11 - Peel's Ministry 1841-46 Flashcards
When was the report of the Royal Commission on Children in the Mines appear?
1842
Where did Peel receive his degree from?
Christ Church, Oxford
When was income tax introduced?
Budget of 1842
What was the rate of income tax?
7p per pound on those earning £150+
What was the estimated yearly revenue of income tax?
£3-£4million
How much did income tax raise in reality per year?
£5million
Who opposed income tax?
Graham, Stanley, Goulburn was unenthusiastic
What were the aims of tariff reductions?
Stimulate economy - ease social tension
How did 113 conservative backbenchers show their resentment for tariff reduction?
Voted for Miles’ resolution opposing cattle duties
What did Peel say he wanted to make the country?
‘a cheap place to live in’
What did the Corn Law modifications do?
Refined their operation and reduced duties on the sliding scale
What did Peel say about changed to the Corn Laws?
The act’s provisions were ‘in conformity with my own conviction’
Why were the Corn Law changes opposed?
They evaded rather than confronted problems raised by Corn Laws
When was the Mines Act introduced?
1842
What did the Mines Act propose?
Children under 10 and women to be forbidden from working underground
What was problematic about the Mines Act?
Exclusion age lowered from 13 to 10, opposed by Wellington and Wharncliffe at instruction of (landowner) Londonderry
What was the outcome of the Mines Act?
Women and childreeeen under 10 forbiden from working underground
What did the first Factory Bill propose?
Part time education for factory children
Why was the first bill abandonned?
Non-conformist storm
What did the second Factory Bill propose?
6 hour shifts for children and 12 hour shifts for women
What did the third Bill propose?
12 hour working day for women and youth, ‘half time’ for children
What angered Ashley about the Second and Third Bill?
12 hour working day - wanted 10
When was the Factory Act passed?
June 1844
What did Peel and Graham threaten to do if the Bill wasn’t passed?
Threatened resignation
When was the Railway Act introduced?
1844
What did the Railway Act seek to do?
Regulate activities of railway companies, make sure that each company had a train that stopped at each station - ‘Parliamentary Train’
When was the Bank Charter Act introduced?
1844
What did the Bank Charter Act mean?
No new banks could issue notes, existing banks limited in issuing them, Bank of England in control of banknote reserve
When was the Companies Act introduced?
1844
What did the Companies Act mean?
Companies should be registered, producing annual accounts.
When was the Devon Commission?
1843
What was the Decon Commission?
An attempt to improve relations with Irish Catholics
What ddddid the Devon Commission say?
Recommended compensation for tennants
What were the results of the Devon Commission?
Bill defeated in Lords, Peel failed
When was Heytesbury appointed and who was he?
July 1844 - based at Dublin Castle, responsible for Poor Law, Board of Works and Irish Railways
When was the Irish/Provincial Colleges Bill?
1844
Where were the three Queen’s Colleges set up?
Belfast, Cork and Galway
What did Peel say that education was crucial for?
For the ‘improved understanding’ between Catholics and Protestants
What were the Colleges in Ireland labelled?
‘Godless colleges’
What were the results of the Irish Colleges Bill?
Provided wider and cheaper education in Ireland, however undermined by self interest and bigotry
When was the Maynooth Grant introduced
1845
What did Peel want to do with the Maynooth Grant?
Increase 20k to 30k plus £30k immediate priests grant
When was the Maynooth Grant voted through Commons?
In it’s third reading in 1845, just 149 for and 148 against
Who resigned over the Maynooth Grant?
Gladstone
When was the Irish Famine?
1845-49
What did Peel say was needed to help Ireland?
Necessary to ‘remove all impediments to the import of human food’ - a total repeal of tax on food
What were the results of the Irish Famine?
1 million dead and half a million emigrated
When did Peel tell the cabinet that the Corn Laws must be replaced?
November 1845 - it was the only way to get cheap foot to Ireland
Why was there opposition to the repeal of the Corn Laws?
Would cause an influx of cheap foreign wheat which would ruin British agriculture, in 1841 Peel promised to keep Corn Laws, Peel was heavily influenced by anti-Corn Law League
When and why was Peel forced to resign?
December 1845, due to major opposition
Why was Peel recalled?
As Russell couldn’t form a new ministry
When was the new Repeal Bill introduced?
1846
Where did Peel’s support lie?
2/3 of Conservatives against him, however Whig/Peelite majority allowed the Bill through
How long did the debate on the Bill last and when did it become law?
5 months, became law in June 1846
What were the consequences of the Corn Law crisis?
Repeal paved the way for a 30 year economic boom
