Social and Economic Reform in Britain Ch. 11 Sec. 2 Social and Economic Reform in Britain
Series of Reforms 1833 - law passed banning slavery 1846 - Repeal Corn Laws 1850s - reduce the number of crimes punishable by death (capital punishment), end public hangings in 1868 Penal colonies created in British territories in Australia and New Zealand
Working conditions Parliament passed laws to: Improve conditions in factories and mines Minimum wage and maximum hours Education act for free ed for all elementary children legalized trade unions Labour Party formed and became one of dominant parties in early 1900s
Women’s Suffrage Emmaline Pankhurst - led suffragists towards a more drastic violent protest when peaceful efforts brought no results 1918 - Parliament finally granted the right to vote to women over 30
Irish Question Throughout 1800s the Irish resented British rule Irish peasants lived in poverty High rents to absentee landlords Irish Catholics paid tithes to Church of England Potato famine increased tensions Parnell - one of several nationalist leaders Pressed Parliament for home rule Passed in 1914 but delayed because of WW I finally became independent in 1921 Gladstone - stopped the tithes and protected Irish tenant farmers