1880 election

Question 1

how timing influenced 1880 election

Answer 1

-1878, Disraeli came back from triumphant treaty of Berlin
-wanted to wait two more years
-favourable by-election
-cover up accusations of amalgamation of London water companies

Question 2

how party organisation influenced 1880 election

Answer 2

-Liberals: chamberlain set up the national Liberal federation. over 100 liberals became affiliated
-Conservatives: loss of J.E. Gorst was a mojo blow to conservative electioneering. replacement of Skene was incompetent

Question 3

how the empire influenced 1880 election

Answer 3

-Gladstone criticised Disraeli’s foreign policy in Midlothian campaigns: said it was unnecessary and costly, claimed it was irresponsible to defend turkeys’s asiatic territories

Question 4

rise in tax 1880 election

Answer 4

-rise from 2d/pound in 1874 to 5d/pound by 1880 as a result of cost of foreign policy

Question 5

grater unity of liberal party 1880 election

Answer 5

-many non-conformists joined liberal’s over discontent of Disraeli’s foreign policy
-many trade union members supported after the criminal law amendment act

Question 6

how economy influenced 1880 election

Answer 6

-agricultural depression from 1873: cheap grain from America
-partial potato famine in ireland: land war and evictions
-conservatives lost 25 county seats
-increased foreign competition
-real wages fell by 5% between 1873-79