THE STRUGGLE FOR THE VOTE The Battle for

THE STRUGGLE FOR THE VOTE

The Battle for Change before 1832 • The industrial revolution had created a new wealthy middle class in the towns who did not have the vote • To vote in Britain before 1832 you had to own land that was worth more than 40 shillings. • There was no secret ballot like today Why didn’t the Government want to give the vote to the working class?

The Battle for Change 1832 • A Reform Act was passed in 1832 • HOWEVER, it only gave the vote to middle class men • All women and the working class were left out

The Chartists 1839 - 1848 Working class people were disappointed by the Reform Act and many joined together in Chartist groups. • The Chartists campaigned for votes for the working class. They demanded: – The vote for every man over 21 – A secret ballot – No property qualification for MPs – Payment for MPs – Equal constituencies – Annual Parliaments

The Chartists 1839 - 1848 • Some Chartists wanted to win by peaceful persuasion. They presented Parliament with three huge petitions – which were ignored • Others believed they could only win by using Physical Force – there were strikes and riots.

Votes for Working Class Men • In 1867 better-off working class men in towns got the vote. - Male house owners over 21 - Male lodgers who paid 10 pounds in rent

Other Important Events • The Secret Ballot Act 1872 • 1911 – MPs were given a salary • In 1884 working class men in the countryside got the vote • In 1918 Property qualifications for men were abolished and women over 30 gained the vote • 1928 – all women over 21 given the vote

Votes for Young People - 1969 • In 1969 the voting age was lowered to 18 • Now every British Citizen can vote unless you are: – Insane – In prison – A Lord • What next? Votes at 16?