ideology of whig party - grey,melbourne,peel

general election December 1832

after reform act grey called for election, the newly-enfranchised middle classes gave Grey a vote of confidence with a considerable majority of the Commons - theWhigs had 479 seats, while the Tories had 179

issues for whigs after 1832 election

call for reform united otherwise disparate groups, reform act encouraged calls for further reform instead of ending it, problems in ireland, whigs were divided and a minority

whigs divided

were not one single coherent group, divided between moderates and radicals, the radicals were divided amongst themselves as to what issues were most important (apart from further political reform) so their effectiveness was reduced. However they still queried every institution and every tax, and continued to push for extensive reform so although useful in opposition not good once in power

whigs minority

a section of the aristocracy so a small part of british society, to make an impact they had to represent a wide range of interests that looked to them to take the lead

call for reform uniting disparate groups

political reform sheltered a wide range of different social and political interests: reforming aristocratic whigs, radicals, non-conformists, irish repealers, slavery abolitionists, the politically conscious working class - it was a coalition

issues in ireland

continuing rural unrest in Ireland and calls for the repeal of the Act of Union, Coercion Act of 1833 was passed which gave powers to the authorities in Ireland including curfew impositions and suppression of disturbances. However Russell, who believed in concessions as a way to deal with the unrest, proposed using Irish church funds for educational and social benefits for the Catholic poor. However this split the whigs further and led to the resignation of leading whigs such as Stanley.

downfall of greys gov

when grey discovered that some whigs, including brougham and littleton, were conspiring with O’Connell to dilute the Corecion Act, he resigned as prime minister and whig leader

prime minister after grey

William IV invited Melbourne to form a government, but told him to not form a whig gov but a coalition including Stanley, Wellington and Peel. however melbourne refused and williams coalition scheme failed, so in 1834 melbourne became whig prime minister

why melbourne chosen by william

known for his conservative approach to reform (although he was a whig supporter), and this would safeguard William against policies he disliked

melbourne fall

in his attempt to appease the king after his coalition refusal he upset the radical whigs such as Henry Brougham by excluding them from his cabinet. He wanted Russell as Chancellor and Leader of the Commons but the king disliked him due to his radical tendencies, so he refused and dismissed the government even though it had a majority in the house of commons

prime minister after melbourne

william asked peel to take office in hopes moderate whigs would join him, but he was far short of a majority

fall of peel

gov only lasted 100 days due to his lack of majority and king’s interference angered the whigs and radicals so a concerted effort was made to bring down peel

impact of peel prime ministership

led to formation of conservative party, led to key moves towards the formation of the liberal party, led to general election 1835

formation of conservative party

1834 tamworth manifesto created, by occupying office peel became not only the conservative leader but impressed the public with his competence and skill

tamworth manifesto

issued by peel in 1834, outlined a new approach to post-reform conservatism, arguing that the tories accepted the 1832 reform act and would govern in the future on a principle of moderate reform to preserve what was best in the constitution but reform abuses

formation of the liberal party

return of the tories shocked whigs and radicals and they realised they had to combine in order to return to power, done through the lichfield house compact

lichfield house compact

Russell’s forming of a pact with O’Connell which promised Irish support for the Whigs in parliament and a whig commitment to carry through Irish reforms when the Whigs returned to power. The Irish MPs took this chance now to call for an end to the Act of Union, and this seriously discredited the whig government. The Whigs could not get a reasonable measure through the Lords to abolish the system of church rates and failed at the initiative

general election 1835

whig victory, 385 whig seats to 273 conservative

whig ideology

aristocratic leadership of the reform movement, so features advocates for both reformism and conservatism

whig reformism

the whigs embodied a long historical commitment (to the 17th century and the glorious revolution) to defending the liberties of englishmen from the overbearing actions of arbitrary monarchs

whig conservatism

the reforms whigs favoured were subject to severe limitations, they were intended to uphold the existing social and political structure so moderate reform was favoured which was completely on their terms and designed to prevent more radical reform under pressure from the mass of the population

other influences on whigs

utilitarianism, evangelicalism, humanitarianism

reason for growth of conservatives

developing weakness of the whigs, strong leader, changing ideology

weakness of whigs development

• Extravagant hopes raised by the reform act which could not be met. Governing through a mixed constitution meant the whigs had little room for manoeuvre and had limited ability to govern through popular policies.

• Absence of a consistent whig policy.

• Loss of public confidence from belief that whigs would give in to any public pressure.

improved tory party organisation

Francis Bonham became tory election manager in 1832, and ensured the use of parliamentary whips (employed people from among the party members to attend crucial debates and increase voting strength), had more frequent party members meetings, created a sense of party solidarity across the country which is demonstrated by the springing up of local conservative party organisations.

peel improved leadership

Peel quickly established his authority over Tory MPs in the Commons, instead of opposing every Government measure Peel used his influence to get certain whig bills through parliament which encouraged moderate whigs into the tory ranks (for example Sir James Graham and Lord Stanley who were uncomfortable with the radical influence in the whig party, they both accepted posts in Peel’s government in 1841).

changing tory ideology

Peel’s Tamworth Manifesto was deliberate attempt to impose his own vision of the party on his followers, represented an attempt to dissociate the party from the reputation of wellington and high tories, situated the party as one of order and good government, signalled their acceptance of the reform act

peel’s appeal to the middle class

recognised that the middle class was now the most important part of the electorate, had to reach out to growing commercial and professional middle class if it were to have a chance at power, to appeal to this class peel sought to associate the party with administrative and executive competence since middle class more interested in good and efficient gov with low taxation and protection of property, and redress of clear abuses and corruption

election 1841

367 conservative seats to 271 whig