Theme 2 - Changing Influence & Popularity of the Crown Flashcards
What was the extent of change 1780-1837
Overall little change but a big decline in popularity + start lose influence?
What were the limitations to unpopoularity of the crown 1780-1837
- even early radicals not republican, appeal to GIV (Spa Fields etc).
- Some criticise monarchs but language defends Crown
What were the key events 1780-1837 which affected the crowns influence
- Dunning’s Motion
- Catholic emancipation
- 1832 Reform Act
- Failure of Peel’s 100 day ministry
Explain the key events 1780-1837 which affected the crowns influence
-Dunning’s Motion
- Dunning’s Motion - 1780, criticises Crown influence + spending
- Reduction in sinecures (paid offices for service to the Crown)
Explain the key events 1780-1837 which affected the crowns influence
-Catholic Emancipation
- GIV backs down against Wellington
Explain the key events 1780-1837 which affected the crowns influence
-1832 reform act
- 1832 Reform Act - WIV agrees to Grey’s demands. Sign of weakness and turning point - Reform leads to reduced influence (fewer placemen in
Commons = less influences, wrong to interfere in elections)
What were the key events 1780-1837 which affected the crowns influence
-Failure of Peel’s 100 day ministry
- Peel chosen by WIV against Parliament’s wishes, last time a monarch ever chooses PM over Parliament
What is the extent of change of crowns power 1837-71
- Overall, retention of some power but increasingly unpopular
What were the key events 1837-1871 which affected the crowns influence
- Bedchamber Crisis (1839)
- Involved in dismissal of Palmerston in 1851 and appointment of Aberdeen in 1852
- Kept informed
Also: growth in Republicanism 1869-71
Explain the key events 1837-1871 which affected the crowns influence
-Bedchamber crisis
- Victoria does not want Peel to become PM (wants Melbourne to stay) so refused to honour tradition of replacing Whig adies in waiting with Tories
- Does not wish to be neutral or be dictated to
Explain the key events 1837-1871 which affected the crowns influence
-appointing people
- Also involved in dismissal of Palmerston in 1851 and appointment of Aberdeen in 1852
- And other offices e.g. Archbishop of Canterbury
Explain the key events 1837-1871 which affected the crowns influence
-informed
Kept informed - contacts with Cabinet Ministers + others
Explain the key events 1837-1871 which affected the crowns influence
-republicanism
- Growth in Republicanism 1869-71
- Radical MPs: first Sir Charles Bradlaugh vs funing
- then Sir Charles Dilke - suggests abolishing monarchy in 1871
- Growth in Republican Clubs
- at its height: >60 MPs vote to cut or remove allowance for Victoria’s children
Describe the transition of power that took place 1871-1901
- Recovery of popularity and a move towards symbolic not actual power
- Actual power declines
Explain the recovery of popularity and a move towards symbolic not actual power 1871-1901
- Victoria becomes more visible + creates new image of monarchy Swift decline in Republicanism - by 1873 Dilke has apologised and is denying Republicanism
- Disraeli important too -Empress of India (symbolic / imperial power)
Explain how actual power of crown declines 1871-1901
- doesn’t want Gladstone as PM but Vic can’t stop him (esp 1880), opposed to reform and foreign policy, threatens to dissolve parliament but doesn’t
- She did get her choice of PM in 1894 though (Rosebery)
What could be seen as a key turning point with relation to Victoria’s marriage
- Turning point = Albert’s death (1861):
- she retreats from public life (in Scotland or Isle of Wight), rumours of affair, suggestions she should abdicate
Why is there an arguable turning point in 1872
- Turning point could be 1872 - Prince of Wales nearly dies and QV survives an assassination attempt
What is the importance of the 1874 election
- Disraeli wins - QV likes him
- Creation of image - mother / Empress - 2 jubliees help (as does old age)
- monarchy = a national institution to be proud of Lots of symbolism / PR
- buildings and monuments (Albert, Buck House and Westminster cathedral renovated)
Overall the crown could influence govt 1871-1901 if…
- if govt was weak or if they were slightly open to it
influence was otehrwise limited
What was the power trajectory of the monarch 1901-1928
- no ressurrection of actual power
- continued evidence of potential for influence in some circumstances
Explain how there was no ressurection of actual power 1901-1928
- increasingly evident that power resides entirely with elected representatives
- e.g. Parliament Act crisis 1910-11) - GV pushed into agreeing to extra peerages if need be,
Explain how there was continued evidence of potential for influence in some circumstances
- GV considers using the royal veto in 1914 over Home Rule (unclear how this would have panned out if war hadn’t intervened)
- Still some power in times of party weakness - e.g. Ramsay MacDonald appointment hen 1923 election doesn’t produce a clear winner
Explain the importance of the image of the moarchy 1901-28
Image of monarchy endures - suggests strength in symbolic power which leaves potential management and manipulation of image to retain some position (Christmas messages etc)
