Changing Political Attitudes

Question 1

Intro

Answer 1

Other historians argue that changing political attitudes and examples from other countries influenced the Government to introduce legislation

Question 2

Knowledge 1

Answer 2

Changing political attitudes in nations such as New Zealand and USA had extended the franchise and Britain could not be seen falling behind.

Question 3

Analysis 1

Answer 3

As a result, Britain felt pressured to become more democratic. Liberal Prime Minister, William Gladstone played a key role in passing democratising legislation between 1880-85.

Question 4

Knowledge 2

Answer 4

Moreover, attitudes towards women began to change and in the 1870s and 80s, women were accepted into local government and school board elections.

Question 5

Analysis 2

Answer 5

This increased democracy as it meant that women were seen as worthy of the vote and were now able to have a voice and state their opinions, contributing to the growth in Britain.

Question 6

Counter Analysis

Answer 6

However, this factor is limited as some historians argue that legislation was passed in line with changing political attitudes simply to deflect from questionable foreign policy pursuits in the late 19th century.

Question 7

Evaluation

Answer 7

To evaluate, it is clear that Britain’s growth in democracy is partly due to examples of other countries and changing political attitudes. This is reflected in the fact that the electorate grew and attitudes to women began to change. However, historians Kerr and McGonigle argue that the argument that democracy spread because of change in ideas and attitudes is questionable as they say that the political reforms passed in the 1880s were mainly to promote their own party’s political interests and unlikely to have been a response to overseas examples.