Party Competition

Question 1

Intro

Answer 1

Other historians argue that party competition was key to the growth of democracy in Britain.

Question 2

Knowledge 1

Answer 2

The Liberals and Conservatives believed that passing reforms could give them a political advantage and so Gladstone of the Liberals passed the Corrupt and Illegal Practices Act, 1883.

Question 3

Analysis 1

Answer 3

This act was important to the growth of democracy as it limited the amount of money spent on elections, giving more fair opportunities to other Party’s

Question 4

Knowledge 2

Answer 4

The 1928 Representation of the People Act was also introduced which provided women with equality in voting.

Question 5

Analysis 2

Answer 5

This was an important legislation for the growth of democracy as it increased the electorate, and it was hoped that the newly enfranchised women would vote conservative.

Question 6

Counter Analysis

Answer 6

However, some historians argue that whilst reforms such as the Representation of the People Act, 1928 may have been passed in an attempt to limit the powers of the opposition parties, women had been agitating for decades and it would seem that politicians might have been more convinced by those arguments than attempting to disarm their opponents.

Question 7

Evaluation

Answer 7

To evaluate, it is clear that Britain’s growth in democracy was partly as a result of party competition. Politicians tried to ensure their own party’s political interests would be protected in times of change. However, it is more convincing that politicians introduced reforming legislation such as the 1867 reforming legislation such as the 1867 Reform Act, which enfranchised the upper working classes as there were real concerns that to withhold the vote would be dangerous in the face of increasing pressure from popular pressure groups emerging at the time.