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Why were cadre parties dominated by wealthy and politically influential people in the 19th century?

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A large crowd of Rwandan Patriotic Front supporters holds up red, white, and blue FPR flags and campaign posters at a political rally in Kayonza, Eastern Province. — political party Rwandan Patriotic Front political rally in Kayonza, Rwanda, August 2010.

In the 19th century, cadre parties were dominated by wealthy and politically influential individuals primarily because suffrage was largely restricted to taxpayers and property owners. During this era, political influence was effectively limited to a very small segment of the population, while the majority of people were relegated to the role of spectators rather than active participants.1

This structure reflected the interests of the aristocracy and the bourgeoisie, who held power through electoral and parliamentary activity. Because many 19th-century politicians feared popular sovereignty—worrying that a wide franchise would undermine private property—they maintained property qualifications for voting. Consequently, these parties were composed of local notables who utilized their resources to secure moral and financial backing for candidates, ensuring that political control remained within the hands of the elite.12