16: Conservative Response to Change

Question 1

When was Peel PM?

Answer 1

1841-1846

Question 2

What condition was government in when Peel became PM?

Answer 2

Economic slump
Deficit left by Whigs
Divided Conservative Party

Question 3

How did Peel reform finance?

Answer 3

Income Tax
Cut tariffs and import duties (1842)
Lowered the Corn Law sliding scale
Abolished duties on cotton
Wrote his own successful budgets

Question 4

What administrative reform did Peel introduce?

Answer 4

Extended the Poor Law Amendment Act
Addressed women and children’s working hours and work underground
Increased the efficiency of the justice system

Question 5

What was Peel’s response to Irish problems?

Answer 5

Proposed to increase an annual grant to a Catholic college
Failed to address most problems
Repealed the Corn Laws after the famine

Question 6

When was the Bank Charter Act and what did it do?

Answer 6

1844
Allowed Bank of England to issue bank notes to the value of it’s gold stores
Introduced cheques

Question 7

What did the Joint Stock Companies Act (1844) achieve?

Answer 7

Any companies with over 25 member had to be on the Companies Register
Had to produce regularly audited balance sheets