’t buy/sell anymore 1833 – Fully Abolish Slavery – No more! Britain still benefited from American slavery however

Reform: Crime and Punishment Capital Offenses – Murder, stealing, impersonation Put to death – Over 200 crimes were capital offenses Executions were a public event Changing the System: 1850 Death penalty only for murder, treason, arson, piracy Penal colonies created for smaller crimes Australia, New Zealand

Working Class Reforms Improved conditions Safety, work hours, minimum wage, child labor Inspections to enforce the rules Labor Unions form – pressure employers/government Improved cities – Public health laws Housing, sanitation, schools, jobs based on merit Labour Party – New political party, backed by workers, unions, socialists Pass social welfare laws to protect the people Reforms showed democracy was working!

Women’s Rights Emmeline Pankhurst – Female suffragist leader interrupting Parliament, public protest, demonstration, petitions, hunger strikes “Aggressive” tactics – Smash windows, burn buildings “There is something more that governments care far more for than human life” Parliament still refused to grant female suffrage Not until 1918 – But only women over 30

Irish Struggles Ireland never accepted British rule Desperate poverty – pay high rent to English landlords Irish were Catholic – but had to pay tithes to Anglicans Resistance and rebellion was the only way Many move to America to get away – Potato Famine Nationalism!!!! Demand unfair laws be repealed Forbid speaking the Irish language Catholic Emancipation Act – Let Irish vote/hold office

“The Irish Question” Inequality and famine created a long lasting distrust of Britain Irish want home rule – self government Debated for decades and decades, nothing happened Prime Minister helped bring reform to Ireland Ended tithes – payments to Anglican church Prevent unfair rent prices, protect the tenants 1914 – Home Rule bill passed Delayed going into effect - WWI