Britain c1851 - 1964: Political Developments 1851 - 1885

1789

French Revolution - Showed that change was possible

1815

Corn Laws - Had to pay heavy tax on imported food (Corn)

- Landed elite owned farms which produced the corn

- Landed elite ran the government so priced their crops slightly less expensive than imported crops

1819

Peterloo Massacre - Many peaceful protesters slain by cavalry

- Highlighted upper class attitudes to middle and working class

1832

Great Reform Act - Helped to limit rotten Boroughs

- Improved franchise - 1/5 men could now vote

1846

Repeal of Corn Laws -Whigs wanted to ban theCorn Laws

- Whigs were mostly made up of the bourgeoisie, wages down, food down - profits up

- Tory party disagreed over the Corn Laws so split into conservatives (Pro-corn) and the Peelies (Con-corn)

- Conservatives were weakened (Later allowed Disraeli to move through the ranks quickly)

1848

Year of Revolutions - Garibaldi came to the UK and promoted revolution and reform as it had been sucessful in Italy

- Made people optimistic about Reform and change

1851

Russels attempted Reform - Failed - Tried too much at one time (tried to pass six reform bills at once)

1852

Merger of Whigs and Peelites - Formed Liberal Party - Split over Corn Laws

1857

No Property Qualifications - Extended the franchise slightly, Happened because of Middle Class pressure

1864

Liberals - Reform Union established to protest for a secret ballot MC

1865

Liberals - Reform League established to protest for adult male suffrage WC

1865

Palmerston Dies - Liberal leader who hated Reform

1867

2nd Reform Act - Disraeli had to propose Reform

- He knew he needed to extend the franchise to gain more votes

- He knew he needed to propose Reform as it was going to happen anyway

- He thought people that wanted Reform would vote for him

- He thought with a 'light' Reform there would'nt be any back benchers

1868

Gladstone Government - Liberals ruled strongly for decades

1872

Liberals - Secret Ballot Act - Allowed people to vote in private - No more public Hustings

1875

Conservatives - Picketing Leagalised - Trade Unions allowed to protest

- Benefitted the Working Class

1883

Liberals - Corrupt Practices Act - Limited campaign spending

- Stopped bribery of people to vote from parties

- Couldn't intimidate people as Hustings were removed

1884

Liberals - 3rd Reform Act - Extended the Franchise to 'skilled' Working Class men (Tenant Farmers)

1885

Liberals - Redistribution of Seats Act - Removed Borough and County Constituencies and made them equal

- Remapped Constituency boundaries

- Removed Rotten Boroughs

- Made everything more equal

Gladstone Liberalism

Chancellor from 1859

Liberal Party leader from 1866

What was Lord Palmerston's stance on reform before 1865?

He blocked all attempts until his death in 1865

Who supported reform along with Lord Russell?

Radical John Bright

What was Gladstone's initial stance on reform?

He initially opposed reform but changed his view in 1865

What did Gladstone believe in and was he opposed by?

He belived the ruling class should govern the country

He opposed unfair abuse of privilege

What did most Liberals support by 1884?

The 3rd Reform Act

What was Gladstone's stance on Retrenchment?

There should be minimum government intervention, allowing maximum freedom for individuals

What was Gladstone's stance on Laissez Faire and Free Trade?

- Government should not interfere with the economy, Free trade is the key to prosperity

- Gladstone removed over 400 tariffs and supported the repeal of the Corn Laws

What was Gladstone's stance on Self Help?

- Government should not help people too much or they will become dependant on the state

- However pressure from radicals meant Gladstone had the pass social legislation like the 1871 Bank Holiday Act

What was Gladstone's stance on Individual liberty and religious freedom?

- Gladstone personally was a CofE

- Many liberals were nonconformists

Where was the support for the Liberals stronger?

Borough constituencies

How much of the Liberal MPs were from the landed elite?

40%

After 1874 how many Liberals were from a business and industry background?

25%

What was Disraeli's stance on Defence of traditional institutions?

- Disraeli wanted to preserve the power of the Lords, the Monarch and the Church of England

What was Disraeli's stance on Reform?

- After the Liberals failed to pass their Reform Bill in 1866 Disraeli and Derby decided to support it in the hopes of gaining the support of new voters

What was Disraeli's stance of Mass appeal?

- Disreali sought to create an alliance between the upper classes and the working classes as he thought this would strengthen the aristocracy.

- He critisized the Liberals focus on self help as failing to support the working classes

What was Disraeli's stance of Paternalism?

The establishment should work to promote the good of society (father to a child)

What was Disraeli's stance of Free Trade?

By the late 1850s Disreali and the conservatives now supported free trade

Where was the support for the Conservatives stronger?

- County constituencies

- The Aristocracy gave them a permanent majority in the HoL

What were the main causes of Reform?

- Political Motives

- Public and popular pressure

- Role of Gladstone and the Liberals

- Role of Disraeli

- Social and economic change led to increased support for Reform