754-762

            While much of continental Europe suffered from revolutions in 1848, Great Britain again managed to escape the grasp of revolution and, since Great Britain was not entangled in revolutionary chaos, continued its social and political progress. The government continued to be responsive to the complaints of the public, as demonstrated by the 1867 Reform Bill. Many workers had felt as if their limited and indirect representation in state was unjustified and, instead of further repressing and controlling these workers, Parliament granted these workers the representation that they desired. While the passing of the 1867 Reform Bill (which was ironically driven by Conservative Benjamin Disraeli) was undoubtedly an accomplishment for liberalism, it also called to question the role of women within the British society and whether women should be included in the social changes that Britain was undergoing. While this question was publicized by John Stuart Mill, who defended women’s rights to freedom in his literature, it was overlooked or somewhat pushed to the side. While Great Britain had been so quick to mold to cease the complaints of the workers, women did not gain basic liberties until World War 1, which reveals a contradiction within liberalism and calls to question the true value of women with British society.