This volume explores constitutional reform, and in particular expansions in the franchise. It presents evidence covering the origins of these transitions and the subsequent development of demands for reform.The volume also presents evidence of the limits of change and the persistence of certain traditional aspects of the constitution.
This volume explores constitutional reform, and in particular expansions in the franchise. It presents evidence covering the origins of these transitions and the subsequent development of demands for reform. It also deals with other changes such as the secret ballot. The volume examines accounts of the debates that took place about the merits of reform and the form it should take if enacted. It includes evidence of the party-political considerations and tactical motivations leading to reforms; and the way in which various individuals and groups received them once enacted. The volume also presents evidence of the limits of change and the persistence of certain traditional aspects of the constitution.
Volume I: Reform
General Introduction
Volume 1 Introduction
Part
1. 1776 - 1832
1. John Wilkes, Parliamentary Reform
2. John Cartwright, Take Your Choice! Representation and Respect, Imposition
and Contempt
3. William Pitt, Reform of the Franchise
4. William Pitt, Reform of the Franchise
5. Thomas Spence, The Constitution of Spenconia,
6. Jeremy Bentham, Parliamentary Reform Catechism
7. William Cobbett, To the Journeymen of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland
8. Lord John Russell, Parliamentary Reform
9. Sir Robert Peel MP, Parliamentary Reform
10. Duke of Wellington, Parliamentary Reform
11. Henry Hunt, Rights of Women
12. Reform Act, 1832
Part
2. 1832 - 1884
13. Petition Agreed to at the Crown and Anchor meeting, 28 February 1837
14. George Grote, The Ballot
15. Marion Reid, A Plea For Woman
16. Benjamin Disraeli, Reform
17. Edward Baines, Borough Franchise Bill
18. William Gladstone, Borough Franchise Bill
19. William Gladstone, Representation of the People Bill
20. Mrs Bodichon Reasons for the Enfranchisement of Women
21. J. S. Mill, Suffrage
22. Reform Act, 1867
23. George Eliot, (Fictitious) Address to Working Men, by "Felix Holt"
24. Thomas Hare, Machinery of Representation
25. The Ballot Act, 1872
26. Millicent Fawcett, Womens Suffrage
27. W. E. Gladstone, Representation of the People Amendment Bill
28. Representation of the People Act 1884
Part
3. 1884-1928
29. Albert Venn Dicey, Ought the Referendum to be Introduced into England?
30. Mrs Pankhurst, The Importance of the Vote
31. John Humphreys, A Study in Methods of Election
32. Lord Balfour of Burleigh, Reference to the People Bill
33. Earl of Crewe, Reference to the People Bill
34. Violet Markham, Womans Sphere
35. Joseph Compton-Rickett, Representation of the People (Women) Bill
36. Philip Snowden, Representation of the People (Women) Bill
37. Conference on Electoral Reform, Letter from Mr. Speaker to the Prime
Minister
38. Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act 1918
39. Representation of the People Act 1918
40. Sir William Joynson Hicks, Representation of the People (Equal
Franchise) Bill
41. Brigadier-General Sir George Cockerill, Representation of the People
(Equal Franchise) Bill
42. Ellen Wilkinson, Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Bill
43. Margaret Bondfield, Representation of the People (Equal Franchise)
Bill
44. Viscountess (Nancy) Astor, Representation of the People (Equal
Franchise) Bill
45. Stanley Baldwin, Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Bill
46. Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Act 1928, Polling
Districts and Places
47. Virginia Woolf, A Room of Ones Own
Index
Professor Andrew Blick is Head of the Department of Political Economy and Professor of Politics and Contemporary History at Kings College London, UK.