Social and Political Themes (1867-86) Flashcards
Disraelian Conservatism
- One Nation Conservatism
- Tory Democracy
- Stand up for British Interests Abroad
- Social Reform>Political Reform
Conservative Victory in 1874
- NUCCA attracted the M/C
- Growing professionals drawn to Cons
- 145 of 172 county seats
- Some development of W/C (imperial policies and maintenance of support over Ireland
- Irish Home Rule Party won 59 seats (ate into Libs)
Why did Gladstone become PM in 1880?
(Resigned Lib Leadership 1874)
- 1876 re-emerges the ‘Bulgarian atrocities’. Saw this as a moral crusade.
- Visited Birmingham for meeting of the NFL in May 1877 and made bid for leadership.
- Put himself forward for constituency of Midlothian (Scotland by train, making speecbes in between)
- Hartington leader of Libs and negotiated w/ Queen
The Bradlaugh Case
- An Atheist and a Republican
- Elected Liberal MP in Northampton (1880)
- Refused to take the religious oath to sit in HoC
- Agreed at last but made public contempt
- Stood in by-election twice and was re-elected
- Resolved in 1886 when he was allowed to take his seat.
- Case exploited by 4th party (Cons MPs) who were dissatisfied w/ Northcote’s inability to exploit Gladstone’s difficulties
4th Party
- Group of backbench Cons who wanted to embarass new leader Randolph Churchill, Gorst and others.
- Northcote- leader of Cons opposition in HoC unable to control them.
- They followed Irish obstructive ideas.
- Led to poor legislative record
- Infuriated Chamberlain who was hopeful for lots of legislation.
Liberal Disunity
- Glads preferred aristocratic colleagues to radicals
- Older radicals like Bright more accepted than Chamberlain
- Chamberlain an effective mayor in Birmingham and helped secure other Lib victories in the region.
Repeal of the Malt Tax
• Gained support of farmers even though they had to increase income tax
Married Women’s Property Act (1882)
• They can own property
Ground Game Act
• Tenants gain right to take hares and rabbits from rented land
Burials Act
• Non-conf can hold burials in parish churches.
Employers Liability Act
• Started the process where employers held liability for injury caused at work.
Corrupt Practices Act (1883)
• Imposed harsh penalties on those found guilty of corrupt practices.
• Specified amount of money to be spent on campaigning in each constituency.
> helped underfunded Libs
Parliamentary Reform Act (3rd Reform Act)
- Vote to all male householders in counties
- Added 2 million to electorate
- Opposition to Conservatives in the Lords almost led to constitutional crisis (Salisbury opposed on party political grounds)
Redistribution of Seats Act (1885)
- 138 seats redistributed
- MPs redistributed to more densely populated areas.
- Single member constituencies created.
- Plural voting continued and no vote for women yet.
Why did Liberals lose power in 1885?
- Domestic Reform - agricultural workers saw no improvement and many workers joined TUs and lost faith in Libs
- Bradlaugh Affair
- 4th Party
- Ireland
‘Unauthorised Programme’ (1885)
- Free primary education
- Payment for MPs
- Graduate income tax
- ‘three acres and a cow’ to agricultural workers
-Chamberlain
Gladstonian Liberalism
- Retrenchment (prudent in spending)
- Free trade (protects M/C)
- Voluntaryism (reform of abuses by individual)
- Meritocracy (no unfair privileges)
- Peace abroad
- Good government (laissez faire and aristocratic responsibility)
1867 Reform Act
- Vote in boroughs if rent >£10/ ann and £12 for counties.
- Redistribution of seats- boroughs with pop <10,000 lost an MP
- Spare 45 seats given to counties
(Electorate doubled from 1.36m to 2.46 as a result)
Judicature Act (1873)
- Ablish high courts
- Supreme high court - unification - 1 common law
- Combines common law and equity into one
- 2 aspects of Gladstonian Liberalism- meritocracy and stables gov.
Trade Union Act (1871)
- Trade Unions no longer illegal
- W/C had a voice
- voluntaryism and good gov
Ballot Act (1872)
- Voting done in secret
* Democracy (volunatryism)
1871 Indirect tax
• Robert Lowe tried to 👆🏿 tax on matches
Public Schools Act (1868)
- Modernisation of administrative structure.
* Relevant curriculum
Endowed Schools Act (1869)
Modernisation of administrative structure
> girls could now attend.
Elementary Education Act (1870)
- W.E. Forster based on Newcastle commision.
* School boards (locally elected) introduced.
Civil Service Reform (June 1870)
• Entry exams introduced to recruit in civil service.
Women’s Rights (1870)
- She could inherit money upto £200
* Any form of income was legally hers and separte to her husband’s assets.
University Tests Act (1871)
• Removed tests for teaching posts at universities favouring Anglicans.
The Local Government Board Act (1871)
• To be headed by cabinet Minister which rook over functions of different departments i.e Public health
The Public Health Act (1872)
- Merged local boards into municipal boroughs and local improvement commisions.
- Purely admin
- Gladst didn’t see it as a main issue
The Licensing Act (1872)
- Required that magistrates issue licenses to pubs and coukd be refused if there were too many in the area.
- Pubs had to close at midnight in towns.
- Brewers switched to Cons
