Between the Reform Acts - 1832-67 Flashcards
What were the key political issues in the years 1834-46
- Corn laws & taxes on food in the 1840s
- Whig leadership after Grey steps down
- A lack of majority rule in government
- The Poor Law - social policies, poverty, living conditions (welfare)
What is an argument the crown continued to have control over politics
-When Victoria unexpectedly came to power, she liked the wives of the cabinet who were in her wedding chamber, meaning she supported Melbourne’s Tory government
Why did the Whigs lose the 1841 election
- Economic problems:
- unemployment & a trade depression
- led to unrest and the growth of the Chartist movement & the ACLL
- As a result budget deficits grew
- the Whigs were seeming incapable of responding effectively to any of these problems
Why was Peel such a controversial Prime Minister
- In government - controversial policies which were divisive amongst social classes, meaning he lacked support in the house of commons
- In the Tories - Peel believed in free trade whilst the Tories believed in protectionism - so he split his party
Why did the Tories believe in protectionism
Aristocrats are concerned about maximising agriculture profits, protectionism increases exports
Why did Peel fixate on Free Trade
it would stop food insecurity & starvation by fixing economic problems
The Whig Reforms 1834-41
When was the Abolition of slavery in the british Empire
1833
Explain a Whig Reform
The Abolition of slavery in the British Empire 1833
- slavery had already been banned in the UK
- this was a very progressive change, which resulted in growing Whig support
The Whig Reforms 1834-41
When was the government grant for Education
1833
Explain a Whig Reform
The government grant for Education
- not for all children & was only a small amount of money
- however, it was the first step to state education, with the first time govt pays for education
- 40 years later every kid is educated
The Whig Reforms 1834-41
When was the Factory Act
1833
Explain a Whig Reform
The Factory Act 1833
- regulated working conditions, particularly for women & children
- did this by regulating working hours and ages
- HOWEVER, 7 year olds could still work so despite the progression made, campaigners were not satisfied
The Whig Reforms 1834-41
When was the Poor Law amendment Act
1834
Explain a Whig Reform
The Poor Law amendment Act 1834
- creates 570 workhouses
- the middle class want poor aid tax reduced, as they think people are abusing the system
- so to obtain the newly enfranchised middle classes
- they made the workhouse very undesirable as a place for the poorest
The Whig Reforms 1834-41
When was the Municipal Corporations Act
1835
Explain a Whig Reform
The Municipal Corporations Act 1835
Creates town councils - gives power to the lower middle class people, through more things they can vote for and stand for at local level
The Whig Reforms 1834-41
When was the Civil Registration Act
1836
Explain a Whig Reform
Civil Registration Act 1836
-implemented birth, marriage & death certificates which helps to monitor populations
How could the Whig reforms be connected to the 1832 Reform Act, to argue that political power (the franchise) was the means of securing beneficial social & political advantage?
- the acts aim to satisfy the middle classes needs, benefitting their quality of life, by asserting more control
- when you get the vote, you get policies that benefit you