The ideas and ideology of the Whig party 1832-46

Question 1

How did the Whigs traditionally differ to the Tories?

Answer 1

They believed in a constitutional monarchy, where the monarch’s powers of patronage would be limited

Question 2

What do McCord and Purdue say had become clear following the GRA?

Answer 2

‘Royal favour could no longer sustain an office in ministry which could not win from the electorate the support of a commons majority’

Question 3

What had William IV’s political movements in the 1830s proven?

Answer 3

He attempted to manipulate who should run the government, and in doing so it became clear that it was no longer sufficient for the government to hold the confidence of the King, it must also have the approval of the electorate

Question 4

Why was this state of affairs what the Whigs wanted?

Answer 4

Because it was in line with their principles

Question 5

What was the consequence of the GE of Dec 1832?

Answer 5

It was the first one after the GRA and it delivered the Whigs a resounding majority in the commons and brought more middle class and radical elements within their number

Question 6

What did the majority of Whigs still belong to?

Answer 6

Powerful aristocratic landowning families, most of whom regarded the concessions of the GRA as a final settlement

Question 7

What was the consequence of leading Whigs sitting in the HoL?

Answer 7

It meant they had enough influence for the junior branches of their families to be assured of seats in the commons

Question 8

What was similar about the Whig and Tory parties?

Answer 8

They were both parties of self interest

Question 9

Why does Richard Brown say the Whigs had brought in parliamentary reform?

Answer 9

Because they had realised that it was ‘necessary and advantageous’

Question 10

What were the two reasons that the Whigs saw parliamentary reform as beneficial at this time?

Answer 10

• They recognised that it was necessary to consider middle class opinion
• They recognised they would gain advantage by getting rid of the Tory dominated rotten boroughs, thus strengthening their position in parliament

Question 11

What did the Whigs not do once they had achieved their objectives through the GRA?

Answer 11

Pursue a programme of further reform

Question 12

Why did the Whigs believe that no further reform was needed after 1832?

Answer 12

Because they thought they had gone far enough by dealing with the revolutionary threats and revitalising the political system

Question 13

What would happen to political reform in the coming years?

Answer 13

There was little further political reform for 30 years

Question 14

List some of the ground breaking social reforms the Whigs passed following the GRA

Answer 14

• The 1833 Factory Act
• The 1833 Abolition of Slavery
• The 1835 Municipal Corporations Act

Question 15

What motivated these Whig social reforms?

Answer 15

A number of progressive Whigs were motivated by the humanitarian movement that sought to improve the living and working conditions of the labouring poor and by Bentham’s utilitarianism, which promoted the necessity of usefulness in laws and institutions

Question 16

What happened to the Whigs strong parliamentary majority at subsequent GEs?

Answer 16

They lost ground but still retained an overall majority

Question 17

How did this cause discord between the Whigs and radicals?

Answer 17

• The Whigs blamed the radicals for frightening off moderate support
• The radicals criticised the Whigs for failing to keep up the momentum following the GRA

Question 18

Why could the Whig party no longer be called one of reform?

Answer 18

• Grey was coming to the end of his career and had lost his reforming zeal
• Melbourne did not think there were any pressing issues that needed to be resolved
• The most outspoken reformers, Lords Russell Brougham and Durham were dropped from the cabinet in 1835

Question 19

What was the main structural weakness of the Whigs?

Answer 19

They were not a party in the formal sense, but rather more of a coalition

Question 20

Why was the party more of a coalition?

Answer 20

Because of their inclusion of the radicals, who wanted further reform, and their dependence on the fragile support of the Irish MPs, whose immediate agenda was to press for Irish concessions, but it was suspected their main goal was the break up of the union

Question 21

What Whig weakness gave the conservatives an upper hand?

Answer 21

They lacked effective organisation, which was essential for maintaining power. Conversely, this is something the conservatives were paying close attention to

Question 22

What were the three main ideologies that influenced the progressive whigs in terms of social and political reform?

Answer 22

Utilitarianism, evangelicalism and humanitarianism

Question 23

Explain utilitarianism

Answer 23

Based on the view that minimal interference in people’s lives would bring the greatest happiness to the greatest number. He saw it as the government’s duty to therefore impose as little restrictions as possible. This resonated with the leading Whigs

Question 24

Explain evangelicalism

Answer 24

Spiritual movement within the CoE, which encouraged righteousness, adherence to the Bible and to seek salvation through faith. Followers promoted a morality based on their faith, which relied on decency in a well ordered and stable society. This appealed to Whig ideals

Question 25

Explain humanitarianism

Answer 25

This was a belief in the worthiness of human beings, behaving decently and benevolently towards your fellow man, philanthropy, and a love of mankind, demonstrated by contributing to general welfare.

Question 26

What did humanitarianism steer politicians towards doing?

Answer 26

Adopting a sense of duty towards the poorer members of society