The leap in the dark: Britain, reform and democracy in the 19th century

Britain's three Reform Acts of the 19th century have commonly been depicted as stepping stones to democracy: connected and progressive moves by Parliament inspired by a broad commitment to the democratisation of the system. The truth, however, is quite different. Not only were these acts not part of one coherent process, they were also neither initiated by, nor intended for, democrats. Each act had far more to do with resisting modernity than it did with embracing it. This course will rewrite the familiar narrative from fiction to fact, and explore and explain what really helped shape this complicated age of change.

Aims of the course

This course aims to:
1. Provide a solid account of the period and events in question.
2. Correct various common misconceptions relating to the intentions of those involved and the connections between the main occurrences.
3. Relate the debates of that time to some of the political issues of today.

Content

Britain's three Reform Acts of the 19th century (1832, 1867 and 1884) have commonly been depicted as stepping stones to democracy: connected and progressive moves by Parliament inspired by a broad commitment to the democratisation of the system. The truth, however, is quite different. Not only were these acts not part of one coherent process, they were also neither initiated by, nor intended for, democrats. Each act had far more to do with resisting modernity than it did with embracing it. This course will thus rewrite the familiar narrative from fiction to fact, and explore and explain what really helped shape this complicated age of change.

Presentation of the course

The lectures will feature PowerPoint presentations, with illustrations and date relating to the key details of each topic. Each lecture will focus on a particular phase in the period, but will also combine with the others to provide an account of the process as a whole.

Class sessions

1. Before Reform
2. The Reform Act of 1832
3. The Reform Act of 1867
4. The Reform Act of 1884
5. After Reform

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes for this course are:
1. A knowledge of the historical, intellectual and political context in which Britain’s electoral system was modernised. 
2. An appreciation of the controversies relating to the subsequent interpretation and representation of this process.
3. An awareness of the continuing critical issues relating to the legacy of these reforms.

Required reading

There is no required reading for this course.

Typical week: Monday to Friday

Courses run from Monday to Friday. For each week of study, you select a morning (Am) course and an afternoon (Pm) course. The maximum class size is 25 students. 

Courses are complemented by a series of daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to the learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events.

Evaluation and Academic Credit 

If you are seeking to enhance your own study experience, or earn academic credit from your Cambridge Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit written work for assessment for one or more of your courses. 

Essay questions are set and assessed against the University of Cambridge standard by your Course Director, a list of essay questions can be found in the Course Materials. Essays are submitted two weeks after the end of each course, so those studying for multiple weeks need to plan their time accordingly. There is an evaluation fee of £75 per essay.

For more information about writing essays see Evaluation and Academic Credit.

Certificate of attendance

A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically after the programme.