Peel coming to power in 1841 Flashcards
What were Peels political beliefs?
He was mostly an Ultra Tory but had liberal views on economic policies
What did Peel do as Home Secretary under Liverpool and Wellington?
- Introduced the metropolitan police Act
- Reformed prisons with the Gaols Act
- Reformed penal code
What happened with Peel and Catholic Emancipation?
He was blamed for the passing of CE by the Ultras because he thought it would stop a civil war in Ireland
What did Peel think of the Great Reform Act?
He was adamantly against it
What did Peel do from 1830 - 4?
- Established his authority on the opposition benches
- Criticised ministers and was both for and against the government in multiple instances
- He defended the Irish Whig home secretary Stanley from O’Connells attacks, which annoyed the Ultras
- Dropped criticism on GRA to be more likeable
What happened when Grey resigned in 1834?
Peel was asked to be the next PM, but he was on holiday so he couldn’t do it until he came back, so Wellington filled in for him, making Peel look bad
What did Peel do when he returned from his holiday?
He released the Tamworth manifesto
What was the Tamworth manifesto?
It said he wouldn’t repeal the GRA
He would consider reform as long as it was necessary and was presented in a peaceful way
What did Peel achieve in his 100 days?
Set up the Ecclesiastical Commission to all the CofE to have reforms and took out the Church from the area of politics and danger
He changed what it meant to be a Tory and renamed them to Conservatives
Why did Peel retire after 100 days?
He didn’t think he could hold together a government as he has a minority so couldn’t pass many laws
When was the Carlton Club organised?
1832 and made Bonham the Party Agent.
What was the Carlton club?
It was the headquarters of the Conservatives and meant that he Tories could get more favourable seats and were more organised.
Bonham helped in getting in more conservative seats
How many more seats did the Conservatives get from 1835 - 7 elections?
390 - 450
What was the Bedchamber crisis of 1839?
Peel didn’t make a cabinet in parliament because he didn’t want to repeat his 100 days and didn’t have the Queens support.
What was the Manchester School and what did they want?
A group in Manchester that was a school of thought
They believed in free trade, didn’t like the artificial rise in prices from the Corn Laws and so they didn’t have to pay their workers high wages, wanted free press and were anti-war
Who were the Manchester School leader?
Cobden and Bright
What came out of the Manchester school?
The Anti-Corn Law league
Why did Peels manifesto help in him winning the 1841 election?
It showed that he would not take away the middle classes vote
He would consider moderate reform if it was needed and was presented in a peaceful manner
He changed how the conservative party was presented
How did Peel present the Whigs in the 1841 election?
He presented the Whigs as extremists and that they relied heavily on the Irish catholics and radicals for their votes so that citizens would sympathise with the Tories
Why did the state of the economy help in Peel winning the 1841 election?
The Whigs didn’t do well with the economy because they didn’t balance their money
The Whigs had an annual £2 million deficit
How did Peel promising to keep the Corn Laws help him win the 1841 election?
He would have the support of the rural farmers who benefited from it, and their vote had a strong weight
How did the previous laws set by the Whigs help Peel into power?
The most liberal reforms were mostly under Grey, such as the GRA, Slavery emancipation, Factory Act.
Melbourne was more grounded and didn’t believe much in reform, so the people didn’t think they would do much for reform
