Peel as leader of the Conservative Party between 1832 and 1841

Question 1

What was Peel like as a leader?

Answer 1

He was a pragmatic leader who understood the issues he faced, he was very intelligent and could be considered a maverick.

Question 2

What was the downside of Peel’s nature?

Answer 2

He was sometimes unable to see the negative outcomes of his actions, and didn’t really listen to the demands of his Party. If he believed in something, he did it regardless.

Question 3

What unpopular measure did Peel do?

Answer 3

He gave money to the training of Catholic priests in Ireland to make things more comfortable. His party who already hated Catholic Emancipation despised this.

Question 4

What was the giving of money to the training of Catholic priests in Ireland called?

Answer 4

The Maynooth Grant.

Question 5

What concerned Peel?

Answer 5

His legacy - he wanted to be remembered.

Question 6

What did Peel do to shape his legacy?

Answer 6

Reforming the Corn Laws would guarantee his place in history. It could. be argued that his actions weren’t for their outcomes but to maintain him a place in history.

Question 7

What was Peel’s approach?

Answer 7

He put the nation before his party - or perhaps his legacy before his party.

Question 8

What was significant about Peel’s speeches?

Answer 8

He was a good orator as he was passionate and persuasive. This made him popular among the people, but sometimes not among his party.

Question 9

What were the three main improvements made by Peel?

Answer 9

The Carlton Club
Conservative Associations
The Tamworth Manifesto

Question 10

When was the Carlton Club set up?

Answer 10

1832

Question 11

What was the Carlton Club?

Answer 11

It was the central headquarters in London for the party.

Question 12

Who ran the Carlton Club?

Answer 12

Sir Francis Bonham.

Question 13

What did the Carlton Club do?

Answer 13

Sent out information about policies to MPs and candidates.

Question 14

What were Conservative Associations?

Answer 14

They were set up in constituencies and ensured that Conservative supporters were registered to vote under the new regulations of the 1832 Reform Act.

Question 15

What did the Conservative Associations do?

Answer 15

Organised speakers and gave voters information at elections.

Question 16

When was the Tamworth Manifesto issued?

Answer 16

December 1834.

Question 17

Who did the Tamworth Manifesto appeal to?

Answer 17

The voters of Tamworth, a constituency in Staffordshire.

Question 18

What did the Tamworth Manifesto do?

Answer 18

Outlined Peel’s main view:
He saw the GRA as the final settlement of parliamentary reform.
He said he would not be pressured into making decisions by the people. He claimed he was a liberal Tory, and would aim to keep a ‘strict economy.’ He also claimed he would consider the needs of the other classes, not just the needs of the aristocracy.

Question 19

What did his claims he was a liberal Tory mean?

Answer 19

He would consider reforming things if they actually did need reformed.

Question 20

What was the idea of a ‘strict economy’?

Answer 20

Not wasting money.

Question 21

When was Peel’s first ministry?

Answer 21

December 1834-April 1835

Question 22

What happened in the election of 1832?

Answer 22

The Tories won around 175 seats compared to a Whig majority of 440. Many predicted the Tory party was finished.

Question 23

What happened to the Whigs in 1834?

Answer 23

They were forced to resign despite their huge majority, with the Church of Ireland being their main issue - the official Church of Ireland was protestant, but the majority of people in Ireland were English.

Question 24

How did the Tamworth Manifesto benefit Britain?

Answer 24

It gained the Conservatives over 100 seats by the election of January 1835. They were still a minority, but were showing signs of recovery. The King asked Peel to form a government.

Question 25

What deal did the Whigs do with the Irish MPs?

Answer 25

The Lichfield House Compact.

Question 26

What was the Lichfield House Compact?

Answer 26

The Irish MPs agreed to support the Whigs if they kept discussing Irish reform.

Question 27

What did the Whigs do in 1835?

Answer 27

They were in a stronger position so decided to force Peel out in April 1835. They remained in power until 1841.

Question 28

How long did Peel’s first ministry last for?

Answer 28

4 months.

Question 29

What did Peel do during his first ministry?

Answer 29

Introduced an act allowing non-conformists to marry in their own churches.
Planted the seed for further church reforms.
Restored dignity to the Tories and showed he would actually follow the ideas of the Tamworth Manifesto.

Question 30

What happened during the ladies of the Bedchamber incident?

Answer 30

Pell could have became Prime Minister against but declined. Queen Victoria refused to dismiss the Ladies of her Bedchamber who were known supporters of the Whigs. This mattered because the Ladies of the Bedchamber were often close to the monarch so could cast their own political views.

Question 31

What did the Ladies of the Bedchamber mean?

Answer 31

The Whigs remained in office until 1841.

Question 32

What were the long-term causes of the victory of the 1841 election?

Answer 32

Peel’s actions throughout 1832 that improved the party’s organisation and unity and the Tamworth Manifesto.

Question 33

What were the short-term causes of the victory of the 1841 election?

Answer 33

the Ladies of the Bedchamber incident, the emerge of Chartism.

Question 34

When was the emerge of Chartism?

Answer 34

1836-1838.

Question 35

What was the emerge of Chartism?

Answer 35

A major working class political movement, where people protested for huge reforms, including universal suffrage.

Question 36

What happened in 1838 and how did it benefit Peel?

Answer 36

There was a middle class movement to repeal the Corn Laws - set up the Anti-Corn Law League, led by Richard Cobden. This movement presented a huge challenge to the government, and as many people were worried, they saw the Conservatives, Peel in particular, as strong enough to deal with such challenges.