1.24 The growth of universal suffrage in UK

\[**1265**\]

Parliament established. It contains 2 chambers. One is ‘the Lords’ - unelected aristocrats. The other is ‘the Commons’. These Members of Parliament (MPs) are smaller landowners and are elected only by male landowners.

\[**1832**\]

Great Reform Act. Before this time only landowners could vote for MPs to sit in the House of Commons. This meant 1 in 7 men could vote. (440,000 people) After 1832 the male urban middle classes gain the vote, and so the electorate increases to 1 in 5 men (650,000 people). (…)