I’m skeptical there’d still be this restricted a franchise by the 60s, though; I’d buy a more paternalistic society but Britain did get involved with continental war eventually (at least the second) and universal suffrage seems to have been an aim in the Newcastle Programme and other Radical pushes as early as the 1890s. I think it’d have passed eventually even if not as early
The Empire Parnell Built
- Thread starter Rattigan
- Start date
I think you're, on balance, probably right but a few things in defence:
- Britain certainly did get involved in the Nine Years War but in a more limited way that was not quite the nationalised, society-consuming conflict of OTL.
- The POD here is successful Irish Home Rule in 1886, meaning that the Whig aristocracy haven't split off but stayed in the Liberal party and (arguably) dominated it ever since. Indeed, the party that splits off were the Radicals. While they certainly did support universal suffrage at the beginning, they eventually dropped it as the demand for it amongst the (voting) public never quite materialised. There certainly are people within the party who do advocate for it even now but as things are the franchise has been more or less the same (with periodic adjustments for property price inflation etc.) and the question is considered a mostly settled issue.
Fair enough. I suppose it depends too what the suffrage movement overseas looks like, too. Universal manhood suffrage was effectively a fait accompli in the US on paper by 1865 after all (emphasize on the “on paper” part of course…)
To be honeest the main issue i can see is Middle class Women securing the franchise. They are the one's likely to be pushing for extensions i would think.
I'm a little surprised that the franchise doesn't also cover everyone paying income tax, regardless of whether they own or lease property.
I got the impression from @Rattigan that thr property qualifications apply equally to men and women but could be wrong
In practice, if you’re in the 15-20% who don’t meet the property qualifications then you probably don’t pay any/much income tax.
Property qualifications apply equally to men and women since the 1920s. To clarify the qualifications slightly: you have to own or rent property of a certain value or be married (or, later on, in a civil partnership with) to someone who does.
Yes but applied without caveat that could impact very negatively on Women's right to vote....
Yeah, absolutely. A major aim of the feminist movement in the UK was to change the law so the spouse of someone who qualified to vote was also qualified. Which sounds odd from an OTL perspective but there you go
France: 1966 coup
After a little break for Thanksgiving, normal service will resume from now on. I am going to scale back the updates I do though, and from now on will focus on important changes of government and/or deaths in Asia, Europe and Latin America, rather than doing every election as before. Just to make this process a bit more manageable.
So, as a quick and dirty guide, as of 2021:
- Royal Navy: 11 (2)
- China: 3 (4)
- Russia: 2 (2)
- United States: 2 (1)
- Pasundan: 1 (2)
- Argentina: 1 (1)
- Colombia: 1
- Danubia: 1
- Brazil: 1
*runs off to delete notes for planned course of history for France in Cinco de Mayo*
I kid but I have to say I love what you’re doing with this TL and seeing people I’ve researched used in such interesting ways. France-as-Argentina remains one of my favorite thought exercises I’ve seen gamed out on here
They weren't massive fans, no. But at the time there was enough of an alliance of convenience against the French for the union to be viable. In the longer term, there are rebellions and continuous negotiations regarding regional autonomy.
Interesting that the US has so few; I'd think a strong navy would be seen as key to them defending their shores and their influence in the Americas, and they certainly have the economy for it.