The Right to Vote in Britain: Historical Process

Study Notes

Historians use primary and secondary sources to reach interpretations about the past.

Before the 19th Century, people in Britain had very little say in how the country was run.
The Napoleonic Wars led to widespread discontent in Britain due to recession and unemployment.
People in England were unhappy with the corruption of the political system.
The Great Reform Act of 1832 expanded the right to vote to the middle classes.
By 1900, almost 60% of men could vote but women were still disenfranchised.

In 1819, 80,000 people gathered at St Peter’s Field to hear Orator Hunt speak.
The magistrates panicked and sent in the yeomanry, leading to 18 deaths and 700 injured.
This event highlighted the need for reform.

The Chartists campaigned for fair and free elections through the People’s Charter.
The Chartists demanded representation for all working-class men.
Chartists were divided into two groups: moral force and physical force.
The Chartists failed to achieve any of their goals by 1848.
They were successful in the long run, as many of their demands were eventually met.

Historians make choices when representing their research to entertain, inform, educate, and thrill.
The film 'Peterloo' aims to represent the historical event.

Constituency: an area represented by an elected member of Parliament.
Rotten Boroughs: small towns with few residents, corruptly representing large numbers of people in Parliament.
Recession: a period of economic decline.
Radical Reformers: Those seeking large changes to the political system.
Petition: A document signed by a large group asking for change.
Franchise: The right to vote.
Disenfranchise: To be denied the right to vote.