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Clemenceau the Vampire

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This source is of great value to a historian studying the Treaty of Versailles, as it gives an insight into how everyday Germans felt about the treaty’s implementation. In particular, Germany’s attitude towards the allies is clearly shown, as President Clemenceau is portrayed in the foreground as a vampire, leeching off an already-defeated Germany. Furthermore, the United Kingdom and United States are also visible in the background, portrayed as bats, looking on, without lending Germany a hand. While this may not be entirely accurate - both the UK and US did, after all, argue against the French being given so much German territory - it gives historians an insight into how oppressed Germans felt at that time. The source is also of use to a historian wanting to gain an understanding of the other side of things - the state of Germany, from the perspective of its people. This is a particularly poignant aspect of the source, which portrays Germany as a dying woman, too weak or feeb...
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Political Participation

Ever since the Great Reform Act of 1832, the franchise in Britain has been extending. This is a great thing, as widespread political participation is vital for a healthy democracy. However, the reality is that certain groups of people participate more than others, meaning they weld a lot more influence over the government. This in turn calls into question the legitimacy of a government, and how representative it truly is of the public at large. Firstly, older people are more likely to vote than younger people are. This may be because young people feel there is nothing on offer for them, or perhaps because they lack faith in the political system. Whatever the reason, though, the result is that politicians of all persuasions tend to gear their programmes towards the elderly, with policies such as the ‘triple-lock’ and Winter Fuel Allowance. Meanwhile, young people are often ignored, as politicians feel their vote is not important enough to fight for. That said, there has bee...
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The Defeat of Parliamentary Reforms

There are many reasons why parliamentary reforms were thwarted in the 1780s. Firstly, political self-interest had a big part to play. The status quo, such as it was, ensured predominantly Tory landowners continued to hold power over ‘ rotten ’  boroughs. Disenfranchising them would put a big dent in the power landowners, and the Tories, had over the Commons. It is also true to say that the King would have seen his power diminish if these reforms were passed, as he had control over about 30 MPs, under the existing system. As he was uniquely positioned to reward his supporters with titles and ranks, passing any legislation without the monarch’s support would’ve been difficult. There were also some landowning Tories who genuinely believed the lower classes didn’t have the skills or experiences required to influence policy. They argued that the upper class could represent the interests of society without the need for reform, and defended ‘rotten’ boroughs as a means for young p...
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