The Reform Acts (Volume IV): The Struggle for Democracy

Format: Hardback
Publication date: 15 July 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Between 1760 and 1918, a pivotal era in British history, the Reform Acts: The Struggle for Democracy meticulously chronicles the progression of parliamentary and electoral reform. This comprehensive four-volume collection delves into the early calls for electoral reform, exploring the underlying motivations and the responses of those opposed to change. The reform agenda encompasses a wide range of topics, including economic reform, the secret ballot, proportional representation, eradication of electoral corruption, and universal male and female suffrage. The contributions of prominent political figures, such as John Wilkes, Charles James Fox, William Pitt the Younger, Henry Hunt, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Daniel O'Connell, William Lovett, Annie Besant, Christabel Pankhurst, and James Keir Hardie, are analyzed in depth. Additionally, the volumes acknowledge the far-reaching implications of constitutional change, examining its impact on Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and the British Empire. The concept of citizenship, and the criteria for determining who should possess the franchise, became a central theme in discussions from the mid-eighteenth century onwards. These debates extended beyond Parliament, permeating streets, pubs, coffee houses, workplaces, and homes. The documents selected provide a captivating glimpse into the issues that captivated men and women across Britain for decades, offering a valuable insight into the historical and societal context of this transformative period.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781138743977