Politicians

The voting system changed considerably during the Victorian period. At the beginning of Victoria’s reign the right to vote depended on how much land you owned. An act of 1884 gave the vote to all men over twenty-one, (although women still could not vote). This meant that what poorer people wanted became more important in politics. In 1893 an Independent Labour party was founded. Until 1858 only people who possessed a certain amount of property could become Members of Parliament. William Gladstone (1809-1898) was Prime Minister four times between 1868 and 1894. Other political leaders included Peel, Palmerston, Disraeli and Salisbury.