Peels great (2nd) ministry 1841-46 as Tory PM + 1841 election Flashcards
why did the whigs lose power in the 1841 election?
- Melbournes replacement of grey stopped the flow of reform
- the reforms they did pass were seen as ineffective as they had to act responsively to events such as swing
- WC radicalism grew as they started to see the whigs as worse than the tories due to their betrayal in passing acts like the poor law amendement
why did the Conservatives gain power in the 1841 election?
- peel transformed the parties image after the catholic emancipation split
- peel broadened the Tories appeal to new eletorate
- Tamworth manifesto addressed need for change (attract MC) while still assure current supporters he would still abide to original tory principles.
what did Murphy say ab peels second ministry?
“Peel’s second ministry proved to be one of the most influential periods in the whole of the 19th Century”.
what problems did peel face in his second ministry?
- Economic problems – depression, a lack of trade, + Whigs left a deficit of £7.5 million.
- Social problems – extreme poverty and poor working and living conditions
- Political problems – continued desire for parliamentary
reform e.g. Chartists.
how did peel deal with the problems he faced (what type of reform was his ministry known for)?
economic reform influenced by the Manchester School of economics (in favour of free trade)
what were peels (2nd ministry) tariff reforms?
(economic)
600 duties of goods removed and 500 reduced in the budgets (where the gov will spend its money for the year) of 1842 to 45
>this benefited WC and MC owners who did not have to spend on tariffs
what was peels (2nd ministry) income tax reform?
(economic)
1842 act repealed, reintroducing income tax to make up for lost revenue (Whig deficit)
what was peels (2nd ministry) bank charter act 1844? (economic)
- restored confidence in banks
- stopped the note issuing power of ordinary banks
- bank of England now central issuer of bank notes as they had gold billions as a reserve
when was peels (2nd ministry) bank charter act? (economic)
1844
what was peels (2nd ministry) Mines and Collieries Act 1842?
(social)
response to the dangerous working conditions revealed in the report of the royal commission Peel had set up. it stated:
- No women or girls could work underground.
- No boys under 10 could work underground.
- Inspectors were to be appointed in 1843.
the first time that adult women were protected but only 1 inspector was employed to enforce the regulations
when was peels (2nd ministry) Mines and Collieries Act?
1842
what was peels (2nd ministry) factory Act 1844?
(social)
advanced the previous factory act of 1833:
- The minimum age for children to start work was lowered to 8.
- Children 12 and under could only work 6 and a half hours a day.
- Men and the young between 13 and 18 could only work a maximum 12-hour day.
- Dangerous machinery was to be fenced off.
when did peels pass (2nd ministry) the second factory Act?
1844
why was peel restricted in making social reform in his 2nd ministry?
if he took direct action to reform working conditions and hours, he would lose the support of middle class businessmen and industrialists. but unemployment
reached a new peak in 1842. peel did bring in some social reform but both of the Acts had serious limitations.
what problems did peel face governing Ireland?
Irish MPs, such as Daniel O’Connell and the Repeal Association, were campaigning for a repeal of the Act of Union
