6.8 - 19th-Century Social Reform

Rise of Mass-Based Political Parties

Context:

• The social challenges created by industrialization led many Europeans to turn to politics and political parties as a means of enacting meaningful reforms. This period saw the emergence of mass-based political parties, which differed from earlier political parties by appealing to a broader electorate.

Mass-Based Political Parties:

• As more people gained the right to vote, political parties had to broaden their appeal to attract a larger voter base. This led to the rise of mass-based political parties, which focused on the interests of various social groups rather than just the elite.
  Example:

  • In England:

    • The Conservative Party traditionally represented the interests of the landed elite.

    • The Liberal Party began to represent the interests of the working class. As more working-class individuals gained the right to vote, the Liberal Party grew in influence and power.

    • The Liberal Party played a key role in enacting policies for a national education system and public health benefits during the 19th century.

  • In Germany:

    • The Social Democratic Party (SPD) was built on Marxist principles of class struggle and sought to improve the lives of the working class.

    • Within the SPD, there were factions:

      • One faction believed in the inevitability of a violent revolution to address class struggle.

      • Another faction believed that class struggle could be alleviated through social reforms and achieved modest gains, such as improving standards of living and working conditions.

Role of Labor Unions

Labor Unions and Social Reform:

• During this time, workers also began organizing themselves into labor unions to promote social and economic reforms. These unions became a powerful force for change and, in some cases, evolved into political parties.
  Example:

  • In England:

    • After 1870, labor unions gained the right to strike, which significantly strengthened their ability to advocate for workers' rights.

    • Key strikes included:

      • 1888: Female workers organized a strike in the match industry.

      • 1889: London Dock Workers went on strike.

    • By the time of World War I, three to four million workers in England had organized into labor unions, which became one of the primary ways workers pushed for reforms to wages and working conditions.

Labor Unions and Political Parties:

• Labor unions also played a crucial role in the formation of political parties:
  Example:

  • In Germany:

    • Before becoming a political party, the Social Democratic Party was initially two independent labor unions:

      • The General German Workers' Association.

      • The Social Democratic Workers' Party.

    • These unions eventually merged to form the SPD, which focused on advocating for the rights of the working class.

Women's Rights Movement in the 19th and Early 20th Centuries

Context:

• Throughout the 19th century, women became increasingly involved in broader reform movements, which led them to question their roles in society and push for their own legal, economic, and political rights.

Key Figures and Movements:

• Barbara Smith Bodichon (England):

  • Led a group of women known as the Ladies of Langham Place.

  • This group worked to extend voting rights to women and advocated for women's rights to property independent of their husbands.

• Flora Tristan (France):

  • A utopian socialist who advocated for women's equality in France.

  • Although her ideas were considered impractical at the time and remained on the margins of society, she laid the groundwork for future women's rights movements.

Women's Social and Political Union (Britain):

• Building on the earlier work of reformers like Tristan, the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) emerged in Britain in the early 20th century.

• Founded by the Pankhurst family, the WSPU organized rallies and protests advocating for women's equality, particularly the right to vote.

• Significant Rally:

  • In 1908, a major rally for women's suffrage was held in London's Hyde Park.

  • The police responded with violence, attacking demonstrators and jailing many participants. Despite this, the Pankhursts continued to fight for women's suffrage.

Impact and Legislative Gains:

• The persistent efforts of the WSPU and other women's rights advocates eventually pressured Britain's Liberal Party to include women's suffrage in their platform.

• As a result, in 1918, the British Parliament passed legislation granting the right to vote to:

  • Men over the age of 21.

  • Women over the age of 30.

Religious Reform Movements in the 19th Century

Sunday School Movement:

• Objective: The Sunday School movement aimed to provide basic education—reading, writing, and arithmetic—to working-class children, many of whom had limited access to formal education.

• Role of Women: Women played a significant role in teaching within this movement, contributing to its widespread success.

• Impact: The movement not only educated children but also helped to increase literacy among adults, who often learned alongside their children, leading to a more literate and empowered society.

Abolitionist Movement:

• Objective: The Abolitionist Movement sought to ban slavery and was particularly successful in England.

• Key Figure: William Wilberforce was a prominent leader in the British abolitionist movement, whose efforts were instrumental in the success of the cause.

• Impact: By 1838, slavery was abolished across the British Empire, marking a significant victory for the movement.