Russell's government 1846-52

Question 1

Ireland

Answer 1

• Laissez-faire approach was not enough to deal with Irish famine
• set up soup kitchens in 47’ that provided meals for 3mil people.
• Poor Law Extension act made rate payers in Ireland responsible for dealing with famine victims.
• as a response landowners began evicting tenants

Question 2

Continuation of Peel’s free trade policies

Answer 2

• repeal of the Navigation Laws(only British ships could dock in Britain) in 1849
• extensions to free trade on commodities like sugar

Question 3

Chartism

Answer 3

• trade recession of 1847-8 caused third and final chartist petition
• huge rally held in Kennington Common and there was a plan for a huge march to Parliment where Furgus O’Connor was to pressent the petition.
• gov responded by creating thousands of constables to police the event and banned the march so O’Connor had to go solo.

Question 4

Social reforms :
Fieldens factory act 1847

Answer 4

• pressure from 10 hour movement by Ashley then Fielden
• all women and u18’s limited to 10hr days
• Russell made the bill an open question so all MP’s could vote freely
• many Tories voted for the bill as Peel could no longer stop them
• some landowners voted to get revenge against manufacturers after the repeal of the corn laws
• trade depression of 1847 meant that most factories were only doing 10 hr days anyway
• but males still had to work long hours and relay system was reintroduced.

Question 5

Social Reforms :
Public Health Act 1848

Answer 5

• problems highlighted by Edwin Chadwicks report, he argued if the health of the poor was improved less relief would be needed.
• set up General Health Board with 3 members (inc Chadwick), and local health boards
• the act set a precedent for government being involved in public health but was permissive and the health board was later dissolved

Question 6

Social Reforms :
Factory Act of 1850

Answer 6

• factories should only be open for 12 hours with an hour and a half for meals, working day for women + kids 10.5 hrs, factories must close by 2pm on saturdays
• good achievement as it meant men’s hours were also reduced and efficiency did not decrease as some had feared.
• conservatives couldn’t form majority so forced to return.

Question 7

Government loses it’s way

Answer 7

• 1850 budget aroused opposition:
  hated by manufacturers and business men who wanted income tax abolished
• opposed a bill to do with reform which was passed by the radicals against his wishes so resigned.

Question 8

Papal Aggression

Answer 8

• in 1851 the CC proposed to reintroduce a diocesan system in Britain.
• outrage in society and Russell positioned himself as the face of this
• Ecclesiastical Titles Act passed to criminalise a member of other churches adopting titles.

Question 9

Fall of the Government

Answer 9

• opposed further reform and rejected Chartist petition but suddenly decided reform was necessary in 1850 which lost him some support of his cabinet.
• Palmserston congratulated Napoleon Bonaparte against the wishes of the Queen or Russell, the queen demanded he be sacked and when he was Palmsertson voted with the Cons to bring down the gov.