Gladstone as PM

Question 1

Briefly described the political battle between G and D during this period

Answer 1

By 1866, Gladstone was the leader of the Liberal Party and Disraeli was leader of the Conservative party in the commons . Both men represented the powerful and prosperous middle class of Victorian Britain. Over the following years, each in turn led their party to electoral victory, they fought with each other to bring in political and social reforms and uphold British interests abroad

Question 2

Describe G’s early political career

Answer 2

When G began to take an interest in politics as a young man, at the time of debate on the 1832 GRA, it appeared that his political career would be as a staunch member of the Conservative Party. At this stage he was opposed to reform and was described by historian Macauley as ‘the rising hope of the stern, unbending Tories’

Question 3

Which politician did G admire most?

Answer 3

He was an ardent supporter and admirer of Peel and acknowledged him as his political guiding light when it came to formulating his own policies

Question 4

Which parliamentary group did G represent after the 1846 split?

Answer 4

After Peel’s death, G was regarded as one of the leading Peelites. This is substantiated by the fact that he was Chancellor under Aberdeen (1852-5) and again in Palmerston and Russel’s liberal governments

Question 5

Describe how G dominated the L party as party leader

Answer 5

As party leader, such was the force of his character and influence, Liberalism became synonymous with Gladstone and was referred to as ‘Gladstonian Liberalism’

Question 6

What did the political emergence of G coincide with?

Answer 6

The emergence of the Liberal Party coincided with the emergence of Gladstone to national popularity

Question 7

What was G renowned for?

Answer 7

G was renowned for his strong moral principles and religious convictions. He believed in individual liberty and equality of opportunity

Question 8

How did G’s principle influence the principles of the L party?

Answer 8

G’s personal and firmly held principles gave weight to the wider Liberal beliefs of peace, retrenchment and reform. They centred around his religious devotion and admiration for Pee

Question 9

How did G’s adherence to his principles prove challenging for the Ls?

Answer 9

Sometimes Liberals found Gladstone’s deeper motivating forces difficult to understand or agree with

Question 10

Define retrenchment

Answer 10

Retrenchment is economising or cutting expenditure

Question 11

What became the catchphrase of G and the L party?

Answer 11

‘Peace, retrenchment and reform’ became G’s catchphrase and that of the Liberal Party

Question 12

Why did G want peace?

Answer 12

G believed that if peace could be maintained with foreign countries, this would enable trade and industry to develop unhindered by the disruptions of war. It would also mean that taxation could be more easily kept under control

Question 13

Why did G advocate for retrenchment?

Answer 13

As one of G’s aims was to abolish income tax, a policy of retrenchment would also reduce the necessity of raising taxes. Taxation was seen by many Liberals as encroaching on people’s ability to spend their money as they wished

Question 14

What did G and the Ls mean when they referred to reform?

Answer 14

By reform, they were concerned with bringing in changes with laws and institutions that prevented people from acting freely

Question 15

Why can these three principles be seen as no radical departure from 19th century British politics?

Answer 15

These three aspects of Gladstonian Liberalism tie in with the doctrine of laissez faire and was a basic principle of all the 19th century Liberal Governments

Question 16

What were the three principles closely associated with?

Answer 16

It was closely associated with G’s belief in free trade and his actions as Chancellor when he abolished all duties on goods

Question 17

What doctrine was particularly important to G?

Answer 17

The doctrine of self help was also important to G. This was a belief in reward through hard work and effort

Question 18

What did G lack any real interest in?

Answer 18

G lacked any real interest in social reform

Question 19

What was his nickname and why?

Answer 19

Nicknamed the people’s William because he was so personally popular

Question 20

Why was the 1868 GE positive for G?

Answer 20

As a result of the 1868 GE, G became PM on the 1st of 4 occasions in a high-profile political career that spanned over 60 years

A good majority gave the L a clear mandate to implement policies based on on the principles of Gladstonian Liberalism

Question 21

Describe his legislative programme

Answer 21

G’s legislative programme was extensive and the reforms introduced reflected the principles of administrative efficiency, retrenchment, pursuing free trade and promoting individual freedom

Question 22

Describe the cabinet

Answer 22

The makeup of G’s cabinet reflected the different groups that came together to create the L party – Peelites, Liberals, Radicals and Whigs. McCord said that the cabinet had a ‘strong Whiggish twinge’. At the centre of the administration was the highly religious and deeply principled G

Question 23

How did religion influence his approach to politics?

Answer 23

For G politics and religion seemed to go hand in hand and his policies were often guided by what he viewed to be morally right

Question 24

What does Anthony Wood say about how he acted as PM?

Answer 24

According to historian Anthony Wood, ‘his opponents often complained of G’s tendency to confuse his own policy with the will of God, but he may well have felt that this particularl moment (1868) was to be one of the turning points in both his career and the life of the country’

Question 25

What does Martin Pugh say in support of this view?

Answer 25

Martin Pugh appears to subscribe to this view in his book ‘The Making of Modern British Politics’. He remarks on G’s ability to a maintain a sense of morality in politics – lifting the views of men beyond the merely materialistic – for which he was unrivalled

Question 26

What does John Vincent say to counter these two views?

Answer 26

However, historian John Vincent contends that expediences guided his political decisions rather than his religious beliefs

Question 27

What did his reforms address?

Answer 27

G’s reforms, vast in number, addressed the important social and political issues of the period

Question 28

Describe the debate on whether the government managed to satisfy the people

Answer 28

The extent to which they satisfied the various interests within the party and the pressure groups outside is debateable

Question 29

Explain how G was more successful in maintaining party support than he was at maintaining the support of the electorate

Answer 29

At the outset of his first ministry, G insisted upon unity within the party and held it together, at least on the surface, for 5 years, but was in the end unable to retain the support of the middle class voters that had put him in power in the first place

Question 30

What does Philip Magnus think the issue with G’s 1874 campaign was?

Answer 30

Historian Philip Magnus suggests that there were other problems with his election campaign. He says that G behaved more like a Chancellor than a PM when trying to appeal to the country. He says that the country was bored and G’s rigid financial doctrine made no appeal to it

Question 31

Describe the result of the 1874 GE

Answer 31

The 1874 brought a huge conservative victory

Question 32

Why had G lost much of the support the helped put him in power in 1868?

Answer 32

The L policies introduced by G due to his tireless legislation over the previous 6 years had alienated most of the support that had brought him to power in 1868

In 1874, the old Whigs, the merchants and industrialists were disappointed by what they saw as G’s wooing of the working class. Blake suggests they were alarmed at ‘working class militancy, radicalism and republicanism’. They turned to the conservative party and with the numerically influential vote of the newly enfranchised artisan class brought the conservatives to power under Disraeli

Question 33

When would G return to power?

Answer 33

G returned to power with a majority in the 1880 election

Question 34

Describe this ministry

Answer 34

Much of his ministry was taken up by Irish problems. However, he was also responsible for some far reaching political reforms that moved Britain towards greater democracy

Question 35

Give a timeline of G and D’s social legislation

Answer 35

1869 – Women ratepayers able to vote in local elections

1870 – Forster’s Education Act

1870 – Civil Service Act

1870 – Married Women’s Property Act

1871 – Cardwell’s Army Reforms

1871 – Criminal Law Amendment Act

1872 – Public Health Act

1872 – Licensing Act

1873 – Judicature Act

1875 – Artisans’ Dwellings Act

1875 – Public Health Act

1875 – Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act

1874 and 1878 – Factory legislation sets code of regulations for conditions in factories

Question 36

Why had improving education become a more pressing issue?

Answer 36

An improvement in education provision had become increasingly important. After the extension of the franchise in 1867 it was in the government’s interest to have an articulate electorate. In an age of increasing technological and scientific advance and the inevitable challenges to Britain’s global supremacy, it was essential to have a better educated workforce

Question 37

Why did improving education align with G’s principles?

Answer 37

There was obvious benefits to society as a whole, but in Gladstonian terms, a national system would be efficient and contribute to the development of a meritocracy. It would bring economic advantage in the long term by creating workers with technical and vocational skills and therefore assist Britain’s international competitiveness

Question 38

What did the 1870 Forster’s Education Act do?

Answer 38

The 1870 Forster’s Education Act made provision for elementary schools to be set up across the country

Question 39

Explain its symbolic significance

Answer 39

The Act was important as it represented a shift away from laissez faire in social legislation and acknowledged the role of the state in educating its children

Question 40

What was the overall effect of the administrative reforms that were made?

Answer 40

The Act was important as it represented a shift away from laissez faire in social legislation and acknowledged the role of the state in educating its children

Question 41

Why were they contentious?

Answer 41

However, they were also controversial as they attempted to establish the principle of advancement by merit rather than connection, thus creating ill will towards the government from the more traditional Whigs

Question 42

What do they show G’s commitment to?

Answer 42

The reforms illustrate G’s commitment to the notion of self help

Question 43

What was the big change made to the civil service?

Answer 43

Civil service reform saw the establishment of the principle of entry by competitive examination.

Question 44

Explain the positive impact this reform had

Answer 44

This innovation brough in candidates with intellect and ability and improved professionalism and efficiency with minimum cost to the government. The reform allowed bright young men from humble backgrounds an opportunity for a steady career with good prospects and a comfortable standard of living. It won the approval of many middle class Liberals

Question 45

Why did administrative reforms to the army need to be made?

Answer 45

The army was riddled with incompetance and inefficiency. Wealthy families bought their sons commissions as officers

Question 46

Describe the process of carrying these reforms out

Answer 46

The abolition of the system of purchase of commissions presented a difficult challenge to Edward Cardwell, secretary for war, as he was attacking a then fundamental societal belief – the birth right to wealth and privilege. After furious opposition, the Act was finally passed whereby selection and promotion of officers was to be based on merit

Question 47

What did the 1871 TU Act do?

Answer 47

The 1871 Trade Union Act established the legal right of TUs to hold property and funds and have them protected by law. They also had the right to strike

Question 48

What did the Criminal Law Amendment Act do?

Answer 48

The Criminal Law Amendment Act made any form of picketing illegal. This is the action taken by strikers to persuade the non striking workers to join the strike

Question 49

Evaluate the impact that these two pieces of legislation had on TUs

Answer 49

The TUs were legalised but almost any actions they took to achieve their aims were made illegal

Question 50

Why can the Criminal Law Amendment Act be seen as a bad decision by G?

Answer 50

Historians have called this Act G’s biggest misjudgement as it cost him his working class support. The skilled artisans who had helped ensure the government’s success in 1868 were left bitterly disappointed by the lack of any government support for positive TU reform

Question 51

Describe the motivations behind the 1872 Licensing Act

Answer 51

G’s missionary zeal to improve the moral fibre of the ordinary man probably contributed to his enthusiastic support of the 1872 Licensing Ac

Question 52

What did the act do?

Answer 52

It was a mild enough measure, giving magistrated the power to isses licenses to publicans that would fix opening and closing hour

Question 53

Why can the act be seen as a failure?

Answer 53

It satisfied neither side; temperance groups (those who supported moderation in alcohol consumption) did not feel it went far enough, while ‘Beerage’ felt their industry to be under attack. The Act had repurcussions beyond the end of G’s first ministry as it alienated distillers and brewers to the point that they would vote conservative and donated generously to the party

Question 54

How did G help kick start the push for female emancipation

Answer 54

Almost unnoticed among his flurry of reforms were measures that involved the first stirrings of the women’s rights movement and the push for female emancipation. G agreed with the principle of FE when he allowed female ratepayers to vote in local elections in 1869. A year later, the Married Women’s Property Act gave married women legal status and allowed women to keep a portion of their own earnings

The Education Act was enlightened as it made provision for girls to attend school. It would possibly be the daughters of that generation who benefitted from the introduction of women’s suffrage in the early 20th century

Question 55

Why does Robert Blake think that G lost the 1874 GE?

Answer 55

Robert Blake in ‘The Conservative Party from Peel to Thatcher’ - In 1874, the middle classes began to be frightened by Gladstonian Liberalism. This may seem surprising when considering the wide variety of measures carried out in their interests – like reforms of the judiciary, universities, the army and the civil service. However, gratitude is not a characteristic of voters. Having got too much of what they wanted from the L’s, the middle classes became alarmed by working class militancy that a Disraeli conservative government seemed more likely to check than G, however much G may have actually personally disapproved of working class militancy. D knew what he was doing when he revived traditional conservative slogans about the monarchy, church and constitution. It was vital to avoid doing anything to frighten away these new allies. A quiet, low temperature election would be better for the conservatives than their opponents. G was able to raise the temperature high in 1868 and to fever pitch in 1880, but was not able to do so in 1874

Question 56

What does Anthony Wood say about the implications G’s administrative reforms would have had?

Answer 56

Anthony Wood in ‘19th Century Britain’ - From a modern perspective, G’s adminsitrative reforms seem natural and obvious enough, but is is important to stress the revolutionary implications they would have had at the time. In the everyday working of society the 19th century was an age of patronage and amateurism. A position in government service, a college fellowship, or a commission in the army had been considered a kind of property, and there were many who saw the new doctrine of efficiency as an onslaught on fundamental societal principles. Improvements to efficiency had always been the cry of the radicals and this made sense given the growing complexity of government work demanded the greater expertness of the trained professional. Patronage and amateurism were fading fast and the evidence lies in the rise of families in a new intellectual middle class in the upper reaches of the civil service