Political developments under Gladstone and Disraeli Flashcards
What was the Tories ideology in the 19th century?
Supported Catholic emancipation
Believed people had a duty to obey the monarch
Protectionism
Supported the 1832 Reform Act
What was the Whig ideology in the 19th century?
Believed in a limited monarchy
Believed in Protestant supremacy but many of them were non-conformists
Supported free trade
Many of them were aristocrats
Supported the 1832 Reform Act
What happened in 1846?
Repeal of the Corn Laws
Why were the Corn Laws repealed?
1845 Irish Potato Famine
Population increased (Doubled to 20 million by 1840s)
Bread prices had increased due to the 1789 French revolution
How many Irish people had died by 1851 due to the potato famine?
1 million
What were the consequences of the repeal of the corn laws?
Peel had to resign as PM, this split the Tory party and he formed the Peelites - then joined with the Whigs
Bread prices went down
Won over middle classes
Only 2/3 Conservative party remained
What were the main issues with the government between 1851 and 1868?
PM had limited powers
MPs had little loyalty
Lots of minority governments e.g. Derby’s 1852 coalition collapsed into Aberdeen’s 1852 government
Lack of Tories resulted in Derby’s 1852 “Who? Who?” government
More concern over foreign issues led to the downfall of Aberdeen’s government in 1855 due to the Crimean war
Who was in power from 1845-51 and what did they do?
Lord John Russel. Whig
Set up Public Sewers system and Public Health Act (council controlled sewers)
Women couldn’t work for more than 10 hours in a factory
Dealt with famine
Palmerston (foreign sec) called a vote of no confidence
Who was in power from 1851-52 and what did they do?
Lord Derby. Conservative
Minority gov
Couldn’t pass budget, vote of no confidence
Who was in power from 1852-55 and what did they do?
Lord Aberdeen. Whig coalition with Peelites
Had to put reforms on hold due to Crimean War
Dealt with war awfully - caused gov to collapse
Who was in power from 1855-58 and what did they do?
Lord Palmerston. Whig
Concentrated on foreign affairs and patriotism
Not great Treaty of Paris in 1856 but public still perceived it well
Badly handled plot to assassinate Napoleon in 1858 led to a vote of no confidence
Who was in power in 1858-59 and what did they do?
Lord Derby. Conservative
Abolished property qualification needed to be an MP
Allowed Jews to sit in parliament
Lasted 15 months
Who was in power between 1859-65 and what did they do?
Lord Palmerston. Liberal and Peelite coalition
Refused to discuss reform
First Liberal majority
Died in office
Who was in power from 1865-66 and what did they do?
Lord Russel. Peelites, Liberals and Radical coalition
Proposed a franchise expansion but resigned when the right of his own party voted against it
Who was in power from 1866-68?
Lord Derby. Conservatives
Second reform act
Resigned due to ill health
Named Disraeli as his successor
Who was in power in 1868?
Disraeli. Conservative
Lost 1868 election after 278 days in office, resigned immediately
Why did the Conservatives have leadership issues between 1851-68?
Disraeli was their best speaker but he had a questionable past. He borrowed money to support his political career and was notorious for his affairs with married women
Many Conservatives were also anti-semitic and could not stomach the idea of him as leader
Why were the Liberals so strong during this period?
Palmerston was their leader and he was willing to exploit public opinion in his favour. He was also openly anti-Russian which was well received by the middle class
What were the politics of Gladstonian Liberalism?
“Peace, retrenchment and reform”
Abolish income tax
Lassiez-faire and self help
All political decisions must be justified via religion
What were Gladstonian Liberalisms views on society?
Expanded franchise
He thought he had a rapport with ordinary people
Society was naturally hierarchal and the ruling class were the best fit to govern BUT their power should be limited
What were Gladstonian Liberalisms views on the economy?
Limited gov spending so not to waste taxpayers money
Free trade brings prosperity for all
Contradictions within Gladstonian Liberalism
Moral issues are ‘good for society’ but peace is a key value
Ruling classes should rule but they should have no privileges
Diluted his religious views to win votes
What did the Tories believe in before Disraeli became leader?
Did not support reform and did not want to expand the franchise
Government should not intervene with legislation to solve social problems
What changes did Disraeli make to the party?
Dealing with social problems was now an aim of the party
Understood the need for party discipline
Supported interventionist social reform legislation
