Gladstone Liberal, 1880-85 Flashcards
When was Gladstone’s Second Ministry?
1880-5
Who took over the leadership of the Conservatives during this period?
Salisbury
Who was now strong enough to make their presence felt in the political arena?
The Irish Nationalists under the control of Parnell
What was the noticeable division in the Liberal Party in 1880?
The division between the laissez-faire Liberals and the Radical Liberals
What electoral reforms did Gladstone’s Second Ministry pass?
1) The Corrupt Practices Act,1883
2) The Franchise Act, 1884
3) The Redistribution of Seats Act, 1884
What did the Corrupt Practices Act in 1883 do?
- Closed the loopholes that allowed corruption to continue
- Ensured that a candidate’s election expenses were set to a specified limit, and made clear what campaign money could be spent on
- Election agents had to produce accounts
- Introduced stiff fines and prison sentences for anyone breaking the law
What did the Franchise Act in 1884 do?
- Agricultural labourers and miners in rural areas were brought into the voting system
- The electorate doubled from nearly 3 million to 6 million out of a total population of 35 million
- Two out of three men now had the vote
What did the Redistribution of Seats Act in 1884 do?
- Brought to an end the over-representation of the rural areas and under-representation of the industrial towns and cities
- Most constituencies were now single member and equally sized in terms of population
What were the 4 areas of foreign policy that Gladstone was involved in during his Second Ministry?
1) Egypt, 1881
2) The Sudan, 1883-5
3) Transvaal and the Boers, 1881
4) Afghanistan, 1885
After Egypt, with what country did Britain have friction into the 19th century?
France
Between what members of the Liberal Party did Gladstone’s foreign policy create splits?
The Radical anti-imperialists and the Whigs who often supported a pro-imperial position
What was Gladstone surprised at when he returned to office in 1885?
The level of distress in Ireland
What was set up in 1880 to investigate the workings of the 1870 Land Act?
The Bessborough Commission
What did Gladstone regard as criminal conspiracy?
The Land League, who were under the control of Parnell
What did Gladstone pass in 1881 with regards to Ireland?
A Coercion Act - The Protection of Person and Property Act, it allowed anyone suspected of illegal activities to be imprisoned for indefinite periods of time without trial
