HISTORY - Ch. 23 Sec. 1 Quiz

What were the undemocratic features of the British system of government at the beginning of the 19th century?

In 1815, British was a constitutional monarchy with a Parliament and 2 political parties. Less than 5% of people had the right to vote. The House of Lords, hereditary nobles and high-ranking clergy, could veto any bill passed by the House of Commons.

reform bill - 1832

Redistributed the seats in the house of commons, giving representation to large towns and cities eliminating rotten boroughs

How was the British Parliament reformed during the early 1800s?

Reform Act of 1832 - gave representation to large cities and enlarged the electorate. Chartists movement - drew a petition that demanded universal male suffrage, annual parliamentary elections, salaries for members of Parliament, and the secret ballot. Reform Act of 1867 - working class men got voting rights and doubled the size of the electorate. By the end of the century, universal male suffrage, the secret ballot, and other chartists ambitions were achieved. The British then transformed from a constitutional monarchy to a parliamentary democracy.

What values did Queen Victoria represent and how did these values relate to economic reform?

Victoria came to embody the values of her age. Victorian ideals included duty, thrift, honesty, hard work, and above all respectability. The queen herself commented that the lower class "earn their bread and riches so deservedly that they cannot and ought not to be kept back." Reformers continued to push toward social reform and economic justice.

reform bill - 1884

extended the vote to agricultural workers; tripled the electorate with the redistribution act of 1885 and led the way for universal male suffrage

benjamen disraeli

forged the tories into the conservative party

parlaimentary democracy

form of government in which evolved into the liberal party leaders are chosen by and responsible to the legislature, and are also members of it

reform bill - 1867

giving voting right to many working class men the new law almost doubled the size of the electorate

queen victoria

great symbol in british life; longest reign in british history; set the tone for what is now called the victorian age

william gladstone

led the whigs which evolved into the liberal party

rotten boroughs

rural town in England that sent members to Parliament despite having few or no voters

chartist

their aim was to gain political rights and influence for the working class