Peel And The Conservative Party

Question 1

When was Peel Prime Minister and party leader?

Answer 1

*Unofficial party leader 1832-41
*PM 1834-5
PM 1841

Question 2

How did Peel Reform the party following the 1832 reform act?

Answer 2

• 1832 Carlton Club that set out info about MPs etc
• Conservative associations giving info
• 1834 Tamworth Manifesto outlining his views

Question 3

Under what circumstances did Peel become PM in 1834 and why did this fail?

Answer 3

• Melbourne was dismissed over not sticking to the maintaining control over Ireland as there were Whig splits over abolishing some of the Anglican Church and reforming tithes
• Grey has resigned over it 1834 (some of his ministers negotiating with O’Connell
• Peel became PM and whilst he enabled them to win 100 seats in 1835 it wasn’t enough and Whig and Irish MPs went against him
• This showed the King no longer had enough support to form a government

Question 4

What were Peel’s tax changes?

Answer 4

• In 1841 Peel experienced many issues like £1.8 million budget deficit, lots of public spending was going on repaying interest, bad harvest and high bread prices
• A clever tax of 7p in the pound on incomes over £150 raised money and didn’t impact the poor in society
• Feb 1845 the deficit turned to a surplus of £3.4 million

Question 5

Peel changes to trade

Answer 5

• Peel used the income tax in order to cut export duties
• Coal and raw cotton were two of the 430 items that were free of duty
• sugar and auction duties were also cut and living costs were reduced

Question 6

Changes to banking and railways

Answer 6

• Bank Charter act prevented the circulation of excessive paper money and the fact it could only issue notes to the value of gold it held
• Growing businesses needed more money so came up with cheques but then the 1840s Californian gold rush increased gold reserves
• By 1852 3000 miles of railway track was laid (huge expansion)

Question 7

What were the Anti Corn Law Leagues tactics and how good were they?

Answer 7

• Formed In 1839
• Middle classes and tried to get MPs elected (they brought £250 million worth of land as a way of gaining votes)
• This wasn’t that successful, no working class or landed class support really

Question 8

Reasons Peel repealed Corn laws

Answer 8

• Irish famine(50% or crop failed and many dying)
• ACCL
• He was a free trade supporter
• Whig leader came out in favour of reform so he didn’t want to look bad

Question 9

Why did Peel fall?

Answer 9

• Corn laws
• People didn’t like his style of leadership and lack of communication
• people still had memories of other changes like catholic emancipation