Pitt to Peel OCR A-level (Topic 5 - Peel and the Conservative Party)

What problems did the Tories face in 1832?

- The Tories were split over Catholic Emancipation: into Ultra Tories and Canningites, who both hated Peel
- Peel was firmly against Parliamentary reform
- Disliked by many groups outside of Parliament
- Middle class voters would not vote for the Tories (but for the Whigs)

Tamworth Manifesto, 1834

Established the core principles of the new Conservative Party, under Robert Peel

Timeline of Peel to becoming a political party leader, 1832-41?

1830: Ultra Tories split from Tory party, Britain in economic slump, faith for Whigs being lost
1832, GRA: Seats redistributed; Middle class voted for Whigs; Whigs reputation was considerable increased
1832, General Election: Whigs 483 seats, Conservatives 175, due to GRA
1834: Tamworth Manifesto, Peel stated 'New Conservative' aims, and agreed to respect past reforms, but remain as the last to pass; not enough to majorly transform party or gain large increase of electorate
Dec 1834-Mar 1835, Peel's 100 day government: Unexpectedly became PM; 4 Ultra Tories and enlightened Conservatives in Cabinet; Investigated Anglican Church finances; grew his reputation as leader; displayed personal qualities as PM
1839, Bedchamber Crisis: PM Melbourne wished to resign when Victoria came to the throne, Peel refused to be PM, keeping Melbourne as PM for 2 more years, Whigs reputation tarnished over the 2 years
1841: Whigs 291 seats, Conservatives 367 seats; A Conservative government under Peel came to power

Reason Peel was responsible for a Conservative Victory

- Formed key document suggesting their commitment to gradual change and moderate reform & representing the interests of all people
- A deliberately moderate approach taken by Peel allowed some Whig MPs to defect to the Conservative Party
- Peel oversaw the growth of a professional party structure - giving MPs a social life and help placing constituencies
- Peel's 'outsider' background helped him to fight for adversity
- '100 Day minority govt', Peel used it to unite his split party and grow his reputation
- Peel chose the correct times to challenge the Whigs (Bedchamber Crisis)
- He chose to support Whig reforms, sending a message to the new electorate
- Strategic attacks against the Whigs were taken, only attacking to stop some reforms and please Ultra and trad Whigs (allowing dissenters to Oxbridge and reduce the power of the Anglican Church in Ireland)

Reason Peel wasn't responsible for a Conservative Victory

- Tamworth Manifesto wasn't actually enough to win a large amount of the electorate
- Party improvement was mainly due to the work of the Chief Whip - Freemantle - and the Conservatives desire to gain power
- New electorate organisation was mainly overseen and managed by Bonham, not Peel
- Conservative Associations were created by local activists, independent from Peel
- The Whigs defeated themselves, their policies criticised by radicals for more change, but also criticised for too much reform
- The Whigs became deeply divided and many Whigs defected to the Conservative Party
- Successful Conservative campaign mainly due to trad Tories winning back their strongholds in English counties

Benign Neglect, 1841-2

Focused all interests on England, Earl De Grey damaged Catholic relations

Coercion, 1843-6

Banned O'Connell's Clontarf meeting in 1843, frustrated Young Ireland. 1848, Young Ireland failed to start an uprising.

Charitable Bequests Act, 1844

Catholics were allowed to make land and monetary donations to the Church - closer linking property class and church.

Irish Queen Colleges Act, 1845

Middle class Catholics were given the opportunity to attend university, in order to open better careers for them.

Maynooth Grant Act, 1845

Gave £30 000 to the Catholic Priest training, hoped to win the support of the Priest Union who influence the Peasants.

Lord Devon in 'Devon Commission', 1843

Investigations on land renting - Ended stating that compensation should be given to tenants if they have improved the farm and then moved on

Great Irish Potato Famine, 1845

Blight upon potato crops led to mass starvation - Peel imported corn, public work schemes for employment, local relief committees - 1850: 1 million died, 1 million emigrated

Taxation policy

Problem: £1.8 million deficit - debt growing; Income tax was abolished by Liverpool 1816
What changed: Income tax re-established; 7d in a pound on incomes >£150 pa
Success: £3mn raised over 3 yrs - didn't effect the poor
Limitations: Tory MPs were unhappy - w/ reduction of Corn Law - Tories elected on preface of agricultural protection

Free Trade Budgets policy

Problem: Decreased trade led to reduced revenue; Poor harvests led to high bread prices + working class unrest
What changed: Trade free measures introduced: e.g. lowered/no duties; no export duties
Success: Feb 1845 annual surplus of £3.4 million; Decreased coal prices boosted steam powered industries
Limitations: lowered/cut duties, losing £680 000 revenue

Bank Charter Act, 1844

Problem: After 182 Banking Act - printed notes caused inflation; people lost faith & didn't invest savings
What changed: Only Bank of England could issue bank notes; notes based on the value of gold - made them more trustworthy
Success: Trust in banks returned + more invested savings
Limitations: Stability due to gold discoveries in California; stability due to innovation of cheques and bills of exchange

Companies Act, 1844

Problem: Businesses could only be established by an Act, Parliament or Royal approval
What changed: All businesses officially registered after this, they had legal status; All businesses to publish annual accounts
Success: Businesses could be set up easier - led to economic growth
Limitations: limited liability did not come until 1855

Railway Regulation Act, 1844

Problem: Laying railway tracks crucial for industrialisation; high ticket prices to cover the costs
What changed: Required cheap travel to be provided to benefit the working class; Parliament could purchase railways and inspect their accounts
Success: Improved quality + availability of third-class railway travel; Prevented excessive borrowing by investors for 'railway construction'
Limitations: Companies eventually got rid of 2nd class to pay for less carriages

Corn Law - Irish Potato Famine, 1845-9

To cheapen bread prices - hoped to save lives from starvation. Corn was imported from USA after it was abolished.
- Argued to only help pinpoint Peel's timing to repeal it, not an actual deciding factor

Corn Law - Long term economic aims

Change was needed to help feed the rapidly increasing population: to create cheaper bread, so as to feed the future and current labouring force, and sustain the economy.

Corn Law - Free Trade Budget, 1842-5

Free Trade Budget had been successful in boosting the economy, jobs, trade and consumption. Peel believed the repeal of the Corn Law would do the same.

Corn Law - Anti-Corn Law League

1839: Created to gather and protest about the Corn Law: argued that the country should switch from agricultural to industrial interests, and that lower food prices would encourage more trade, increase Br goods demand and boost jobs/wages.
Very organised, spreading their ideas via newspapers, rallied mass meetings etc.

Corn Law -Unrest and support

Peel hoped to win the gratitude of the working class, and stop the increasing support of radical groups (like the Chartists).

Successes of the Corn Law Repeal

- Boosted trade between foreign countries
- Increased Peel's popularity among the working class
- Had statues and pubs later named after him as gratitude to his efforts

Limitations of the Corn Law Repeal

- Some believed other factors were responsible for the success: growth of railways, new fertilisers, steam powered ploughing technology
- Left rural areas unprotected: 1870 depression
- Split the Tory Party: forced Peel to resign as PM
- Disraeli and Lord Bentinck set up a Committee of rebel Tories

Anti-Corn Law League

Formed May 1839, by Parkes and Cobden, they aimed to rally support for the repeal of the Corn Law (established in 1815), and a shift of Br focus on agriculture to industrialisation. They organised mass meetings, and were funded by Middle Class factory owners; ideas were published in newspapers, letters, pamphlets and Mayors/Foreign ambassadors invited to banquets.

Reasons for the Conservative split, 1846

Peels leadership: He lacked human qualities needed to maintain his party, rarely consulting fellow MPs and held poor relations with his backbenchers
National v. Party priorities: Peel sought to benefit National interest, yet many party MPs wanted to listen to their voters; also, Peel disregarded the backbenchers' opinions
Religious reforms: Many still distrusted Peel over Catholic Emancipation; proposal of Maynooth increased funding was challenged by Conservative backbenchers and received 100 000 petitions, the vote showed a Cons. split of 149 v. 148
Social reforms: Amendment of Factory Act revealed hostility towards Peel in the vote as he forced rebels to abandon their campaigns
Corn Laws: Conservative MPs feared Peel would abandon agricultural protectionism; Agricultural MPs felt betrayed by Peel