British Government
British Government
Great Britain
Ireland
Scotland
Wales
England
Constitutional Monarchy
Constitutional Monarchy
Began – 1688 Glorious Rev.
Most Progressive
Ruler limited by law
Monarch needed Parliament’s consent
Parliament needed monarch’s consent
Previous Limits1215 Magna CartaKing John limits king’s power
English Bill of RightsSecured Constitutional Monarchy
The English Cabinet
The CabinetExecutive CommitteeOriginally temporaryActed in ruler’s nameOnly represented majority party
Why: Stalemate possible b/w Parliament and Monarch
The CabinetBegan: Wm. and MaryMost influential ministersAppointed and dismissed at willEnd of rule: for support chose
majority party members (Whigs)Assured king majority vote*Cabinet now link b/w king and
Parliament
Rise of the Prime
Minister
Background
1 minister dominated cabinet during Hanoverian DynastyGerman dynastyLast Stuart Anne died 1714
George I & II- little English, no interest in British affairsLack of knowledge- leads to
reliance on ministers
Prime Minster Emerges
Sir Robert Walpole1721 George I appts. him first Lord
of the Treasury1721-1741 unofficial ruler of BritainFirst Prime Minister Set pattern for modern British
politics
The SystemCabinet – center of power and policy making
Leader of majority party in Parliament led cabinet as prime minister
A SummaryWorks best if only 2 parties
AdvantagesExecutive, majority party will get
legislation passed
DisadvantagesMinority has little sayPossibility of frequent elections
(party not support PM, party balance)
George III
Tried to take back power
US issue- “No taxation w/out representation”Average GB citizens did not have
these rights
Ulterior motive- break away from mercantilism
British Reform Legislation
Reform Bill 1832
Why: pressure from merchants & factory owners
Purpose: set up new districts for electing members of ParliamentOld districts- medieval villages now
empty (owner had vote)New cities (Manchester, Sheffield)
no elected reps (grew after districts formed)
Reform Bill 1832SignificanceEnd to injustice- new cities got
voteMore men gained suffrage (men
who paid certain amount in rent gained vote, not just landowners)
Most all middle class voted now 20% voting (2x’s more)
Reform Act of 1867
Why: Growing prosperity & social responsibility of working classSome politicians convinced to
extend suffrageReform League (John Bright)-
pushed Parliamentary action
Reform Act of 1867
1866 Lord Russell introduces idea- defeated by Conservatives & antidemocratic Liberals
Conservative Disraeli (led House of Commons) gets bill passedAccepted liberal amendmentsVoting 1,43 mil to 2.47 mil
(working class)
Reform Act of 1867
Disraeli wanted Conservatives to get support of new votersSaw change inevitable- let
Conservatives get credit (responsive to social change)
Believed growing mid class would be Conservative
Disraeli v. Gladstone
GladstoneLiberal PM 1868-1874Began as a Conservative
Wanted old institutions opened1870 Exams for Civil Service 1871 Abolished purchase of
officers’ commission1872 Secret BallotAnglican requirement dropped for
universities
GladstoneEducation Act of 1870Govt. est. and run elementary
schools (instead of church)Church had been given little
money= inadequate schoolsNO education in areas no churchWhy? Democracy does NOT work
with society of illiterates
GladstoneGoals: Remove old abuses without
destroying existing institutionsCitizens compete on ability
Recognizes trade unionsStress individualism, free trade, competition (solve social probs)Significance- state-building brings loyalty
DisraeliConservative PM 1874-1880
Favored paternalistic legislation
Action: few specific programs
Richard Cross- Home Sec.Responsible for social legislation
Disraeli1875 Public Health Act- state interfere on private property
in matters of health, well-being
1875 Artisans Dwelling Act-State provide housing to working
class
1875 Conservatives offer protections to trade unions Allowed to strike
Loss of Power by House of
Lords
David Lloyd GeorgeLiberal
Minister of Finance
1909- Prime Minister
Social Welfare
Social Welfare ProgramOld-age pensions
Accident/illness insurance for workers
Unemployment benefits
FUNDING: income taxes (wealthy)“People’s Budget”
People’s BudgetOnly House of Commons passed
**Issue- place of House of Lords in British govt.Liberals want to limit powerLiberals win next 2 elections but
lords refuse reformsKing threatened to appt. new
liberal- minded lords (pass reform)Lords vote to limit own power
People’s BudgetResolved- House of Lords only delay bills passed by House of Commons After 2 yrs. bills become law
**One step closer to fully democratic govt.
Friday
Papers Back
Notebooks Back
Get out Greek DBQ documents
POV
Irish Question
The BasicsIreland controlled by British for nearly 300 years1801- directly from London
1870’s Irish nationalists seek home ruleIrish Home Rule Party- seek
independence
Liberals support home ruleGladstone’s bills defeated
IssuesPrices of farm products drop1000’s can’t pay rent2000 families pushed out of homes Angry farmers, nationalists
become violent
1870-1880’s- Protestants and Catholics work together for home rule
A Change1900’s Irish Protestants turn against home ruleLived in N. Ireland (Ulster)Fear being a minority
1914 Home Rule bill passedWWI broke put month before bill
to take effect
Social IssuesAnglo Saxons (British)- English
Celts (Irish)- Gaelic
English see Irish as inferior, lazy people (treat poorly)
English- Protestant
Irish- Catholic (no representation, no vote)
Political IssuesProtestants (minority) and Catholics (majority)Who control govt?Home Rule?
1936 Ireland gained independence (N. Ireland independent for Protestants)
Economic IssuesGladstoneTenant Laws- land back to IrishHenry & Elizabeth- bought out
Irish land & est. British farmsCromwell finished conquest
Irish wanted British landlords out
British Empire
EmpireColonies key to prosperity- benefit BritainMercantilism
1700’s- focus is on gaining & controlling colonies
1763 British strongest colonial and navel power in Europe
Empire SizeExtending on Indian subcontinent
N. America- east of Mississippi
Islands in Caribbean- SUGAR
Canada- largest part of Empire
Navigation Laws 1660 & 1663- tight control of colonies