Our September 2013 meeting
The 1884 Reform Act — Mark Nixon
Mark Nixon gave an interesting talk on the 1884 Reform Act — a time in history largely forgotten by the writers of history (probably because it was a successful protest). Until that time only a very few men had been given the vote and of course, no women until about forty years later. Thousands of people turned out to march and thousands more lined the streets to watch. It showed that at a time when European Politics were in turmoil the Conservative House of Lords were out of touch with the working man and opposed them getting the vote.
The marches, held in towns and cities thought the United Kingdom, were encouraged by William Gladstone, a Liberal MP and the rest of the Liberal Party.
Many of the banners carried by the protestors showed Gladstone’s image and some of these can still be seen in various museums.
