19th century democracy, corn laws and prime ministers

how many men can vote in the mid 19th century (beginning of course)?

1/5 men (no women)

name 3 reasons democracy lacked in the mid 19th century (beginning)?

1. only 1/5 can vote- strict requirements changing on where you live (B or C)

2. voted in public in front of everyone- manipulated by employers and land owners etc

3. candidates could spend as much money as they want (no limits or laws to stop bribery)

4. constituencies were uneven in size- large towns underrepresented (rotten boroughs)

name 3 strengths of democracy in mid 19th century (beginning)?

1. laws to stop lords blocking bills came in 1911- can delay them for 2 years

2. 1832 reform act

3. got rid of rotten boroughs- 1832

4. house of commons (elected) became powerful

when was the law to stop lords blocking bills introduced?

1911

what is the 1832 reform act?

added 300,000 people to the vote (middle class)

how many people did 1832 reform act add?

300,000

when did they get rid of rotten boroughs?

1832

name 4 parts of getting votes in mid 19th century

1. local candidates put on big show with street theatre

2. handbills given out- speeches, songs, poems, etc

3. candidates offered voters free beer

4. information about candidates given out and read to people who can’t read

what do conservatives think about voting?

privilege to be earned

education needed to vote

only people who hold land as they have high stakes in the country

poor could be bribed

what do radicals think about voting?

voting is a right- all men should have

government affects everyone so all have stakes

working men contribute to country

rich already take advantage of existing voters

when were the corn laws introduced?

1815

who introduced the corn laws?

conservatives

why were the corn laws introduced?

wanted to keep price of grain artificially high to protect british agriculture

what did the corn laws do?

make food price rise

who repealed corn laws? what gov?

peele (PM) conservative

name 3 reasons the corn laws were repealed?

1845- potato famine in ireland

convinced by anti-corn law arguments → e.g. keeping good price low keeps workers on side = no communism

economic motive- cheaper food = cheaper wages

when was the potato famine in ireland?

1845

when were corn laws repealed?

1846

name 3 consequences of the corn laws being repealed?

1. dramatically split the tories- some left who supported peel and became known as the peelites

2. peele resigned

3. 1859- whigs and peelites form liberal party

4. Disraeli said he betrayed voters (land owners)

who forms liberal party? when?

whigs and peelites- 1859

how many tories voted against repeal of corn laws?

2/3

when was the conservative party founded from the tories?

1834

name 4 beliefs of tories

1. support monarchy

2. wanted catholic votes

3. land owner and gentry support

4. anti-reform

5. pro-slavery

6. against free trade

name 4 beliefs of whigs

1. monarch’s power should be limited by parliament

2. didn’t want catholic votes- protestants

3. banker and merchant support

4. pro-free trade

5. pro-reform

6. anti-slavery

name 2 characteristics of both tories and whigs

1. aristocratic families support

2. both adapted to reform but suspicious of it

3. competed for middle class reform

name 3 radical beliefs

1. lowering taxation

2. abolish slavery

3. increased franchise

4. lacked formal organisation

when did disraeli become PM for the first time?

1868

name 3 patterns of politics between 1846-1868

1. conservatives adapted to reform when necessary

2. tories invent one nation conservatism

3. tories keep getting minority governments after the corn law → had been extremely split

4. conservatives learn that the only way to win in the new system is to embrace reform

what united peelites and whigs?

free trade (don’t agree on much else)