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Britain was not a democracy; aristocrats dominated it. It had a constitutional monarchy that had many limits on the powers of the king and state. Landed aristocrats controlled both the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The majority of the middle and working class could not vote. Many towns continued to be governed by corrupt groups. New industrial towns were not allowed to elect representatives to Parliament. Younger sons of aristocrats had to …

…in political programs and turned to economic activity. Since England avoided revolution, British politicians believed that it was because they made timely reforms in the 1830s and 1840s. That belief became a force in political life. Political leaders say that the remedy to prevent revolution is reforms. The political experience in the first half of the nineteenth century laid the basis for British parliamentary practices, which became the model of liberal, progressive, and stable politics.