This four-volume collection presents a range of documents related to aspects of the constitutional history of the United Kingdom (UK), covering the ‘long’ nineteenth century. It examines material dating from the period of the American and French revolutions through to the advent of an equal franchise for men and women.
During the long nineteenth century, the country passed through immense socio-economic changes. It underwent internal strains involving its multinational composition. It became the dominant global power, then saw that position become subject to various challenges. These tendencies helped generate sustained and wide-ranging controversy about how the country should govern itself. They also helped produce a series of important changes in the nature of the constitution. At the outset of the long nineteenth century, only a tiny proportion of the population were allowed to vote; and an hereditary monarch remained an active political figure. By the end, democratic ideas and practices had achieved ascendancy. Yet in other ways, the constitution retained some long-established characteristics.
The purpose of these volumes is to support research into and understanding of these tendencies. They will enable readers to approach concepts such as democracy and constitutional change from a critical standpoint, evaluating existing interpretations and encouraging the consideration of possible different conclusions. The collection will encourage consideration of matters such as paths that were not taken, what resistance there was to change, how particular outcomes came about, and the compromises involved. It will also facilitate comparison between constitutional ideals and realities.
Documents on the Nineteenth Century United Kingdom Constitution
Edited by Andrew Blick
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, ‘Women’s 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, ‘Woman’s 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 One’s Own’
Index
Volume II: People, Parties and Politicians
General Introduction
Volume 2 Introduction
Part 1. Perspectives
1. Mary Woolstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
2. Lord Byron, ‘Framework Bill’
3. Alfred Tennyson, ‘You Ask Me Why, Tho’ Ill at East’
4. Karl Marx, ‘The British Constitution’
5. Benjamin Disraeli, speech at Crystal Palace, 24 June 1872
6. William Morris, ‘Concerning Government’
7. J. A. Hobson, ‘The Crisis of Liberalism: New Issues of Democracy’
Part 2. Campaigns and groups
8. Society for Constitutional Information
9. The London Corresponding Society’s Regulations
10. Percy Bysshe Shelley, ‘Masque of Anarchy’,
11. Thomas Duncombe, ‘The People’s Charter – Petition’
12. Address of the Committee to the People of England, Administrative Reform Association
13. Charles Watts, ‘Secularism in its Various Relations’
14. Christabel Pankhurst, ‘The Militant Methods of the NWSPU’
15. Chrystal Macmillan, ‘The Struggle for Political Liberty’
Part 3. Representation
16. Admission of Baron de Rothschild
17. Sir Mancherjee Bhownaggree, ‘Indian Taxation’
18. Viscountess (Nancy) Astor, ‘Liquor Traffic (Restrictions)’
19. Margaret Wintringham, ‘Royal Parks and Pleasure Gardens’
20. Shapurji Saklatvala, ‘Debate on the Address’
21. Margaret Bondfield, ‘Debate on the Address’
22. Eleanor Rathbone, ‘Housing (Revision of Contributions) Bill’
23. Marion Phillips, ‘Annual Holiday Bill’
Part 4. Rights and freedoms
24. Charles James Fox, ‘Religious Liberty’,
25. A Habeas Corpus Suspension Act, 1794
26. The Case of Wolf Tone,
27. Combination Act 1800
28. Richard Sheridan, ‘Standing Order for the Exclusion of Strangers’
29. Sir Samuel Romilly, ‘Habeas Corpus Suspension Bill’
30. Repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts 1828
31. Roman Catholic Emancipation Act, 1829
32. Edward Lytton Bulwer, ‘Newspaper Stamp Duties’
33. Charles Bradlaugh, ‘Public Meetings in the Metropolis’
34. (Industrial action) Taff Vale Case, decision of Mr. Justice Farewell
35. Aliens Act, 1905
36. Lord Loreburn, ‘Trade Disputes Bill’
37. Cinematograph Act, 1909
38. Official Secrets Act, 1911
39. Defence of the Realm Act, 1914
40. Emergency Powers Act, 1920
41. Report of the Broadcasting Committee
42. Ellen Wilkinson, ‘Trade Disputes and Trade Unions Bill’
Index
Volume III: Institutions
General Introduction
Volume 3 Introduction
Part 1. Monarchs and Administrations
1. Samuel Romilly, ‘Change of Administration’
2. Lord Erskine, ‘Change of Administration’
3. Robert Peel, ‘The Address’
4. Lord John Russell, ‘Address in Answer to the Speech’
5. Walter Bagehot, ‘The English Constitution’
6. Austin Holyoake, ‘Would a Republican Form of Government Be Suitable to England?’
7. Lord Curzon, ‘Parliament Bill – Vote of Censure’
Part 2. The Prime Minister
8. Lord Melville to Mr. Addington
9. Sir Robert Peel, Lord Rosebery
10. Sidney Low, ‘The Governance of England’
11. The Prime Minister’s Precedence, J.S. (‘Jack) Sandars to Lord Knollys
12. Chequers Estate Act, 1917
Part 3. Cabinet
13. George Canning to Lord Malmesbury
14. Lord Castlereagh, ‘Lord Ellenborough’s Seat in the Cabinet’
15. Walter Bagehot, ‘The English Constitution’
16. Minutes of a Meeting of the War Cabinet
17. Draft Rules of Procedure for the War Cabinet
Part 4. Administrations and Mandates
18. Benjamin Disraeli, ‘Commercial Policy’
19. Sir Robert Peel, ‘Resignation of the Ministry’
20. William Gladstone, ‘Defeat of the Government on the Irish Church Resolutions’
21. Marquess of Hartington, ‘Government of Ireland Bill’
Part 5. Civil Service and Machinery of Government
22. Report on the Organisation of the Permanent Civil Service
23. Charles Dickens, Little Dorrit
24. Anthony Trollope, An Autobiography
25. Report of the Machinery of Government Committee (‘Haldane’ report), 1918
26. Subcommittee Appointed to Consider the Position after the War of Women Holding Temporary Appointments in Government Departments
Part 6. Parliament
6. 1 General
27. Edmund Burke, ‘Economical Reform’
28. Sir Robert Peel, ‘Resignation of Ministers’
29. Sir Robert Peel, ‘Confidence in the Ministry’
30. Earl of Rosebery, ‘Motion for a Select Committee (House of Lords Reform)’
31. A. V. Dicey, Law of the Constitution (the Sovereignty of Parliament)
32. A. J. Balfour, ‘New Procedure Rules (for the House of Commons)’
33. Earl of Clarendon, ‘House of Lords Reform’
6.2 Commons-Lords Relations
34. Earl Grey, ‘Ministerial Arrangements’
35. Lord Chelmsford, ‘Paper Duty Repeal Bill’
36. Lord Salisbury, ‘Irish Church Bill’
37. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, ‘Education (England and Wales) Bill’
38. Herbert Henry Asquith, ‘Parliament Bill’
39. Ramsey MacDonald, ‘Parliament Bill’
40. Parliament Act, 1911
Part 7. Local Government
41. Municipal Corporations Act, 1835
42. Lydia Becker, ‘The Rights and Duties of Women in Local Government’
43. Local Government Act, 1888
44. London Government Act, 1899
Part 8. The Courts and the Legal System
45. Judicial Committee Act, 1833
46. County Courts Act, 1846
47. Appellate Jurisdiction Act, 1876
48. Supreme Court of Judicature Act, 1873
Index
Volume IV: Nations and Empire
General Introduction
Volume 4 Introduction
Part 1. Independence, Revolution and War
1. American Declaration of Independence
2. Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France
3. Mary Woolstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Men
4. Thomas Paine, The Rights of Man, Part One
5. Hannah More, Village Politics
Part 2. Imperial and External Policy
6. Olaudah Equiano, Equiano’s Travels
7. An Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade
8. Te Tiriti O Waitangi/The Treaty of Waitangi
9. Sir William Molesworth, ‘The Australian Colonies’
10. William Gladstone, ‘New Zealand Government Bill’
11. Report on the Indian Civil Service
12. Government of India Act, 1858
13. Colonial Laws Validity Act, 1865
14. John Seeley, ‘The United States of Europe’
15. Henry Richard, ‘National Engagements’
16. Report of the Special Committee of the League, Imperial Federation
17. Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act, 1900
18. Peace of Vereeniging
19. Arthur Ponsonby, ‘Parliament and Foreign Policy’
20. Mahatma Gandhi, statement at trial Ahmadabad
Part 3. Nations and Union
21. An Act for the Union with Ireland, 1800
22. An Act for Restoring Order in Ireland, 1803
23. Daniel O’Connell, speech at Mullaghmast, 1 October 1843
24. Isaac Butt, ‘Home Government for Ireland: Irish Federalism! Its Meaning, Its Objects and Its Hopes’
25. Secretary for Scotland Act, 1885
26. W. E. Gladstone, ‘Government of Ireland Bill’
27. Thomas Waring, ‘Government of Ireland Bill’
28. Charles Parnell, ‘Government of Ireland Bill’
29. Joseph Chamberlain, ‘Government of Ireland Bill’
30. W. Mitchell, ‘Home Rule for Scotland’
31. W. Llewelyn Williams, ‘Cymru Fydd: Its Aims and Objects’
32. James Joyce, ‘The Death of Parnell’
33. Government of Ireland Act, 1914
34. Welsh Church Act, 1914
35. 1916 Proclamation (of the Provisional Government of the Irish Republic)
36. Major Edward Wood, ‘Creation of Subordinate Legislatures’
37. Government of Ireland Act, 1920
38. Anglo Irish Treaty, Articles of Agreement
Index
Biography
Professor Andrew Blick is Head of the Department of Political Economy and Professor of Politics and Contemporary History at Kings College London, UK.
