Question

Despite the stronger Parliament by the 1750s, why did the British not have a true democracy?

A. The monarchy retained significant power.
B. The aristocracy controlled the government.
C. The voting rights were restricted.
D. Political parties were not established.

Answer 1

The British did not have a true democracy by the 1750s because voting rights were restricted, political power was held by the aristocracy, and the representation in Parliament did not accurately reflect the population.

Step-by-step explanation:

Despite the stronger Parliament by the 1750s, the British did not have a true democracy because voting rights were restricted. Even though the House of Commons was comprised of elected members, less than 5% of the population had the right to vote, and those with political privileges were predominantly wealthy nobles, squires, or country landowners. The House of Lords, consisting mainly of hereditary nobles and high-ranking clergy, had veto power over any bill passed by the House of Commons, hindering the full democratization of British politics.

Additionally, the existence of 'rotten boroughs,' electoral districts with few or no inhabitants controlled by lords, and outdated electoral districts not representative of the population's distribution contributed to the lack of a democratic system. Thus, while having characteristics of a constitutional monarchy with a parliament and political parties, the British system was far from a true democracy due to significant limitations on who could participate in the electoral process and how representation was determined.

Answer 2

The British did not have a true democracy because the voting rights were restricted.

The correct option is C.

Step-by-step explanation:

Despite the growing influence and power of the Parliament in the 1750s, Britain did not have a true democracy primarily because voting rights were restricted. During this period, suffrage was limited to a small portion of the population, primarily wealthy landowners and property-owning men.

The majority of people, including women and those without property, were excluded from participating in the electoral process. This restriction on voting rights prevented the country from being a full democracy as a significant portion of the population did not have the right to vote or participate in the political decision-making process.

So, the correct option is C.