Reforms in the British Parliament: The Road to Democracy

- Before the Industrial Revolution, the British government consisted of two parties: the Wigs (liberals) and Tories (conservatives).  The system was in a limited democracy in which only a limited number of people gets to vote, and one must own property to serve in Parliament.

- Through the course of the Industrial Revolution, the British government experienced a significant number of reforms brought by the social restructuring.

- In 1829, religious restrictions on workers were removed by the Catholic Emancipation Act.  This opened jobs to Catholics and Jews and represented as a step toward social equality.

- Later during the Industrial Revolution, the newly created middle class (bourgeoisie) became increasingly important to national economy and allowed Britain to dominate the world's economy.  However, like all social groups in history or present, with contributions came the desire for power.  Through the course of the Industrial Revolution, British parliament shifted from being dominated by the aristocracy to being dominated by the middle class, the bourgeoisie.

- In 1832, the Reform Bill gave new industrial cities more representation in the parliament.  Later in 1838, the People's Charter and Charists Movement demanded voting rights for all men, a secret ballot, and an end to property requirement for serving in Parliament.

- As the middle class gained power, the huge numbers of the working class began to demand the same.  The Reform Bill of 1867 gave the working-classmen in urban areas the right to vote; this doubled the number of voters in Britain.  Five years later, the Ballot Act of 1872 provided for the secret ballot and finally in 1884, the Reform Bill greatly increased the number of voters by giving suffrage to rural workers.