chapter 24

Chapter 24:Chapter 24:Growth of Western Growth of Western

DemocraciesDemocraciesSection 1: Britain Becomes more Section 1: Britain Becomes more DemocraticDemocraticSection 2: A Century of ReformSection 2: A Century of ReformSection 3: Division & Democracy in Section 3: Division & Democracy in FranceFranceSection 4: Expansion of the United Section 4: Expansion of the United StatesStates

Section 1: Britain Becomes Section 1: Britain Becomes more Democraticmore Democratic

Summary:Summary: In Britain, political change came In Britain, political change came

from gradual reform throughout from gradual reform throughout the 1800sthe 1800s


In 1815, Britain had a monarchIn 1815, Britain had a monarch It also had a parliament with two It also had a parliament with two

political partiespolitical parties Still, it was Still, it was NOTNOT democratic democratic

Parliament was made up of the House Parliament was made up of the House of Lords (nobles and high-ranking of Lords (nobles and high-ranking church leaders) and the House of church leaders) and the House of Commons (men elected by the 5% of Commons (men elected by the 5% of the population who had the right to the population who had the right to vote)vote)


Moreover, the House of Lords had Moreover, the House of Lords had the power to the power to vetoveto, or reject, any bill , or reject, any bill passed by the House of Commonspassed by the House of CommonsTherefore, reformers wanted more Therefore, reformers wanted more

democracydemocracy In the 1820s England ended laws that In the 1820s England ended laws that

restricted some religious groups from restricted some religious groups from votingvoting

Another problem confronting English Another problem confronting English democracy was the existence of democracy was the existence of ‘rotten boroughs’‘rotten boroughs’


The growth of cities had left some The growth of cities had left some rural boroughs, or towns with few rural boroughs, or towns with few votersvotersThese These rotten boroughs rotten boroughs had more than had more than

their fair share of seats in Parliamenttheir fair share of seats in ParliamentThe The Reform Act of 1832Reform Act of 1832 gave more gave more

seats to large townsseats to large townsIt also extended suffrage to all men who It also extended suffrage to all men who owned propertyowned property


Queen Victoria Queen Victoria ruled the British ruled the British Empire from Empire from 1837-19011837-1901

The The Victorian Victorian AgeAge was a time was a time for manners hard for manners hard work, honesty and work, honesty and reformreform


In the 1860s, political parties In the 1860s, political parties changedchangedNobles and landowners of the Nobles and landowners of the ToryTory Party joined the new Party joined the new ConservativeConservative Party Party

The mostly Middle-class The mostly Middle-class WhigWhig Party grew into the Party grew into the LiberalLiberal Party PartyBoth Parties wanted DemocracyBoth Parties wanted Democracy


A Conservative bill extended A Conservative bill extended suffrage to working class mensuffrage to working class menLater, liberals extended suffrage to Later, liberals extended suffrage to

include farmers and most other include farmers and most other menmen

Another Liberal bill limited the Another Liberal bill limited the veto power of the House of Lords veto power of the House of Lords & gave the House of Commons & gave the House of Commons more power more power

Section 2: A Century of Section 2: A Century of ReformReform

Summary:Summary: In the 1800s and early 1900s, In the 1800s and early 1900s,

Parliament passed many reform Parliament passed many reform measuresmeasures


From 1815 to 1914, British From 1815 to 1914, British reformers called for changereformers called for changeNew laws improved working New laws improved working

conditions and allowed trade unionsconditions and allowed trade unionsThey also provided for free elementary They also provided for free elementary schools reduced harsh punishments for schools reduced harsh punishments for crimes and ended slaverycrimes and ended slavery

Trade reforms lowered tariffs, or taxes on Trade reforms lowered tariffs, or taxes on imported goodsimported goods


In 1900, the trade unions In 1900, the trade unions founded a new political party, founded a new political party, the Labour Partythe Labour Party It pushed through more laws to It pushed through more laws to

protect workersprotect workers


British women called for the right British women called for the right of of suffragesuffrage, or the right vote, or the right vote They held huge rallies and marchesThey held huge rallies and marches When these demonstrations failed, When these demonstrations failed,

some protesters smashed windows some protesters smashed windows and burned buildingsand burned buildingsA few went on hunger strikesA few went on hunger strikesIn 1918, Parliament gave the right to In 1918, Parliament gave the right to vote for women over 30, in 1928 vote for women over 30, in 1928 suffrage was extended to include suffrage was extended to include women 18 and overwomen 18 and over


Throughout the 1800s, Nationalists Throughout the 1800s, Nationalists in Ireland fought British rulein Ireland fought British rule Ireland demanded CHANGE!!!Ireland demanded CHANGE!!!

No longer would the Irish pay high No longer would the Irish pay high rents to their British landlordsrents to their British landlords

No longer would Irish Catholics turn No longer would Irish Catholics turn over their money to support the Church over their money to support the Church of Englandof England

No longer would Irish crops go to No longer would Irish crops go to England while Irish families starvedEngland while Irish families starved


In the 1870s, Irish Nationalists In the 1870s, Irish Nationalists called for called for Home RuleHome Rule, or , or local local self-governmentself-governmentFinally, in 1914, Parliament passed Finally, in 1914, Parliament passed

a home rule billa home rule billCounties in the South of Ireland Counties in the South of Ireland became independent in 1921became independent in 1921


Quiz – Irish Potato FamineQuiz – Irish Potato Famine1.) Give a reason for the severity of 1.) Give a reason for the severity of

the famine.the famine.2.) How did the actions of England 2.) How did the actions of England

worsen this disaster?worsen this disaster?

Section 3: Division & Democracy Section 3: Division & Democracy in Francein France

Summary:Summary:Democratic reforms in France took Democratic reforms in France took

place under Napoleon III’s Second place under Napoleon III’s Second Empire and its successor, the Empire and its successor, the Third Republic Third Republic


After the French Revolution of After the French Revolution of 1848, Louis Napoleon was 1848, Louis Napoleon was elected president of the Second elected president of the Second RepublicRepublicHe was the nephew to Napoleon He was the nephew to Napoleon

Bonaparte and his famous name Bonaparte and his famous name won him voteswon him votes


The working class liked his talk The working class liked his talk of social reformof social reformBut in 1852, he declared himself But in 1852, he declared himself

Napoleon III ruler of the Second Napoleon III ruler of the Second EmpireEmpireHe ruled like a dictator, censoring He ruled like a dictator, censoring the press and choosing officialsthe press and choosing officials

However, he did keep his word to However, he did keep his word to workers, by allowing them to set up workers, by allowing them to set up unions and free health careunions and free health care


While Napoleon III made While Napoleon III made reforms at home he made major reforms at home he made major mistakes in foreign policymistakes in foreign policyHe tried to take power in Mexico He tried to take power in Mexico

and failedand failed In 1870, a crushing defeat at the In 1870, a crushing defeat at the

hands of Prussia (Bismarck & hands of Prussia (Bismarck & William I) ended the Second William I) ended the Second EmpireEmpire


The Third Republic aroseThe Third Republic arose It had a It had a moremore democratic two-house democratic two-house

legislaturelegislature All men could vote for members of the All men could vote for members of the

lowerlower house house The two houses elected a president, The two houses elected a president,

but the real power belonged to the but the real power belonged to the premierpremier, or Prime Minister, or Prime Minister

A constitution separated church & A constitution separated church & state and guarded human rightsstate and guarded human rights


In 1894, a scandal shook the In 1894, a scandal shook the Third RepublicThird RepublicCaptain Albert Dreyfus was jailed Captain Albert Dreyfus was jailed

for spying for the Germansfor spying for the GermansSome people felt the Army blamed Some people felt the Army blamed Dreyfus solely because he was JewishDreyfus solely because he was Jewish

In the end Dreyfus was proven innocentIn the end Dreyfus was proven innocent


The The Dreyfus AffairDreyfus Affair, along with , along with antisemitismantisemitism (or prejudice (or prejudice against Jewish people), across against Jewish people), across Europe worried Jewish leaders Europe worried Jewish leaders Some began to call for a separate Some began to call for a separate

state where Jewish people would state where Jewish people would have the rights and freedoms have the rights and freedoms denied to them in European denied to them in European countriescountries

chapter 24

Education