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Britain Edexcel History A Level > breadth 2: changing influences in parliament > Flashcards

breadth 2: changing influences in parliament Flashcards

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1
Q

what was a pocket borough

A

a constituency essentially controlled by the crown or an aristocratic patron

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2
Q

example of very few general elections being held c1780

A

1701 - 1831: only 29 general elections

Some small boroughs in Lancashire and Cornwall had no elections, patron either stood himself or selected an MP

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3
Q

examples of rotten boroughs being bought/sold

A

Gatton
1801 sold for £90,000
1830 sold for £180,000 (£9 mil today)

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4
Q

selling votes

A

pocket boroughs

voters could seek to sell their votes for £10 each (£500 today)

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5
Q

how did aristocracy influence legislation

A

unelected house of lords could influence or even block laws being passed

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6
Q

example of landlord losing election in pocket boroughs

A

1830

Lord Penrhyn spent £30,000 bribing electors in Liverpool and still lost

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7
Q

extend of crown influence c1780

A

Exercised influence in parliament by the appointment of governmental ministers.
After elections it was monarch’s job to appoint political they wanted to be PM, this did not have to be from the party with the most seats

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8
Q

extent of aristocratic influence c1780

A

many constituencies controlled by crown or aristocratic patron
open voting system, limited franchise, and lack of legislation to prevent bribery meant there was intense pressure to support local patron
Strong influence in House of Commons, although they are not lords they are usually sons/direct relatives of lords.
House of Lords is unelected and has lots of influence

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9
Q 
George III (1760-1820)
Influence in politics as monarch
A
  • selected prime minister
  • influenced parliament through patronage by promising them in return for political support –> 1776 7 of 10 recommended peerages were for MPs who had previously made promises to him
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10
Q

cause for 1780 ‘Economical Reform’

A

growing concern over how the King was able to influence government through patronage.
Exemplified by governments failure in American War of Independence, rising costs had been funded by increasing taxes.
Politicians pointed out that contracts for military supplies had been given to friends and families of MPs to win support for the government.

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11
Q

when was the American War for Independence

A

1775 - 1783

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12
Q

‘Economical Reform’

A

1780
‘the power of the Crown has been increased, and it ought to be diminished’
Motion limited the number of offices that could be awarded by the monarch.
‘Economical’ as it would reduce government costs

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13
Q

who was the ‘Economical Reform’ 1780 an attack on

A

stated as: reduction in government costs
seen as: attack on unpopular government of Lord North
actual: attack on the Crown (George II)

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14
Q

examples of the crown still having power after 1780 economical reform

A

1782: alliance between Lord North and radical Charles James Fox formed. King George III refused to support with patronage (weakened their government) and later dismissed them
1783: George III appointed William Pitt the younger as PM (1783 - 1801)

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15
Q

when was William Pitt the younger prime minister

A

1783 - 1801
Appointed by George III in 1783
Won majority in 1784 general election (supported by his cabinet)

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16
Q

effects of George III appointing William Pitt the younger as PM in 1783

A

Pitt had a small following of MPs, majority supported North and Fox.
Had to build coalitions by compromise and negation, not done by previous PM’s.
Led to rise in cabinet governments (decisions made in discussion of Cabinet Council)
Growth of Pitts cabinet + reduced patronage = Crown less influential in politics

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17
Q

reasons for declining influence of the Crown & Aristocracy after 1801:
reform acts

A

reform acts (dates) extended the franchise progressively to voters in industrial areas, less controlled by aristocracy

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18
Q

reasons for declining influence of the Crown & Aristocracy after 1801:
removing rotten/pocket boroughs

A

process of removing pocket/rotten boroughs & redistributing seats weakened the influence of patrons

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19
Q

reasons for declining influence of the Crown & Aristocracy after 1801:
Crown losing choice of PM

A

1834: William IV removed Melbourne as PM (holds Whig majority) after tensions of 1832 reform act. Attempts to replace with Conservative Robert Peel but this fails
1880: Queen Victoria wants to appoint Lord Harrington as PM but is pressured by Liberals to appoint Gladstone

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20
Q

‘Bedchamber Crisis’

A

1839
Victoria agrees to appoint Peel over minority Tory government, but Peel refused unless the Queen’s companions (mainly Whig wives) were replaced with Tory wives. Victoria refused and instead appointed Melbourne (Whig)

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21
Q

outcome of 1839 ‘Bedchamber Crisis’

A

Independence of monarchy safeguarded.
Showed that the monarchy could not freely appoint minority governments but also that Parliament had a limited influence over the monarch.

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22
Q

reasons for declining influence of the Crown & Aristocracy after 1801:
industrial MPs

A

1885

number of MPs from industrial and commercial backgrounds outnumber those from landowning elite

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23
Q

reasons for declining influence of the Crown & Aristocracy after 1801:
1832 Act

A

Undermined role of aristocracy & crown
Popular pressure was instrumental –> King pressured into creating sufficient new members of HoL to push bill through. Lords forced to back down on bill they had previously rejected twice.
Both HoL and King intimidated by Grey and reformist movement.

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24
Q

examples of popular pressure being used to pass 1832 acts

A

riots in Bristol
march of 100,000 lead by BPU
media pressure from ‘The Times’
threat of a ‘run on banks’ by reformers

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25
Q

reasons for declining influence of the Crown & Aristocracy after 1801:
1872 Act

A

1872 Act reduced power of local aristocratic patrons by introducing secret ballot.
They did not know how their tenants voted so could not make threats against them for not voting for them.

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26
Q

reasons for declining influence of the Crown & Aristocracy after 1801:
1883 Act

A

1883 Act limited how much aristocratic wealth could be spent on elections.
Parties limited to £710 per county constituency, making it accessible for non-aristocratic candidates

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27
Q

example of how much money was spent on elections before 1883 act

A

1880 elections: £2 million spent (£1 billion today)

28
Q

when was the parliament act

A

1911

this was the most important reduction in aristocratic power

29
Q

causes of the parliament act 1911

A

1909: Chancellor of the Exchequer, David Lloyd George, proposed a ‘People’s Budget’ to HoC (essentially a higher income tax for the most wealthy)
Lords rejected bill, leading to 1910 election (close Liberal victory)
New bill proposed to limit ability of HoL to block financial bills.
George V agreed to support both bills as long as a second election was held (close Liberal victory again)

30
Q

why did House of Lords, who normally did not interfere with financial bills, feel that the People’s Budget was an exception

A

Conservative Lords argued this was an attack on the rights of landowners.

31
Q

1911 Parliament Bill

A
  • HoL could only delay a bill for 2 years. Severely weakened their ability to block laws
  • HoL could not delay or amend any financial bills
  • time between general elections reduced from 7 to 5
  • salaries of £400 introduced for MPs, making it accessible to working-class representatives
  • HoL remained unelected and hereditary
32
Q

was the salary of £400 (introduced 1911) for MPs a good one?

A

Yes.
The average industrial worker earned around £250.
This meant a working class man would benefit from quitting his job to become an MP

33
Q

role of political parties before 1832

A

Tories: supporters of the monarch
Whigs: more liberal
Not defined parties but rather loose alliances of politicians through friends, family, and shared voting

34
Q

when did party lines begin to become more distinct

A 
from 1784 (under Pitt the younger)
Differences in views of American War of Independence (1775 - 83) and French Revolutionary Wars (1792 - 1802)
35
Q

When was the French Revolution

A

1789 - 1799

36
Q

When were the French Revolutionary Wars

A

1792 - 1802

37
Q

Impact on political parties:

1832 ‘Great Reform Act’

A

Parties needed to register voters, so became more organised
Now had to contest elections (rather than simply agreeing on an MP or buying a borough)
Tory Carlton Club and Whig Reform Club emerged to administer registration

38
Q

1832 ‘Great Reform Act’ impact on Torys

A

1834: Robert Peel issued first ever manifesto (Tamworth Manifesto)
Promised a reform of abuses but to protect traditional institutions like Church of England
Torys become Conservatives

39
Q

1832 ‘Great Reform Act’ imapct on Whigs

A

1834: Litchfield House Compact

Whigs, Radicals, and Irish MPs agree to work together against Peel’s Conservative government. Unified the Whig party

40
Q

What/when was the Conservative party split

A

1846
Split over issue of abolishing controversial 1815 Corn Laws
Peel wants to repeal. 2/3 of Conservative party rebel and vote against him.

41
Q

what were the Corn Laws

A

1815
Ban on importing cheap corn into Britain to protect economy
Meant poorer people couldn’t afford food

42
Q

effects on 1846 Conservative party split on makeup of political parties

A

1848 - 1859: 3 main groups ‘Peelite’ Conservatives, mainstream Conservatives, and Whigs
1859: Peelites and Whigs form anti-Conservative alliance (the Liberal party)

43
Q

Impact on political parties:

1867 Second representation of the People Act

A
  • increased size of electorate = needs more party organisation. 1867, Conservatives form Conservative Central office. 1877, Liberals form National Liberal Foundation
  • Both parties pay local agents for voter recruitment (had to keep accurate lists and ensure votes show up)
  • parties invest more in newspapers / media
  • Women’s organisations (eg Conservative Primrose League) set up to encourage women to influence husband’s votes
44
Q

Impact on political parties:

1872 Secret Ballot Act

A

Getting out a party message to win votes becomes more importance since patrons no longer know who voters would select

45
Q

Impact on political parties:

1884 Third Representation of the People Act

A

Enfranchisement of working class lead to emergence of Labour Party in 1906

46
Q

Impact on political parties:

1883 Corrupt and Illegal Practices Act

A

Each candidate could only have 1 paid agent & must keep accurate records of expenses.
1910: average spent on each vote 80% lower than 1880
Liberals and Conservatives put more focus on volunteer groups to campaign for votes

47
Q

when did the Conservative party found the Primrose League

A

1883
Women’s league
Held social events

48
Q

Impact on political parties:

1918 Fourth Representation of the People Act

A

Enfranchisement of millions of working class spurred growth of Labour Party.
Labour Party vote shares rose from 7% to 22% in 1918 elections.
Finalised the loss of dominance of the Liberal Party as they had been split between Asquith and Lloyd George (Lloyd George only passed reform act as a coalition with Conservatives)
Strengthened the Conservatives by removing Liberals

49
Q

Growth of MPs from labouring backgrounds after Third Reform Act 1884

A

1874: 2
1885: 13
Nicknamed ‘Lib-Lab’ MPs (liberal labourers)

50
Q

Formation of Independent Labour Party

A

1892: Kier Hardy (ex miner and trade unionist) and 2 other woking class candidates elected as Independent Labour MPs
1893: Independent Labour Party (ILP) formed. A number of ex-Liberal Party MPs joined (become disillusioned with failure to accept working class MPs)

51
Q

how was the ILP viewed

A

viewed: revolutionary socialist movement
actual: practical thinking for reform

52
Q

formation of LRC

A

1900
Labour Representative Committee
Unified over 100 trade unions to connect trade unionism into parliamentary reform

53
Q

Lib-Lab pact

A

1903
Pact between Liberal and Labour Party to avoid splitting opposition vote against Conservatives in 1906 general election.
Liberals agreed not to contest Labour strongpoints, guaranteeing LRC MPs would win seats, and in return the LRC would support a Liberal government.

54
Q

results of 1906 election for LRC

A

LRC 29 candidates

renamed Labour Party

55
Q

ILP working with Labour Party

A

parties worked closely together.
ILP had a strong following, but Labour had stronger links with Trade Unions
This worked until 1924 when Labour formed a government.
Two parties formally separated in 1931

56
Q

when was the first Labour government

A

1924
Ramsey MacDonald
weak minority of 191 seats & lasted less than a year (fake Zinoviev letter)

57
Q

increased wartime trade union membership (helped Labour)

A

1914: 4 million
1918: 6 million

58
Q

social makeup of House of Commons c.1780

A

exclusively men from wealthy backgrounds
mostly aristocratic families (not peers themselves)
20% sons of peers

59
Q

property qualification for MPs c.1780

A

£600 per year for county MPs

£300 per year for borough MPs

60
Q

reforms changing the social composition of the HoC:

Representation of the People Acts 1832 and 1867

A

little change

1833: 217 sons of peers or baronets
1865: 180 sons of peers or baronets

61
Q

what is a baronet

A

entitles them to be a ‘sir’ without losing their status as a commoner

62
Q

reforms changing the social composition of the HoC:

1858 Repeal of the Property Qualification Act

A

made HoC accessible to middle classes, wider social range of MPs with more from industrial backgrounds
still did not provide a salary –> private income needed

63
Q

reforms changing the social composition of the HoC:

1911 Parliament Act

A 
introduces £400 salaries for MPs
more working and middle class professional candidates stand for election
64
Q

reforms changing the social composition of the HoC:

1918 Representation of the People Act

A 
working class votes
Labour wins 57 seats in 1918 and 151 seats by 1924
Enfranchisement of women lead to female MPs (small change). 1928: 12 female MPs elected
65
Q

limits to change in social composition of House of Commons by 1928

A
  • most still wealthy backgrounds
  • majority male
  • of the 12 women elected: majority wealthy, first 2 elected where husbands previously stood as MP, 1 did not take seat, 5 had titles, only 2 held ministerial office

Britain Edexcel History A Level (7 decks)

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