Reasons For Conservative Dominance

Question 1

Why did the conservatives dominate up to 1902

Answer 1

Lord Salisbury-able to maintain control of intellectually indifferent cabinet
Able to maintain control of different personalities like chamberlain
Adapted well to change

Middle-class support-middle class increasingly supported conservatives as they were seen as the party more resistant to change
-villa toryism (Arlington street compact)
-By 1900 67/75seats in London held by conservatives, in 1865 they none

Imperialism-seen as the patriotic party
-liberals had no consensus on imperialism
-success in the Boer war led to majority in 1900 election ‘khaki election’
-liberals divided over support for boer war

Party organisation- captain Middleton was the organiser of Conservative party elections and had particularly good timing
-there was an increase in constituency agents

Social reform-social reform package better than liberals
Liberals seen as one-issue party

Question 2

1902 for conservatives

Answer 2

Salisbury had to resign due to poor health and he was succeeded by Balfour
Balfour was out of touch with the people and provided little social reform
1903-dispute over tariff reform
1905 there was little social reform

Question 3

Issues within the liberal party

Answer 3

Issue over home rule
Liberal unionists had merged with conservatives
Issues over social reform-radicals wanted to tackle poverty within the working class
There was tension between Gladstone and chamberlain
In 1895 Rosenberg succeeded Gladstone and then up to 98 there was no leader after terrible defeat in election

Question 4

Conservatives party reforms

Answer 4

The allotment act-87-las could buy land for allotments for the working classes to elevate themselves. Permissive and ignored
Miners regulation act-1887 provided more legal protection for miners
Local government act- 1888-dt up in 62 counties, borough elections set up in large cities. Women could vote in county elections
Tithe act-landowners had to pay tithe to church not tenants
Housing of working class act-1890 las could find uninhabitable dwellings and replace them with houses
Fee grant act- 1891, no more fees for elementary
Factory act-1892- minimu age was 11 and women working hours reduced to 12
Education act 97 and 02-public funding for schools, introduction of grammar schools
Workers compensation act-97 employers had to pay for damage to workers