Reforms in the British Empire Main Idea During the 1800s Great Britain passed many democratic reforms that changed the way people lived and worked. Reading Focus How did social and political reforms change life in Britain during the early 1800s? What reforms helped to shape the Victorian Era? What changes transformed the British Empire?

Social and Political Reforms During the 1830s industrialization led to rapid changes in British society, and some began to call for social and political reform. Liberals challenged old aristocratic, conservative order Reform Act of 1832 gave industrial cities representation Gave voting rights to middle-class men who owned certain amount of property Women excluded from voting Reform Act of 1832

Sadler and the Factory Act While Parliament debated Reform Act, one member investigated treatment of children in Britain’s textile factories Michael Sadler showed harmful conditions; noted physical mistreatment, long hours, low wages Reaction to Report As a result, Parliament passed Factory Act, 1833 Made it illegal for teenagers to work more than 12 hours per day Children between ages 9 and 13 had to receive two hours schooling per day

Other Reforms New Laws 1833, Parliament abolished slavery in Great Britain, all British Empire Parliament also passed new public health and crime laws

In 1837 Queen Victoria became the ruler of Great Britain In 1837 Queen Victoria became the ruler of Great Britain. The Victorian Era lasted until 1901. It was a time of great change, including voting reforms that made the country more democratic.

Victorian Era Voting Reforms Benjamin Disraeli Conservative party wanted to preserve traditions of past power Law to extend voting rights to more working men Law to create the secret ballot, discourage bribery, and intimidation Disraeli 1804-1881

William Gladstone Liberal party took more progressive approach to solving society’s problems William Gladstone 1809-1898

Women’s Suffrage Question of Rights 1867 Reform Bill 1800s, women not seen as equals to men; could not own property, not legal guardians of their children Queen Victoria fought against women’s suffrage, called it “mad, wicked folly” Question of Rights Disraeli argued that if a woman could be queen, they should be able to vote Suffragists tried but made little progress for nearly 40 years; lobbied, signed petitions, educated public 1867 Reform Bill

Women’s Social and Political Union Early 1900s, women grew more frustrated with slow pace of suffrage movement Emmeline Pankhurst, founder of Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) said, “You have to make more noise than anybody else.”

WSPU continued Government continued to ignore issue of women’s suffrage WSPU adopted destructive tactics, even bombings Many suffragists went to prison 1918, Parliament granted vote to women over age 30 By 1928 voting rights for British women were on the same basis as British men.

Changes in the British Empire 1801, Ireland was officially forced to join the United Kingdom Most Irish hated British rulers, particularly British landlords who had power to evict Irish farmers Ireland

Potato Famine Mid-1800s, potato crop failed several times, left many with no food, no income Without money to pay rent, many were evicted from their homes About 1 million people starved, and about 1.5 million others emigrated—many to the United States.

Ireland Exports Resentful of British Rule Self-Government Ireland was forced to continue to export food through famine years Shipments left Irish ports for England under heavy guard by British soldiers British officials believed interfering with trade would harm British economy Resentful of British Rule Famine left many Irish more resentful of British rule than ever 1860s, many Irish began to fight for change Some wanted independence, others home rule within United Kingdom Self-Government Parliament debated several bills to grant home rule to Ireland, 1800s Ireland did not receive limited self-government until 1920

Canada Colonies Unity Britain’s colonies in Canada very different Some mainly French-speaking, others mainly English-speaking Unity 1838, Lord Durham sent as governor-general to Canada Wanted colonies to unite and form a “great and powerful people”

Diversity of people Calls for reform Rebellions in Canadian colonies Parliament granted colonies power to govern selves Canada become self-governing dominion

Australia Since 1700s, Britain had used Australia as place to send criminals Aborigines were displaced Mid-1800s, other colonists began to settle there, attracted by copper, gold deposits 1901, Britain granted self-rule to Commonwealth of Australia

New Zealand British government made agreement with local Maori people, land in exchange for self-rule New Zealand became a dominion of Great Britain 1893, New Zealand became first country to give women the right to vote

Compare and Contrast How did self-rule come about in Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? Answer(s): potato famine left Irish resentful, 1920: limited self-rule; 1867: British granted some Canadian colonies self-rule; Australia granted self-rule; Maoris in New Zealand exchanged land for self-rule