pitttttt to peeeel 555555

peels’ general ideas?

• considered to be a conservative:

  • to conserve traditional institutions e.g. monarchy, church of england

• he accepted they should be changed if reform proved necessary

• and if reform were introduced gradually + were modest

how long and why did peel come to power?

• in 1834

• lots of disrupt in the Whigs

• king believed they were too weak so asked peel

• he came as he wanted to support the king, knew only a majority in electorate would truly give him power

• so set out plans for reform

• but was not enough as the whigs had a pact w/ irish MPs

• closed the chance for conservative majority in HoC

• resigned in 1835

--showed they could no longer rely on monarch to obtain power

what problems did peel face when coming to power in 1834

• party was divided , some had even joined the whigs (canning) + ultra-tories still furious about catholic emancipation

• divided over parliamentary reform

• mood of country wanted change while the tories didnt want it

• did not do well in 1832 general election, fell to 170 seats

so what did peel decide to do?

• knew he couldn’t go completely against it as the whole country wanted

• if he supported it it would put a barrier between himself and others in the pary

• decided to oppose reform in debates from 1830-32 but did not block it entirely

• refused to condemn it, but didnt want to be seen supporting it

what were peels party reforms?

• carlton club set up in 1832 and sent out info about policies to MPs and candidates

• conservative associations set up, normally run by local solicitors

• they organised speakersand gave voters info at elections

• made his own policy clear to public ,

• issues his Tamworth manifesto in 1834 which outlined his views

-played a big role in the party overall success in 1841 election

how was it limited?

• not much money available

• x issue pamphlets and posters which became more common later

reforms peel introduced despite being in power for short time

• allow civil marriage and non-conformists to arrange the service how they wished

• so no one who wished to marry would have to use CoE

• began an enquiry leading to reform of tithes (taxes to CoE) in 1835

what effect did this have on the party?

• lead to victory in 1841 election,

• but peel continued without this support

ladies of the bedhcamber

• 1839 a whig melbourne resigned because he x have support for a reform

• peel had the chance to step in again but didnt

• queen victoria’s ladies oftbc known to favour the whigs, could exercise political influence

• very important as political agitation had emerged

election of 1841

• huge victory for conservatives

• old-fashioned, opposing to change, only appeal to rich landowners

• → national party able to win election by majority

problems britain had in 1841?

• budget deficit

• falling trade

• social and political unrest

• middle-class agitation

explain the issue of budget deficit

• budget deficit was £1.8 million

• likely to grow to £2.5 million by 1843 -

• lots of public spending- 3/5 was going to repaying interest on national debt

explain falling trade

• this economic downturn had hit trade which effected government income

• because nearly 80% came from customs and excise duties

explain social and political unrest

• bad harvests → high bread prices

• ,people can’t afford it (SOCIAL)

• encouraged the support for chartism (POITICAL)

explain middle class agitation

• wanted end to the Corn Laws

• pressure group (ACLL) was formed who called for the end of the Corn Laws

so what did peel do in terms of taxes?

what was his overall strategy?

• introduce measures for freer trade to encourage prosperity → raise income → raise taxes

• pay for short-term loss of income from taxes on trade

• by introducing Pitt’s idea of an income tax

what did Peel do for taxes?

• income tax of 7 pence in the pound to be levied on incomes over £150 - x effect most of the population

• would raise over £3 million / 3 years to pay for the reduction on duties like raw materials (timber) and coffee

• cut duties on 430 items , and it cut the cost of britains major manufacture (cotton textiles)

• reduced living costs and ending tax on sales

what did Peel do for banking?

• Bank Charter Act prevented the circulation of excessive paper money

• only the Bank of England could issue paper money which was to the value of gold reserves

• allowed to also issue £14 million , fiduciary issue

• lead to business expansion due to their being more money in circulation

-peel’s aim was to ensure money kept its value

-but growing businesses needed more money, so he developed systems of bills of exchange and cheques

what did Peel do for railways?

• massive railway boom from 1844-46

• by 1853, 3,000 tracks had been laid

• first railway - Stocktron-Darlington line - represented a very rapid expansion

• encourages British exports

what was the key thing that peel did

• he was ready to offer gov. intervention when needed

• e.g. ensuring some control over development of railways +

• some labourers Rin mines and factories

• economic balance shifted from agriculture → industry which peel recognised

what was so special about the ACLL?

WHO: lead by radical business men: Richard Cobden and John Bright

WHAT: one of the great pressures groups

WHERE: many cities like Nottingham , but greatest support from middle-class in northern urban areas

WHY: to bring together different groups protesting against the Corn Laws

WHEN: established in 1839

-they were angered by the way those who ran the country had little consideration for the workers and manufacturers

what did the ACLL say

• corn horns were against the ideals of free trade (one of greatest ideals)

• workers needed cheaper bread to improve living standards

• stopping foreign countries giving b wheat meant they wouldn’t have incentive to buy from b either

• the corn laws only benefitted landlords and aristocrats , b should have in mind the new middle classes

arguments against corn laws

• workers needed cheaper bread to + standards of living

• areas didn’t produce enough corn for people to live there, and x afford more expensive corn so famine

• benefitted landowners and aristocracy and were a symbol of their power

• high cost of bread → manufacturing costs were high → depression in late 1830s

arguments for the corn laws

• British farmers were benefiting from them

• compared to industrialists agriculture was struggling, so it helped those in

• after the laws: the imports x affect the domestic price (corn was expensive to import )

what were the ACLL tactics?

• lectures / speeches / public meetings / rallies

  • free trade hall in Manchester in 1843, 7,000 people

• literature (pamphlets + posters) with key tactic of influencing elections

• Bought property in county constituencies like Cheshire to vote

what were the limitations?

• little attempt at direct action or civil disobedience

• x attempt to link up with chartism

• no attempt to link up with workers who staged major strikes in 1842

reasons that the ACLL was

• laws repealed in 1846

• some success getting supporters elected in west midlands

• had influential MPs such as Cobden and Bright

ACLL not successful?

• x get a large no. supporters elected

• limited support (largely a middle class movement, failed support from working and upper class)

• there was an Anti-League

• peel’s own support for repealing the corn laws

• unlikely to have forced a reversal in policy if peel refused

what were the long-term factors for the repeal?

1. role of ACLL

2. support for free trade among middle class

3. role of influential MPs - peel admitted to being influenced by them

short-term factors for repeal?

• Irish famine

• role of whigs

in general whats some reasons why peel repealed the corn laws?

• he was former chief secretary of Ireland, so was concerned about law and order breaking down

• he was also a supporter of free trade , so x make sense to continue restrictions on corn trade

• had support of most of his cabinet (not lord Stanley)

• his view was to act on what he thought was right

how did the Irish famine contribute to the repeal of the corn laws?

• 1845-46

• potati crop failed due to blight (disease)

• Ireland already poor, most small farmers x sustain themselves

• so a desperate need to import corn from abroad

• (+potential for revolution if they didnt)

who was lord John Russel

• whig

• PM from 1846-52

• replaced peel

how did the role of the Whigs contribute to the repeal of the corn laws?

• nov 1845- Johnny said he was in support of repeal

• which meant peel had majority in parliament

• Duke of wellington (tory) reluctantly said he did too

• so majority of peels cabinet supported him , but most tory backbenchers didn’t so it was split

• dec 1846- peel says he’ll repeal

• resigned on 5 December , whig refused to form a gov

• 20 dec 1845- peel comes back

what did the bill say?

• 2 stage process

• 1- 1846-49 - DUTY on IMPORTED CORN reduced to 1s

• 2- a “NOMINAL DUTY” of 1s

why had the tory party been so split?

• corn laws

• peel’s personality

• + he’d wound up MPs before (catholic emancipation, changing the party in 1830s, willingness for reforms that benefitted non-conformists + catholics)

• they thought he had too much. favour for middle class

• (tory MPs wanted it to remain in favour of the aristocracy, and some struggled to come to terms with new industrial and modern and urban Britain)

what was the effect of peel repealing corn law

• solved a national problem yet created a political disaster

• peel passed it using the whigs (opposition) and minority of his party

• so majority of his party were furious w/ him

• Disraeli opp

• seen as betrayal

• a question of party loyalty or national interest

+whigs and radicals joined peel supporters to form basis of liberal party

factors for peels fall

1. repeal of corn laws

2. party disunity

3. personal leadership style (seen as untrustworthy)

4. economic and political pressures (Irish famine + industrialisation)