16. The Conservative Response to Change

Question 1

What year in the 1840’s did Peel become Prime Minister again?`

Answer 1

1841

Question 2

When was peacetime income tax introduced?

Answer 2

1842

Question 3

When was the Mines Act passed?

Answer 3

1842

Question 4

When was the Devon Commission?

Answer 4

1843

Question 5

When was the Factory Act passed under Peel?

Answer 5

1844

Question 6

When was the Bank Charter Act passed?

Answer 6

1844

Question 7

When was the Joint Stock Companies Act passed?

Answer 7

1844

Question 8

When was free trade increased by abolishing duties on raw materials?

Answer 8

1845

Question 9

When was the Maynooth Grant increased?

Answer 9

1845

Question 10

When was the start of the Irish famine?

Answer 10

1845

Question 11

When was the Repeal of the Corn Laws?

Answer 11

1846

Question 12

How big was the Conservative majority in the 1841 general election?

Answer 12

76 seats

Question 13

What huge problem did the Conservative ministry of 1841 face?

Answer 13

A huge deficit left by the previous Whig government

Question 14

Who made up Peel’s Cabinet?

Answer 14

William Gladstone, Lord Stanley, Lord Aberdeen, James Graham, the Duke of Buckingham

Question 15

What rate was income tax when it was introduced by Peel in 1842?

Answer 15

Earning over £150 year year- 7p per £1

Question 16

Why was this a fair way of introducing income tax

Answer 16

It was a small percentage (3%) and excluded the working class and those who couldn’t afford to pay

Question 17

How much did Peel estimate that income tax would raise?

Answer 17

£4 million

Question 18

How much was the deficit by 1841?

Answer 18

£2.5 million

Question 19

What percentage of government income was due to income tax by 1845?

Answer 19

10%

Question 20

How did Peel boost free trade?

Answer 20

He reduced duties on imported sugar, and abolished duties on raw cotton and other raw materials

Question 21

What percentage of duties remained after the 1845 budget?

Answer 21

10%

Question 22

What was putting pressure on Peel’s Conservative Government?

Answer 22

The Chartists, misery and hardship caused by the economic slump, poor harvests and falling export markets

Question 23

When was Chadwick’s report on Sanitary Conditions of the Labouring Classes

Answer 23

1842

Question 24

When did Graham try to introduce compulsory education for two hours a day for factory children, and why was it rejected?

Answer 24

1843- There were arguments from MPs and groups that it was (traditionally) up to the Church to provide education

Question 25

How did Peel think he could gain the support of the Catholic Church in Ireland

Answer 25

By increasing the annual grant to Maynooth (Catholic college where Priests received their training)