Canning, Goderich and Wellington Flashcards
When did Canning become PM?
In 1827, after the resignation of Liverpool
What did contemporary politician and essayist Croker say about Canning?
‘His genius is a bright flame’
What was Canning’s relationship with Liverpool?
He was one of Liverpool’s political favourites
Why is the long-term impact of Canning so hard to pinpoint?
Because he came in and out of office so frequently
Why Canning disliked by many tories despite his ability?
His ideas were too advanced, he was too flamboyant and this led to many tories doubting whether he could be trusted
What was the consequence of Canning being such a divisive figure when he became PM?
Half the cabinet detested him and many tories refused to serve under him altogether
What were the three main reasons why Canning was disliked by his cabinet?
- They disagreed with his support for Catholic Emancipation
- Critical of his liberal, populist approach to foreign policy
- The aristocrats in parliament looked down on his humble background - his mother was an impoverished actress
How did Canning respond to the fact that many tories refused to serve underneath him?
He appointed 4 Whigs to his cabinet
What was Canning’s relationship with the Whigs?
They saw him as natural ally, liberal-minded and flexible, and the majority gave him commons support, in a coalition with the majority moderate Tories
Why did George IV accept Canning as PM?
Because he could command a commons majority and was popular within the country
Why was Canning not able to achieve much as PM?
- George IV insisted that Catholic Emancipation remained an open question despite Canning’s support for the issue
- Wellington destroyed his attempt to reform the Corn Laws in the laws by introducing a sliding scale
- Canning died in 1827, after a short spell of interests, meaning his tenure lasted just 119 days
What was Lord Goderich’s political background before becoming PM?
He had had a successful career as chancellor in Liverpool’s government. Canning then made him Leader of the House of Lords during his short spell as PM
Why did Lord Goderich have such a difficult time acting as Leader of the House of Lords in the Canning government?
Because most lords were tories and failed to cooperate with anything Canning tried to do, and Grey’s Whigs wanted to replace a Canning government with a completely Whig cabinet
Why was Goderich such a poor PM?
- George IV was reluctant to appoint him
- He was impotent in the role and showed few signs of leadership. He was miserable in the role that was clearly unsuited for him
- He resigned after 4 months before even meeting parliament
Who did the new Tory government of 1928 have at its head?
The Duke of Wellington
Why was Wellington not as adept at holding together a cabinet as Liverpool?
Because of his authoritarian manner
What was the relationship between Wellington and Peel during the Wellington government?
Peel agreed to become Wellington’s Home Secretary and lead the commons on the condition that as the Canningnites were included, as their ideas were popular with the people
Why did Wellington fall foul of the Ultra Tories?
Because he refused to include Lord Eldon, the previous Lord Chancellor
Who were the Ultra Tories?
Believed it was their duty to support the status quo. Concerned with retaining the Corn Laws and uneasy about the idea of free trade. Suspicious of Canning’s liberal ideas
Why do many people see Wellington as a poor government leader?
He appeared to lack resolution of its legislative programme, giving way when he felt threatened by the opposition, at other times he would dig his heels in, showing a lack of judgement in his decisions
Give an example of Wellington’s poor leadership
He accepted the resignation of Huskisson, one of his strongest minsters, over the proposed disenfranchisement of two corrupt boroughs, causing further resignations
What was the consequence of Wellington’s clumsy leadership?
He lost the confidence of many groups in the commons, meaning he could no longer command a steady majority
What made Wellington’s 1828 cabinet reshuffle particularly controversial?
It raised the issue of Catholic Emancipation, as he appointed an Irish Protestant MP, Vesey Fitzgerald, who represented County Clare. The subsequent by election after a cabinet appointment was usually a foregone conclusion, but this one was one by Irish Catholic lawyer Daniel O’Donnell
What was the negative consequence of Liverpool’s resignation for the Tory party?
He had been an expert at holding together a precocious cabinet, full of diversity and strong characters. Without this, divisions began to emerge within the Tory hierarchy and the party began to disintegrate
Describe the 4 different factions that Canning had to deal with after replacing Liverpool
- A pro corn law faction of industrialist who opposed Huskisson’s sliding scale as they feared that it would not offer protection for home grown produce
- A group led by Huskisson who recognised the importance of industrial growth and the need to encourage expansion through free trade measures
- Traditional Tories, who would consider reform as long as it did not disturb the preservation of the constitution, church and state. This meant that they were opposed to things like Catholic Emancipation and parliamentary reform
- The Ultra Tories were a more extreme version of the traditional Tories, intolerant of any measures that would disturb their patrimony and were prepared to vote themselves out of office to uphold their rigid anti-reform principles
Define patrimony
One’s inheritance; in this sense the political inheritance of the Ultra Tories, with their elite and privileged position
What does Richard Brown say was the main reason for Tory resignations under Canning?
Catholic Emancipation
How did the 1929 Catholic Emancipation Act damage the party?
It led to further divisions, ultimately meaning the break up of Pitt’s coalition under Wellington, which had governed successfully for such a long time under Pitt and Liverpool
Why was Huskisson’s death tactically an issue for the Wellington government?
It meant that Wellington could not invite him into his cabinet to form an alliance with the more progressive Tories
Describe how Wellington made the Tories appear weak compared to the Whigs in the lead up to their eventual replacement
- Violence was spreading across England in response to a weak harvest and economic recession
- He gave a reaction speech against reform, claiming that the existing system was near perfect, which was not in keeping with the mood at the time
How did Wellington resign?
Over a minor government defeat, and with great relief
What was ironic about Wellington’s government?
Despite his reactionary approach, it actually several important, long lasting reforms
