Gladstone + Disraeli Flashcards
Gladstone’s early life
- born 1809 to parents who got their wealth from the slave trade
- strong Christian moral views
- 1st speech at the Oxford Union was against electoral reform
- given a Rotten Borough by the Duke of Newcastle + supported to become a Tory MP
- left Tories after Peelite split - founding member of the liberal party + elected MP for Oxford uni
Disraeli’s early life
- born 1804 to MC Jewish parents - converted to Christianity in 1817 -> could now stand as an MP
- worked in finance and as an author - ridiculed for “silver fork” fiction where he expressed prétentions of being a society man
- married a wealthy heiress to pay off debts + later became a Lord
- mocked after his maiden speech in 1837
- initially struggled to get elected as an indépendant MP before he became a Tory
- led a backbench revolt against Peel’s repealing of the Corn Laws (may have been due to being denied a position on his cabinet) -> lost but Peel resigned + Lord Derby became the new leader
Gladstone’s key legislation
as chancellor of the Exchequer (appointed in 52 Whig gov) reduced duties + tariffs, incr income tax but hoped for abolishment of all income tax
- 1860 - supports Cobden treaty as C of the Ex in the lib party
- 1861 abolished paper tax “tax on knowledge” + reduced income tax
- 66 - supports Liberal electoral reform bill -> defeated due to Tory + anti-reform libs opposition
- 69 - Disestablishment + Disendowment of the Irish Church
- 70 - Irish land act, Forster’s Education Act, Cardwell’s Army Reforms (made merit based promotions)
- 71 - University Test Act (non-conformists can hold Oxbridge degrees), Civil Service Exams, Trade Union Act (legalises TUs), Criminal Law Amendment Act outlaws picketing, Irish Coercion Act
- 72 - Licensing Act, Ballot Act (intro secret ballot), Coal mines regulating act, Public Health Act (permissive)
- 73 - Judicature Act rationalises the British legal system + created High Court of Justice
- 74 - loses election + resigns as lib leader
- 76 - returns after “Coffee House Gossip” w/ “The Bulgarian Horrors + the Question of the East:
- 80 - returns as PM after causing lib victory in his 79 Midlothian Campaign
- 81 - 2nd Irish Land Act
- 83 - Corrupt + Illegal practices act (criminalised attempts to bribe voters + standardised amount that could be spent on election campaigns)
- 84 - 3rd reform act
key moments in Gladstone’s career
- appointed C of the Ex in the 52 Whig gov
- appointed C of the Ex in lib party
- 62 - spoke in Newcastle in support of Confederate States against official party policy of neutrality
- 65 - elected in South Lancashire (heart of textile industry)
- 67 - becomes leader of lib party
- 1st premiership 68 as MP for Greenwich
- 74 - loses election + resigns as lib leader
- 76 - returns after “Coffee House Gossip” w/ “The Bulgarian Horrors + the Question of the East:
- 80 - returns as MP after causing lib victory in his 79 Midlothian Campaign
Disraeli - key legislation
- 40 - protested harsh treatment of Chartist leaders
- 47 - supported gov over removal of Civil Disabilities for Jews
- tried to reduce income tax + incr tariffs as C of Ex in 58 but gov defeated in vote on budget + Derby resigned
- 66 - leads Tory opposition of Glad’s reform bill
- 67 - passed the 2nd reform act in coalition w/ libs
- 75-80 “Ministry of Sewage” passed 2 TU acts, the Public Health Act (compulsory), Artisan’s Dwelling Act (improved WC living conditions), Factory Act + Sale of Food + Drugs Act
Disraeli key career moments
- elected MP for Maidenstone as a Tory in 37 + maiden speech on Irish elections shouted down
- expressed sympathy for the Chartists in 39
- joined group “Young England” in parliament in 42
- 45 - published “Sybil” about the growing wealth gap in Britain
- 47 - elected MP for Buckinghamshire
- 52 - appointed C of the Ex in “who?who?” Ministry
- became C of the Ex again in 58
- became PM Feb 68 following Derby’s resignation - Dis resigned in Dec
- re-elected PM in 74
- became Earl of Beaconsfield in 76 + lost public support w/ “Coffee House Gossip”
- 78 Congress of Berlin + Treaty of Berlin
- lost 80 election + dies
