Gladstone's first administration 1868-74

Question 1

general election 1868

Answer 1

general election called by Disraeli’s conservative gov
the electoral platform of the Liberal Party was ‘to pacify Ireland’
liberal won 387 seats
conservatives won 271 seats

Question 2

Gladstone general election 1868

Answer 2

• won under slogan ‘justice for Ireland’

- aim in Irish policy was to encourage their adherence to the existing political structure

Question 3

Irish legislation

Answer 3

• the disestablishment of the church of Ireland Act 1869
• the Irish land act 1870
• coercion
• the Irish Universities Bill 1873

Question 4

education legislation

Answer 4

• the public schools act 1868
• the endowed schools act 1869
• the Forster elementary education act 1870
• the university tests act 1871

Question 5

army reform

Answer 5

• the war office act 1870
• the army enlistment act 1870
• army regulation act 1871
• the abolition of the purchase of commissions
• withdrawal of troops from the self-governing colonies

Question 6

ciivl service reform

Answer 6

• the licensing act 1872

- the ballot act 1872

Question 7

trade union reform

Answer 7

• the trade union 1871
• the criminal law amendment 1871
• the Supreme Court of judicature act 1873
• local government act 1871

Question 8

domestic problems

Answer 8

• Lowe’s budget of 1871

- the appointments scandals 1872

Question 9

when and why did Gladstone resign

Answer 9

1874

Gladstone resigned because Cardwell and Goschen objected to Gladstone’s proposed reduction in Army and Navy expenditure

Question 10

disestablishment of the church of Ireland Act

Answer 10

• 1865 - Gladstone had declared in HofC’s that the Anglican Church in Ireland had failed as a missionary church
• 1868 - post fenian outrages he brought forward resolutions to HofC to disestablish church
• aim: disestablish church, ecclesiastical courts abolished and bishops elected by diocesan synods
• property of church was confiscated and 1/3 given to church as compensation, £1.7M given to the junior clergy and £9,000,000 given to poor law

Question 11

opposition to Dof church of Ireland act

Answer 11

conservatives and Irish Anglicans believed it weakened the Protestant supremacy
opposition in the HofL seemed to lead to a constitutional crisis

Question 12

assessment of Irish policy

Answer 12

• removed the most conspicuous example of alien privilege by disestablishing the church of Ireland
• land act fell short by a lack of the three F’s
• catholic university in Ireland fuelled the Irish land war
• didn’t solve the Irish question but signalled a fresh way of dealing with Irish issues