The 1846 split

Question 1

How did Peel’s 1841-6 ministry come to an end?

Answer 1

While the repeal of the corn laws was going through its final stages in parliament there was also debate over a protection of life bill (Coercion Bill) that would give emergency police powers to the authorities in Ireland. In normal circumstances this would have received widespread support from the conservatives, but the debate on the second reading came on the same day as corn law repeal was secured. A number of disappointed protectionists were willing to join the Whigs in voting against the government and Peel was defeated by 292-219. This meant that on the 29th of June 1846, Peel resigned as PM

Question 2

What government was formed after?

Answer 2

Lord John Russell then formed a Whig/liberal government

Question 3

Describe the 5 main groups in the commons at this time

Answer 3

The Whigs/liberals who made up the ruling party. Led by Russell and Palmerston

The radicals, who normally associated themselves with the liberals/Whigs. However, in the late 1840s a group of 50 radicals tried to establish a separate party. Generally supported the Whigs, but at times were their most bitter critics. Led by Cobden and Bright

The Peelites, made up of conservative MPs who had supported Peel. Like Peel himself they frequently voted in support of Russell’s government. Seemed uncertain on whether to finalise the break with conservatism and support the Whigs or make a compromise and return to the conservative party. Led by Lord Aberdeen and Gladstone

The protectionists, conservative MPs who had opposed corn law repeal. One key figure within this group was Lord George Bentinck, whose grandfather, the Duke of Portland, had been PM between 1807-9. He became much more politically involved over the issue of Corn Law repeal. He led the protectionist opposition to repeal with Disraeli but failed. He led the Protectionist Conservatives in opposition from 1846-8. Another key figure within the movement was Benjamin Disraeli. He was born into an Italian Jewish immigrant family but was brought up as an Anglican. He was a gifted politician, but he was scorned by conservatives due to his Jewish background. Led first by Bentinck, then Lord Stanley/Derby and then Disraeli

The Irish MPs, the supported whichever party they thought would best cater towards their demands. 105 Irish MPs

Question 4

Describe the two men who would become particularly important in this upcoming era

Answer 4

Benjamin Disraeli – He was the leading protectionist in the commons, an excellent debater but regarded by the conservative establishment as an outsider and not to be fully trusted, this was mostly because he was a Jew, even though he was baptised in the Anglican Church

William Gladstone – One of the leading Peelites. The events of these years took him into the Liberal Party although many will see his background as being typical of a conservative

These two men were archrivals

Question 5

What was the consequence of corn law repeal for the party system?

Answer 5

The damage the conservative party suffered due to corn law repeal brought about a significant realignment of the two main parties

Question 6

Give a statistic to display the political instability during this period and state what this political instability led people to believe

Answer 6

The fact that there were 9 ministries over 20 years suggested political instability and made it seem unlikely that a clear two-party system would be able to re-emerge

Question 7

What can this period be seen as?

Answer 7

This period can also be seen as a formative phase out of which emerged new robust political alignments and the beginnings of a modern party system

Question 8

How did the conservatives reorganise themselves during this period?

Answer 8

By the 1850s, the conservatives had realised that in order to rebuild the party they would have to abandon protection and attract industry and commerce if they were to ever again enjoy political success. The conservative showing in the 1852 and 1857 elections was not convincing and led to weak minority governments. However, valuable work was behind done behind the scenes on party reorganisation

Question 9

What does Eric J Evans say about this period?

Answer 9

Eric Evans sums this period up as one of political uncertainty, but also one that marks an advance in the process of party realignment. He looks towards Disraeli leaving office after losing the 1868 GE even though he had the support of Queen Victoria as an example of this. ‘It is appropriate’ that in 1868, the Monarch is ‘forced to part by force of the electorate with a PM whom she admired and had to accept as his successor a man, William Gladstone, whom she disliked intensely. By his actions in 1868, Disraeli publicly acknowledged the effective sovereignty of the electorate. It was a symbolic recognition that the modern political system was in being

Question 10

Describe Lord George Bentinck

Answer 10

Became politically involved over the issue of corn law repeal

Led the protectionist opposition to repeal but failed

Led the protectionist Tories in opposition between 1846-8

Question 11

Describe Benjamin Disraeli

Answer 11

From Italian Jewish immigrant family but brough up Anglican

Gifted Tory politician but scorned and distrusted for his Jewish background

Helped bring down Peel in 1846, siding with the protectionists against the free traders

Chancellor during Derby’s ministries (1852, 1858-9 and 1866-8)

Later became PM in his own right

He and Gladstone were archrivals

Question 12

Describe William Gladstone

Answer 12

One of the leading Peelites

Eventually formed the liberal party

Background we would typically associate with a conservative

Question 13

Describe Lord Palmerston

Answer 13

58-year career as a Tory MP

Flamboyant character

As Foreign Secretary he championed the independence of small nations and developed a high-handed, patriotic approach to diplomacy

PM twice

Always more interested in foreign affairs and liberalism abroad than promoting domestic political reform

Question 14

Describe Lord Derby/Stanley

Answer 14

Whig MP from 1820-35

Part of the Whig government that passed the 1832 GRA

Introduced the proposals to end slavery in 1833

Became unhappy with the direction of the Whigs and switched to the tories under Peel

Disagreed with Peel over corn law repeal

Became PM after the Peelites split from the party

Question 15

Describe Lord Aberdeen

Answer 15

Served as Peel’s foreign secretary for Peel between 1841-6

Supported Corn Law repeal

Led the Peelites (free traders) who had split from the conservative party after the death of Peel in 1850

PM from 1852-5

Blamed for his inefficient management of the Crimean War and was forced to resign

Question 16

Describe the party composition of Lord Russel’s first ministry

Answer 16

Whig

Question 17

When did it take place?

Answer 17

1846-52

Question 18

Describe it

Answer 18

Russell’s whig government lasted 6 years

It was seen as weak and ineffective, with Russell unable to inspire his followers but surviving thanks to Peelite support. He was unable to engage support because he was a conviction politcian, which means he acted in alignment with his own values rather than trying to reflect the views of the party

Enacted some social legislation that built on previous reforms. The 1847 Factory Act set a maximum working day of 10 hours for women and children and the following year a Board of Health was set up in London with the power to create local boards if petitioned by 10% of local ratepayers or if the annual death rate exceeded 23 in 1,000. Government grants were provided for teacher training and schools

The cause of free trade was encouraged by the repeal of the Navigation Laws that restricted the carrying of goods to British and colonial shipping

In February 1851, a private members motion from one of the government’s radical supporters was introduced calling for equal status for county and borough franchise qualifications. Russell resigned when the government was defeated. The protectionist Lord Stanley was asked to form a government. He said he could not recruit adequate ministers, as Gladstone would not serve in his government, so Russell remained PM

Survived 6 years with the support of the Peelites and achieved the furtherence of free trade through the abolition of the Navigation Acts in 1849. These laws, first introduced in the 17th century, aimed to protect British trade from foreign competition, by stating that all goods shipped to Britain had to be carried in British or colonial ships. This would ensure that profits from trade with the colonies would be brought into the British economy

Question 19

What was the political affiliation of Lord Derby’s first ministry?

Answer 19

Conservative

Question 20

When did it take place?

Answer 20

1852

Question 21

Describe it

Answer 21

The government had no workable majority.

Russell resigned and the Earl of Derby, previously known as Lord Stanley, was willing to form a conservative government.

The members of his cabinet were not well known. Disraeli was appointed chancellor. They offered a place to Russell’s foreign secretary Palmerston but he said that he would not be a part of a government that did not fully support free trade

A general election was called in July 1852, but there was conservative uncertainty over the corn laws and free trade. Derby and many of the protectionists maintained their old ideas but Disraeli felt that the party had to be more realistic if they were to win elections…

‘If the country has chosen to abrogate protection, and if the majority of people in the country are of the opinion that it would be unwise to recur it, I say we must seek by other means, and in another direction, to place the cultivators of the soil in a fair and just position

In December, Disraeli attempted to help the landed interest in his budget; he did this by halving the taxes on malts and hops, reducing the duty on tea, extending income tax to Ireland, lowering the threshold for income tax and allowing some exemptions or lower tax rates for farming interests

The budget was rejected and the government fell

Question 22

Describe the political affiliation of Lord Aberdeen’s government

Answer 22

Whig-Peelite coalition

Question 23

When did it take place?

Answer 23

1852-5

Question 24

Describe it

Answer 24

Eventually defeated due to the stress caused by the Crimean war

Lord Aberdeen was a Peelite.

This coalition government shows the fluid nature of parliamentary politics at this time. The cabinet contained, six Peelites, six Liberals and one radical

Aberdeen said he wanted a ‘a liberal conservative government, in the sense of Robert Peel’

Gladstone was chancellor, Russell was foreign secrerary and Palmerston was Home Secretary

Palmerston resigned as Home Secretary when Aberdeen and Russell supported the establishment of a committee on franchise reform. The demands of some of the Peelites led to Palmerston’s reappointment

The Crimean War broke out in March 1854

Russell resigned as Foreign Secretary in Jan 1855

A week later a commons motion demanding enquiry into the conduct of war passed by 305-145. The government had been criticised for its conduct of the war and it resigned as a result of this motion

Question 25

Describe the political affiliation of Lord Palmerston’s first ministry

Answer 25

Whig

Question 26

When did it take place?

Answer 26

1855-8

Question 27

Describe it

Answer 27

Described by Disraeli as ‘an impostor, utterly exhausted’, due to his age. However, at 71 he surprised everyone with his energy, which he directed towards foreign policy

He agreed to the appointment of a committee of enquiry about the government’s conduct in the war

The Peelites, including Gladstone, resigned from the government

In 1857, he was defeated in the commons in a vote on his handling of foreign policy

Palmerston returned to power in the 1857 GE

Concentrated on foreign affairs, partriotism and promoting British interests abroad and won popular support for a time

In 1858 he was defeated on another foreign policy matter and resigned

Question 28

Describe the political affiliation of Lord Derby’s 2nd ministry

Answer 28

Conservative

Question 29

When did it take place?

Answer 29

1858-9

Question 30

Describe it

Answer 30

The government was backed by Disraeli but lacked a majority

Progressed democracy by abolising the property qualifications to stand as an MP, one of the 6 demands of the Chartists, theoretically opening the door for men of few means to become MPs. They also opened the door for practising Jews to sit in parliament

The government was defeated in a conservative reform bill in 1859

However, the government remained in office after a GE

After the meeting at Willis’s Rooms (where the Liberal Party officially formed)

Shortly after the government was defeated in a vote of confidence and Derby resigned

Question 31

Describe the political affiliation of Lord Palmerston’s 2nd ministry

Answer 31

Whig-Peelite and Liberals

Question 32

When did it take place?

Answer 32

1859-65

Question 33

Describe it

Answer 33

After more than a decade of shifting political power, various radical and liberal groups made an agreement to work together, forming this relatively stable government

Led by Palmerston, now in his 70s. His chief concern was still foreign affairs

Despite the ‘liberal’ label attaching itself to this government Palmerston refused to contemplate reform

A more cohesive government, a bridge between 1850 group politics and the party politics that was about to emerge. Their chief concern was foreign affairs, they passed legislation and Palmerston blocked all reform before dying in office

His cabinet was described by a contemporary as ‘a great bundle of sticks’, with members ranging from aristocratic Whigs, including Lord Russell, through to Peelites and to two radicals

Gladstone was chancellor and tied up the ends on free trade

Despite differences between members, especially Palmerston and Gladstone on finance, it proved to a stable adminsitration

Some have seen it as the first liberal government

Question 34

Describe the political affiliation of Lord Russel’s second ministry

Answer 34

Whigs, Peelites, Liberals and Radicals

Question 35

When did it take place?

Answer 35

1865-6

Question 36

Describe it

Answer 36

Palmerston died in office on the eve of winning an election, so Russell formed a government instead

Russell immediately introduced a bill on parliamentary reform, but failed to convince enough of his own party and was defeated

Moving towards unity as liberals

Question 37

Describe the political affiliation of Lord Derby’s 3rd ministry

Answer 37

Conservative

Question 38

When did it take place?

Answer 38

1866-8

Question 39

Describe it

Answer 39

Politically powerless

Passed the 2nd GRA (1867), one of the most important pieces of legislation of this era

Derby retired due to illness, nominating Disraeli as his successor

Question 40

Describe the political affiliations of Disraeli’s first ministry

Answer 40

Conservative

Question 41

When did it take place?

Answer 41

1868

Question 42

Describe it

Answer 42

Politically powerless, no majority

Disraeli was determined and ambitious for his party

Lost the 1868 election despite having the support of Queen Victoria, resigning after just under a year in office