Theme 2 - Changing Influence & Popularity of the Crown

Question 1

What was the extent of change 1780-1837

Answer 1

Overall little change but a big decline in popularity + start lose influence?

Question 2

What were the limitations to unpopoularity of the crown 1780-1837

Answer 2

• even early radicals not republican, appeal to GIV (Spa Fields etc).
• Some criticise monarchs but language defends Crown

Question 3

What were the key events 1780-1837 which affected the crowns influence

Answer 3

1. Dunning’s Motion
2. Catholic emancipation
3. 1832 Reform Act
4. Failure of Peel’s 100 day ministry

Question 4

Explain the key events 1780-1837 which affected the crowns influence
-Dunning’s Motion

Answer 4

• Dunning’s Motion - 1780, criticises Crown influence + spending
• Reduction in sinecures (paid offices for service to the Crown)

Question 5

Explain the key events 1780-1837 which affected the crowns influence
-Catholic Emancipation

Answer 5

• GIV backs down against Wellington

Question 6

Explain the key events 1780-1837 which affected the crowns influence
-1832 reform act

Answer 6

• 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)

Question 7

What were the key events 1780-1837 which affected the crowns influence
-Failure of Peel’s 100 day ministry

Answer 7

• Peel chosen by WIV against Parliament’s wishes, last time a monarch ever chooses PM over Parliament

Question 8

What is the extent of change of crowns power 1837-71

Answer 8

• Overall, retention of some power but increasingly unpopular

Question 9

What were the key events 1837-1871 which affected the crowns influence

Answer 9

• Bedchamber Crisis (1839)
• Involved in dismissal of Palmerston in 1851 and appointment of Aberdeen in 1852
• Kept informed
  Also: growth in Republicanism 1869-71

Question 10

Explain the key events 1780-1837 which affected the crowns influence
-Bedchamber crisis

Answer 10

• 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

Question 11

Explain the key events 1780-1837 which affected the crowns influence
-appointing people

Answer 11

• Also involved in dismissal of Palmerston in 1851 and appointment of Aberdeen in 1852
• And other offices e.g. Archbishop of Canterbury

Question 12

Explain the key events 1780-1837 which affected the crowns influence
-informed

Answer 12

Kept informed - contacts with Cabinet Ministers + others

Question 13

Explain the key events 1780-1837 which affected the crowns influence
-republicanism

Answer 13

• 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

Question 14

Describe the transition of power that took place 1871-1901

Answer 14

• Recovery of popularity and a move towards symbolic not actual power
• Actual power declines

Question 15

Explain the recovery of popularity and a move towards symbolic not actual power 1871-1901

Answer 15

• 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)

Question 16

Explain how actual power of crown declines 1871-1901

Answer 16

• 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)

Question 17

What could be seen as a key turning point with relation to Victoria’s marriage

Answer 17

• Turning point = Albert’s death (1861):
• she retreats from public life (in Scotland or Isle of Wight), rumours of affair, suggestions she should abdicate

Question 18

Why is there an arguable turning point in 1872

Answer 18

• Turning point could be 1872 - Prince of Wales nearly dies and QV survives an assassination attempt

Question 19

What is the importance of the 1874 election

Answer 19

• 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)

Question 20

Overall the crown could influence govt 1871-1901 if…

Answer 20

• if govt was weak or if they were slightly open to it
  influence was otehrwise limited

Question 21

What was the power trajectory of the monarch 1901-1928

Answer 21

• no ressurrection of actual power
• continued evidence of potential for influence in some circumstances

Question 22

Explain how there was no ressurection of actual power 1901-1928

Answer 22

• 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,

Question 23

Explain how there was continued evidence of potential for influence in some circumstances

Answer 23

• 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

Question 24

Explain the importance of the image of the moarchy 1901-28

Answer 24

Image of monarchy endures - suggests strength in symbolic power which leaves potential management and manipulation of image to retain some position (Christmas messages etc)