The 1846 split Flashcards
How did Peel’s 1841-6 ministry come to an end?
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
What government was formed after?
Lord John Russell then formed a Whig/liberal government
Describe the 5 main groups in the commons at this time
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
Describe the two men who would become particularly important in this upcoming era
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
What was the consequence of corn law repeal for the party system?
The damage the conservative party suffered due to corn law repeal brought about a significant realignment of the two main parties
Give a statistic to display the political instability during this period and state what this political instability led people to believe
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
What can this period be seen as?
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
How did the conservatives reorganise themselves during this period?
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
What does Eric J Evans say about this period?
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
Describe Lord George Bentinck
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
Describe Benjamin Disraeli
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
Describe William Gladstone
One of the leading Peelites
Eventually formed the liberal party
Background we would typically associate with a conservative
Describe Lord Palmerston
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
Describe Lord Derby/Stanley
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
Describe Lord Aberdeen
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
Describe the party composition of Lord Russel’s first ministry
Whig
When did it take place?
1846-52
Describe it
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
What was the political affiliation of Lord Derby’s first ministry?
Conservative
When did it take place?
1852
Describe it
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
Describe the political affiliation of Lord Aberdeen’s government
Whig-Peelite coalition
When did it take place?
1852-5
Describe it
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
