| TIMELINE |
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| 1265 |
Parliament established. It contains
2 chambers. One is 'the Lords' - unelected aristocrats. The
other is 'the Commons'. These Members of Parliament (MPs) are
smaller landowners and are elected only by male landowners. |
| 1642-60 |
English Civil War. This is a war between
the Parliament and the King for who has control of the state.
King Charles I is executed and England is briefly a Republic.
In 1660 the monarchy is returned, but it never regains its power.
From now on, the Prime Minister, chosen by Parliament has the
most influence. |
| 1707 |
Act of Union unites England/Wales
and Scotland. The United Kingdom is now formed. |
| 1819 |
The Peterloo Massacre. A mass demonstration
in favour of universal male suffrage is attacked by troops and
15 people are killed. |
| 1832 |
Great Reform Act. Before this time
only landowners could vote for MPs to sit in the House of Commons.
This meant 1 in 7 men could vote. (440,000 people) After 1832
the male urban middle classes gain the vote, and so the electorate
increases to 1 in 5 men (650,000 people). |
| 1867 |
Second Reform Act. This extends the
vote to the skilled urban male working class. The electorate
increases to 1 in 3 men. |
| 1884 |
Third Reform Act. The vote is now
given to working class men in the countryside. The electorate
is now 2 out of 3 men. |
| 1918 |
Representation of the People Act.
Almost all men over 21 years old, and women over 30 years old
now have the vote. |
| 1928 |
Effectively all women and men over
21 now have the vote. |
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