changing influences in parliament

when did george iii come to the throne

1760

what was different about george iii

keen to play an active role in politics - appointed ministers who did not have the support of the hoc

how did george iii maintain his political influence

increased practice of sinecures and patronage

what was the conventional relationship between the hol and hoc in the late 18th c

head of aristocratic family sat in hol, male siblings and sons sat in the hoc

evidence of strength of aristocracy in the late 18th c

1783 - 1794 - pitt's cabinet made up of members of hoc and 9 members of hol

effect of american war on taxation

land tax rose from 2 shillings to 4 shillings in 1779

what did the yorkshire associations advocate

reductions in taxation by reducing patronage

which position did burke attack in 1780

office of the royal turnspit (mp who roasted meat for royal dining table)

how did burke change the system of sinecures

civil service act - abolished over 130 royal and gov sinecures

how did pitt change the system of sinecures

waited until office-holder died then allowed the position to lapse

impact of 1832 reform act

1834 - william iv dismissed melbourne and invited peel to form a gov (worried about whig reform). elections in 1835 showed the conservatives did not have enough seats, so melbourne returned to office

date of bedchamber crisis

1839

bedchamber crisis

acting on melbourne's advice, victoria refused to let peel choose her ladies of the bedchamber

declining influence of monarchy - george v

followed advice of ministers in 1911 constitutional crisis

george v - political influence

1914 - opposed Home Rule bill, considered giving royal veto but prevented by outbreak of ww1

aristocratic influence after 1832

60 seats remained under direct aristicratic control

aristocratic representation in commons after 1832

unchanged - over 70% of mps related to peers or country gentry in 1841

which policy in 1885 decreased the influence of the aristocracy

creation of the single member constituency - local conservative and liberal associations reluctant to nominate candidates linked to nobility and gentry instead choosing professional politicians

what damaged the aristocracy in 1894

introduction of death duties

evidence of declining aristocratic influence

1906 - only 10% of mps came from aristocratic or gentry families

evidence of aristocratic classes retaining parliamentary influence

lord salisbury's cabinet (1895-90) - 10 peers and 9 mps

baldwin's cabinet (1924) - 14 mps and 7 peers

date of paper duties bill

1860

paper duties bill

introduced by gladstone to reduce costs of all printed materials, including newspapers. house of lords threw out the bill

lords behaviour 1906-8

wrecking social reform including education bill and a measure to abolish plural voting

1783- 1830

period of almost unbroken tory rule

fox's greatest achievement

1806 - resolution calling for abolition of the slave trade (passed into law in 1807)

how did the whigs become stronger in the late 1820s

united under earl grey, took advantage of tory divisions such as passing of catholic emancipation in 1829

impact of peel on conservative party (1832-41)

changed party's beliefs to make them more willing to reform

Tamworth manifesto- intention to return to Liberal Toryism of 1820s

date of tamworth manifesto

1834

what was the effect of the tamworth manifesto

showed return to policies of mild reform

1835 - tories won 279 seats

date of lichfield house compact

feb 1835

what was the lichfield house compact

agreement between whigs and radical and irish mps to work together to bring down peel's gov

results of 1841 election (and reasons)

conservatives won a 76 seat majority

willingness to adopt reforms

whigs divided (lichfield house compact breaking up)

conservative disunity

1845 - peel's proposal to increase the state grant to the catholic seminary at maynooth only passed with whig support

Whig support also needed for repeal of the corn laws

date of founding of liberal party

1859

disraeli's speeches

1872 - formed foundations of 'Tory democracy'

1874 - conservative majority

education act date

1870

terms of education act

providing non-denominational education

gladstone's beliefs

retrenchment (strict reduction of govt expenditure), irish home rule, meritocracy, suffrage for ‘respectable working class’ (but not residium)

‘Peace, retrenchment and reform’

salisbury's impact on the conservative party

redistribution act 1885,

what caused the break up of the liberal party in 1886

gladstone proposed irish home rule

Liberal organisation under Gladstone

• National Liberal Federation 1877- intended to spread caucas system around country

• Birmingham caucus 1873- way to ensure party could canvass entire city and gain all seats- Joseph Chamberlain

what caused the tory defeat in 1906

splits over tariff reform

what pushed the liberal party from gladstonian to new liberalism?

• creation of mass working class electorate (1884/5 acts)

• Growing strength of Labour

• Poverty e.g 30% in London and York

'new liberalism'

promoted by lloyd george, social reforms & more state intervention

1909 Labour exchanges set up & Peoples Budget (constitutional crisis)

1908- Old age pension

1911- National Insurance act

second liberal party split

1916

when was the carlton club formed

1832

what was the carlton club

social club for tory mps

how did peel change the carlton club

expanded to forge links between national party and constituencies

who reorganised the tory party nationally

bonham

unofficial headquarters of liberals

reform club, formed 1836

first election fought between two clearly defined parties

1841

first election where the monarch was insignificant

1841 - victoria favoured melbourne, who lost

role of joseph chamberlain

organised birmingham caucas - strategy for local liberal party to spread votes evenly among three liberal candidates to win 3 mps

when was the nlf formed

1877

role of gorst

brought local conservative associations into a central organisation

primrose league

formed 1884 in memory of disraeli (died 1881), open to men and women

membership of primrose league in 1910

2 million

independent labour party formed

1893

was the ilf successful

no mps elected in 1895 elections, denounced as unpatriotic for opposing the boer war

lrc formed

1900

what turned the lrc into a mass political movement

1901 - hol ruled in taff vale case unions were liable gor loss of profits caused by strike action

lrc results in 1906 election (and reasons)

pact with liberals, taff vale

29 seats

how did labour gain experience in gov

3 minor positions in asquith's coalition

in what election did labour become the largest single party in opposition to the conservatives

1922

election results of 1924

labour needed liberals to form first labour gov

William IV rule

1830-7

Evidence of limited power of william 4

• forced to give into pressures to create peers May 1832 by earl grey

• Impacts of 1832- could no longer choose PM without HOC support

Edward VII reign

1901-1910

Kipling on Edward VII

Merely a dignified, glorious figurehead of ‘no importance’

Limited power of George V

• 1910-35

• HoL crisis 1910-11 reluctantly agreed to Asquiths request for peers (bill passed 131 to 114 so not needed)

• Allowed Lab party to form 1924

Popularity of George V

• appointment of Ramsay MacDonald 1924- praised for tactful and helpful attitude toward labour ministers

• Monarchical propaganda- radio and newsreels

• Seen as symbol of stability in rapidly changing world

Rise in republicanism over Victorias reign (1861-71 period of mourning)

• over 50 republican clubs in big cities

• Charles Dilke MP for Chelsea- in favour of Newcastle republican rally 1871

Bagehot after 2nd reform act 1867

‘The sovereign has, under a constitutional monarchy such as ours, three rights- the right to be consulted, the right to encourage, the right to warn’ - restricted powers of monarchy after reform acts, these principles largely followed to present day

how far do you agree that the 1st reform act was the key turning point in the decline of monarchical power in the years 1780-1928?

• 1832 reform act

• 18th/19thc turning points

  • American war 1775, Burke’s influence, Pitt’s actions, 1839 Bedchamber crisis, Victoria’s reign

• 20thc turning points

  • House of lords crisis & 1911 parliament act, 1914 home rule debate, George V and Labour party

evidence 1832 was biggest TP

• now existed clear choice between whigs and tories therefore easier to discern who had gained majority- William IV could no longer choose PM w/out HoC support like George III had done in dismissing Fox/North coalition

• William IV forced to give into Earl Grey’s request for peers May 1832

• Will 4 dismissed Lord melbourne over Irish concerns and invited Peel to form govt 1834

• Peel asked for dissolution as only had 175 seats- unable to make up majority and Whigs returned

• Rise of parties limited Victoria’s power- elections produced majority for one party or the other & no choice but to appoint leader of majority

evidence 18th/19thc events were biggest turning point

• American war 1775- rising taxation to pay for war led to Yorkshire association, which had close links w/ rockingham whigs. Calls for cuts to govt spending e.g sinecures

• Burke- ‘a bill for the better security for the independence of parliament’ & Dunning’s motions reflect growing unease about influence of crown in politics

  • Civil service Act as paymaster of armed forces 1782- abolished over 130 royal sinecures- saving £70,000 a year- no longer possible to maintain govt with sinecures as George III had done by 1800

• 1839 Bedchamber crisis- Victoria asserted authority but for rest of reign did not act against wishes of PM

• Victoria’s initial unpopularity- rise in republicanism

COUNTER: Victoria’s increased popularity at end of reign - ‘Monarchy triumphant’ 1871-1901 as began to harness feelings of nationalism and imperialism

evidence 20th century turning points were most important

• House of Lords crisis 1911- George V faced same crisis as William IV in 1832- reluctantly agreed to Asquith’s request for peers out of 250 candidates- not needed as bill passed 131-114

  • Parliament act 1911 decreased hereditary power in parliament- monarchy more reliant on elected MPs than lords and peerages

• George V privately opposed matter of Irish home rule- considered applying royal veto to measure but gave royal ascent

• George V allowed a labour party to form 1924 as next largest party - King remained aloof from political infighting

BUT- George V became symbol of stability in changing world, monarchical propaganda through radio and newsreels, praised for helpful and tactical attitude towards labour ministers

Factors causing change in political parties

• Reform e.g 1832 Reform Act

• Individuals e.g Peel’s Tamworth manifesto, Disraeli’s Tory democracy, Gladstonian liberalism

• Policy e.g 1815 Corn laws (& 1846 repeal= split)

How did policy help Lab party (TUs)

• Supported TUs- Lab party offered best protection against employers e.g Taff Vale case 1901

• Trade union membership grew- 4-6million during WW1

• over 100 TUs joined LRC by 1903

• supported pensions and 8hour day, improving housing e.g 1924 500,000 houses constructed to rent

Individuals- growth of Labour party

• Keir Hardie (founded ILP)

• Ramsay Macdonald- both elected as MPs in 1906 due to Lib-Lab pact of 1903

  • Macdonald became 1st Lab PM in Jan 1924

Role of the liberal party in the growth of Labour party

• 1903 Lib-lab pact gave Labour 29 seats in 1906 election

• from 1906- Labour broadly supported New Liberalism’s agenda- Trades Disputes Act reversed Taff Vale decision

• WW1- 3 Labour MPs held office in Asquith’s coalition govt

• 1918- Lab established itself as individual force gaining 57 seats in 1918 election- Labour replaced splitting and declining Liberal party

BUT- was it trade union movement?

Role of Reform acts in growth of Labour party

• 2/3rd Reform Acts enfranchiseed working men but happy to support Lib/Tories

• Labour party won 142 seats in 1922 election which followed 4th Reform Act of 1918 (mass electorate of 21 million)

• 1929 GE- greatest no. of Labour seats - 287 seats as result of 1928 Reform Act