suffrage

• plumping


  before 1885, majority of electors were entitled to vote more than once

  • plumping is when each elector could choose to use one of their votes
• splitting


  electors before 1885 could opt to use both of their votes:

  • either they choose to support two candidates of the same political party
  • or share their votes between rival candidates
• 1832 ’Great’ Reform Act


  • allowed for 1 in 5 men (6% of the total population) to vote
  • created seats in the House of Commons to represent the new cities during the Industrial Rev.
  • disbanded rotten boroughs
• 1867 Second Reform Act


  • allowed urban male working class to vote
  • limited redistribution of seats
• 1884 Third Reform Act


  extended the vote to all working men (with land worth more than 10£ or paid annual rent of 10£

  • this still excluded all women and 40% of adult men
• 1872 Ballot Act 


  introduced the right of electors to cast their vote in private via polling booths and ballot boxes
• virtual representation


  the idea that the people could be indirectly represented by MPs

  • this was used to justify why women should not be given the vote as they were ‘represented’ through the men in their family/husband
• exclusive dealing


  a practice where non-electors would wield their influence by withdrawing and boycotting their customs from businesses that did not share their political preferences
• how did the Ballot Act become a catalyst for suffrage?

  Due to voting becoming a private act, non-electors could no longer influence electors

  • the campaign for women’s suffrage began to attract more widespread attention and support
• what was one of the central arguments made against Radical MPJ.S.Mill regarding women’s right to vote?

  everyone acquainted with elections was aware of the influence which was exercised by women - it was common knowledge that women would influence their husbands decisions in voting

  • their ‘power’ would extraordinarily shape the outcome of elections
• how did non-electors influence the electors?

  it ranged from public meetings expressing popular support to more intimidating forms of persuassion
• how did formal election proceedings take place?

  candidates and their proposers would take the centre of the stage on large wooden platforms called hustings

  • processions of party supporters with marching bands and flag bearers were popular, yet many of these people could not vote