Reforms in the British Empire - PDF Free Download

Reforms in the British Empire Content Statement/Learning Goal Analyze the social, political, and economic effects of industrialization on Western Europe and the world. Chapter 9 Section 1

Social and Political Reforms During the 1830s industrialization led to rapid changes in British society, and some began to call for social and political reform. Industrial Revolution Working, middle demands for political reform 1800, landowning aristocrats made up most of Parliament Some industrial cities had no representatives at all Only wealthy male property owners could vote public office restricted to men of wealth #1 Reform Act of 1832 1830s, demands for reform too strong to ignore Liberals challenged old aristocratic, conservative order Reform Act of 1832 gave industrial cities representation Also gave voting rights to middle-class men who owned certain amount of property Increased number of voters by 50%. Greatly reduced power of aristocracy. Women excluded from voting

Chartism 1839, group called Chartists worked for voting rights for all men #2 People s Charter- petition sent to Parliament demanding voting changes secret ballot (eliminate voting intimidation) annual elections Other Reforms pay for representatives in Parliament Parliament first voted it down but later passed many of the reforms

Canada Colonies Britain s colonies in Canada were mainly French-speaking Rebellions Diversity created lack of unity, led to calls for reform 1838, Lord Durham sent as governor-general to Canada Wanted colonies to unite, form great and powerful people Dominion #3 1867, Parliament granted colonies power to govern selves Canada become dominion, self-governing colony; continued to expand westward

New Laws Other Reforms #41833, Parliament abolished slavery in Great Britain, all British Empire Slavery partially continued 4 years for slaves older than 6 Government compensated slave owners depending on how many they freed Parliament also passed new public health and crime laws

Victorian Era Voting Reforms In 1837 Queen Victoria became the ruler of Great Britain. The Victorian Era lasted until 1901. It was a time of great change, including voting reforms that made the country more democratic. Disraeli and Gladstone 1868 1885, two influential prime ministers, William Gladstone, Benjamin Disraeli, elected several times Male Suffrage #5 Disraeli put forth new reform bill to extend voting rights to more working men; passed 1867 Another law created the secret ballot; discouraged bribery, intimidation

Question of Rights 1800s, women not seen as equals to men; could not own property, not legal guardians of their children Women s Suffrage #5 1867 Reform Bill Secret ballot allowed Extended voting rights to working men Many women thought right to vote would increase power in society Queen Victoria against women s suffrage, called it mad, wicked folly Disraeli argued that if a woman could be queen, she should be able to vote Tried to add women s suffrage to 1867 reform bill but did not succeed

Australia Since 1700s, Britain had used Australia as place to send criminals Mid-1800s, other colonists began to settle there, attracted by copper, gold deposits #6 1901, Britain granted self-rule to Commonwealth of Australia; established own parliament but remained part of British empire

Changes in the British Empire Beyond Britain, people living in other parts of the British Empire were also moved by the spirit of reform. In the mid-1800s people in Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand took steps to rule themselves. Ireland #10 1801, Ireland joined United Kingdom as part of Act of Union Some Irish hated British rulers, particularly British landlords who had power to evict Irish farmers Policies created to help British industry hurt Irish agriculture #7 Potato Famine 1845 Mid-1800s, potato crop failed several times, left many with no food, no income Potatoes Irish peasants main food source; famine swept Ireland Without money to pay rent, many evicted from homes During the years of the famine, about 1 million people starved, and about 1.5 million others emigrated many to the United States.

Women s Social and Political Union Early 1900s, women grew more frustrated with slow pace of suffrage movement Emmeline Pankhurst, founder of Women s Social and Political Union (WSPU) said, You have to make more noise than anybody else. Government continued to ignore issue of women s suffrage WSPU adopted destructive tactics Many suffragists went to prison #8 1918, Parliament granted vote to women over age 30 By 1928 voting rights for British women were on the same basis as British men.

#9 Sadler and the Factory Act While Parliament debated Reform Act, one member investigated treatment of children in Britain s textile factories Michael Sadler showed harmful conditions endured by child workers Report noted physical mistreatment, long hours, low wages Parliament passed Factory Act, 1833 Act limited working hours of children in textile factories made it illegal for teenagers to work more than 12 hours per day Children between ages 9 and 13 had to receive two hours schooling per day

New Zealand British government made agreement with local Maori people, land in exchange for self-rule New Zealand became a dominion of Great Britain #11 1893, New Zealand became first country to give women the vote

Exports Ireland continued to export food through famine years Shipments left Irish ports for England under heavy guard by British soldiers British officials believed interfering with trade would harm British economy Resentful of British Rule Famine left many Irish more resentful of British rule than ever 1860s, many Irish began to fight for change Some wanted independence, others home rule within United Kingdom #12 Self-Government 1920 Ireland Parliament debated several bills to grant home rule to Ireland, 1800s Ireland did not receive limited self-government until 1920

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Which reform from Ch 9-1 timeline was most important and why? Give specific examples in order to defend your opinion.