Issue 1 — Lesson 3 The Ballot Act

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Issue 1 - Lesson 3 The Ballot Act of 1872 The Corrupt and Illegal Practices Act of 1883 The Third Reform Act 1884

How democratic was Britain after the 1867 Reform Act? Getting there, but still not close: – No secret ballot – Candidates in elections could spend as much money as they would like to influence voting (food, drink, bribes) – MPs were not paid – Universities had the ability to elect MPs – The House of Lords had equal power to the House of Commons – Men in the counties did not have the same voting rights as men in the boroughs – Select groups of men could not vote – Woman could not vote

Corruption • There were no laws which stopped rich politicians from using their money to win. • Politicians transported voters to voting stations to vote for them • Some would bribe factory owners into forcing their workers to vote for them. Since voting was public, if a employee did not vote for who their boss demanded, they would be fired!!! These are just some examples.

The Ballot Act of 1872 Introduced by the Liberal government under Prime Minister Gladstone. Booths were set up so voting was done in secret. As a result, voters could no longer be intimidated into voting for someone they do not want. However, Corrupt spending practices continued

Corrupt and Illegal Practices Act of 1883 1. An election candidate’s spending became limited. 2. Campaign money could no longer be spent on 4. Disobeying the law would result in a things like food and candidates drinks. disqualification for 7 3. A record of spending years!! had to be kept. 5. Involvement in corruption would result in fines or imprisonment.

Liberal Party member John Bright • A reformist in the liberal party, who fought for the secret ballot in 1871 and 1872. • Believed that if the working class could vote in secret, they would thank the liberals for passing the Ballot Act with their vote.

Liberal Party Members Joseph Chamberlain • Wanted the Liberal Party to pass a new reform Act in 1883, which would give men in the counties equal voting right to the men in the boroughs.

Conservative Party members Salisbury • Leader of the Conservative Party in the 1880 s • Accepted a proposal from the Liberal Party to create a Third Reform Act.

Arlington Street Compact Gladstone and the Liberals are in power in the 1880 s. Gladstone wants to pass another reform act, in order to give men in the counties equal voting rights to men in the boroughs, which would mean doubling the number of men who could vote in Britain!!!!!!! In order to pass this radical reform through the House of Commons, Gladstone needed to get the Conservative Party to agree to its terms!!!! Time to spread the vote like jelly on toast son.

Arlington Street Compact Prime Minister Gladstone met with Conservative leader Salisbury to make a deal. Yo homie Salisbury, lets make an agreement so you will let us pass this Third Reform Act Nah yo, whats in it for us conservatives Gladstone? you old ugly mongrel.

Arlington Street Compact The Deal • Salisbury’s Conservatives would support the Third Reform Act in the House of Commons. • In return, Gladstone and the Liberals would redistribute the number of MPs in constituencies across Britain. • By doing this, they would allow some constituencies to be guaranteed victories for the Conservatives WHAT!!? !? ? ? !? !? !

The Arlington Street Compact Dundee had only 1 Member of Parliament and every single election the conservative candidate won. Dundee has tripled in population do to its factories, it now has a population large enough to deserve 2 Members of Parliament. Conservative MP Douglas Mc. Bruce has won every election in Dundee in the last 40 years.

The Arlington Street Compact So in the Arlington Street Compact, the Liberals promised to redistribute the number of seats, so that places such as Dundee will get 2 MPs instead of 1. Now Dundee has a new conservative MP, Hamish Mc. Vey. The Conservatives are happy because now the conservative city of Dundee will always send 2 Conservative MPs to the House of Commons

Third Reform Act (1884) (Representation of the People Act 1884) • Passes because of the Arlington Street Compact • The electorate doubles from 2. 5 million to 5 million men. • Voting qualifications in the towns and countryside are identical. – All male householders who own or rent property could vote. • 2/3 men in England Wales.

Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 • Passed together with the Third Reform Act it was part of the deal in the Arlington Street Compact • The distribution of MPs now more accurately reflects the population of British towns. • Total number of MPs increased from 652 to 670.

Are we Democratic yet?

Define: intimidation, bribery, the nature of corruption in British politics What happened to the attempted ballot act in 1871, before it was passed in 1872? Why is this an example of the lack of democracy? What happened to the Third Reform Act after it was passed by the House of Commons in 1884?

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