How Citizens' Rights have Changed (AQA GCSE Citizenship Studies): Revision Note

From Magna Carta to today

• In 1215 the Magna Carta laid the foundations of basic legal rights, including

  • The right to a fair trial

  • The right to a trial by jury

  • Protection from unlawful arrest

• After the establishment of Parliament, voting rights were extremely restricted for centuries

  • Only wealthy, male property owners could vote, meaning most men, all women, and the poor had no political voice

• In the early 19th century religious, political and economic rights expanded

  • Roman Catholic men gained the vote in 1829, and there were major reforms to who could vote and how Parliament was represented

  • Workers gained the right to form and join trade unions, highlighted by the Tolpuddle Martyrs case

• In the 20th century political and welfare rights developed

  • In 1918 women aged 28 and over gained the right to votes for women

  • Equal voting rights for men and women at 21 came in 1928

  • The voting age was lowered to 18 in 1971

  • Citizens expected the state to provide services like education, healthcare, pensions and unemployment benefits

• In the late 20th–21st century personal and equality rights expanded, including

  • Equal pay

  • Equal opportunities

  • LGBTQ+ rights

  • Civil partnerships and same-sex marriage

  • The Human Rights Act (1988) (HRA) outlined the relationship of the state to the individual and the rights of the individual in law

    • These rights were further developed through the Equality Act (2010)

• In the present day there are growing demands for

  • Rights linked to global and environmental issues, reflecting modern challenges such as climate change

  • Lowering the voting age to 16

  • Improved human rights