Liberal Tories

Question 1

List the 4 main contributors to the end of post war civil unrest

Answer 1

• The middle classes did not join in the calls for reform
• The economy recovered
• Radical leaders were arrested
• Those in power had a loyal army at their disposal to squash protests

Question 2

What was the key demand of post war radicals following the war?

Answer 2

Universal manhood suffrage

Question 3

How was the radical movement different when it flared up again in the 1830s?

Answer 3

It was noticeably more moderate and focused on parliamentary reform in order to encourage the middle classes to support

Question 4

Why was the government response to radicalism not that harsh considering the context of the time?

Answer 4

• It was the responsibility of the local authorities to provide poor relief, rather than the government
• The governments primary responsibility was to protect the country from internal and external threats, meaning it was just performing its duty

Question 5

List the 4 key players in Liverpool’s more liberal government

Answer 5

• Sir Robert Peel - Home Secretary from 1822
• George Canning - Foreign Secretary from 1822
• Frederick Robinson - Chancellor from 1823
• William Huskisson - President of the Board of Trade 1823

Question 6

Why did Liverpool promote these young men to positions of authority in his cabinet?

Answer 6

• He recognised his own limitations and looked to them to provide dynamism in running government departments
• He also needed able men to speak on behalf of the government in the commons as many of his other cabinet ministers were peers

Question 7

Why was Liverpool’s government able to become more liberal?

Answer 7

Trade increased, unemployment fell and good harvests meant that food prices went down. There was subsequently far less unrest, allowing the government to relax some of its harsher policies

Question 8

What do people mean when they call Liverpool’s government liberal?

Answer 8

Refers to their willingness to respond to the middle classes, who had become more popular during the industrial revolution

Question 9

List some of the reasons that Liverpool’s government can be seen as liberal

Answer 9

• More responsive to middle class opinion
• Willing to listen to the needs of industry and trade as they recognised that economic growth is the best way of remaining popular

Question 10

List some of the ways Liverpool’s government was not so liberal

Answer 10

• Rejected whig proposals for parliamentary reform
• Ignored the issue of Catholic Emancipation, with ministers unable to bring up their support for the cause in cabinet