Gladstone’s 2nd Premiership

Question 1

Coffee House Gossip

Answer 1

• Bulgarian Atrocities - Dizzy assumed reports of the Ottoman Empire’s massacre of est 15k Bulgarian men, women + children to be “Coffee House Gossip” -> appalled the public + Gladstone
• Gladstone wrote pamphlet “Bulgarian Horrors + the Question of Eastern Europe” in 6 days -> sold 200k sold in a month -> went out of retirement
• liberal policy support increased after the crisis of confidence also contributed to a lack of con support in the 80 election

Question 2

The Midlothian Campaign

Answer 2

• 1st presidential campaign - travelled -> created public support by speaking across the country from train from Wales to Edinburgh + spoke in public places eg. Market squares
• viewed as personally winning the election for the libs so demanded PM role from Lord Harrington
• used advantage over Dizzy who was now a Lord - generated pop support for libs

Question 3

Legislation passed by GOM’s 2nd ministry on Ireland

Answer 3

• 81 - Coercion act -> Davitt arrested + 36 IPP MPs including Parnell expelled from parliament -> created a unified Irish political movement
• 2nd Irish Land Act - intro 3 Fs, land purchase scheme (gov paid for 3/4 of land) -> emergence of pesant proprietor class + Ulster custom made law across Ireland -> rents decreased by 20% but angered Parnell who viewed it as inadequate
• LL outlawed after Parnell accused GOM of being “treacherous” in Wexford Address -> Parnell arrested

Question 4

Tensions in Ireland post-2nd Land Act

Answer 4

• tensions improved due to land courts creating a 20% reduction in the renting prices
• issues of Irish behind on rent payments due to boycotting solved by Arreas Act
• 82 - Parnell + GOM sign Kilmaignham Treaty -> relaxed coercion, passed Arreas act + LL disbanded
• uproar due to Phoenix park murders of GOM’s nephew (new Irish Secretary Lord Cavendish) + his under-secretary Burke by the revolutionary group “the invincibles” also in 82
• National League est 82 as more pol version of the LL designed to appeal to all Irish

Question 5

Parliament during GOM’s 2nd Premiership

Answer 5

• weak con leadership in the commons from Northcote as Dizzy now a lord
• con leader Lord Sailsbury sat in H of L - chosen after Dizzy’s death in 82

Question 6

Foreign Policy during GOM’s 2nd Premiership

Answer 6

• Gladstone labelled “Murderer of Gordon” by press after delaying support for British troops as he viewed General Gordon’s campaign in Sudan as imperialist -> resigned
• GOM’s son published Harden Kite (letter in the newspaper saying GOM supported Irish home rule) -> liberal party split + Parnell lends support to cons -> loyalist anti-repeal union set up in 86 + IPP wins 86 seats in 85 election
• after GOM reigns Sailsbury becomes PM in 85 then GOM returns after winning 86 election -> proposes home rule bill but defeated in the commons

Question 7

Gladstone’s 2nd ministry key legislation

Answer 7

• 83 - corrupt + illegal practices act puts limit on campaign expenses
• 84 - Chamberlain’s proposed reform bill to undermine the landlord’s monopoly in counties passed in commons but rejected by Lords -> public outcry
• 85 - GOM rejects Chamberlain’s plans for Irish local self-governance
• 84 reform act creates same voting qualification for borough + country voters -> 1.2m new voters (mainly rural) - agreed in “Tea + Talks” between GOM + Sailsbury -> cons gained support as most of the UK became single member seats so less county MPs sen -> emergence of “Villa Toryism”