Peel as leader of the Conservative Party between 1832 and 1841 Flashcards
(36 cards)
What was Peel like as a leader?
He was a pragmatic leader who understood the issues he faced, he was very intelligent and could be considered a maverick.
What was the downside of Peel’s nature?
He was sometimes unable to see the negative outcomes of his actions, and didn’t really listen to the demands of his Party. If he believed in something, he did it regardless.
What unpopular measure did Peel do?
He gave money to the training of Catholic priests in Ireland to make things more comfortable. His party who already hated Catholic Emancipation despised this.
What was the giving of money to the training of Catholic priests in Ireland called?
The Maynooth Grant.
What concerned Peel?
His legacy - he wanted to be remembered.
What did Peel do to shape his legacy?
Reforming the Corn Laws would guarantee his place in history. It could. be argued that his actions weren’t for their outcomes but to maintain him a place in history.
What was Peel’s approach?
He put the nation before his party - or perhaps his legacy before his party.
What was significant about Peel’s speeches?
He was a good orator as he was passionate and persuasive. This made him popular among the people, but sometimes not among his party.
What were the three main improvements made by Peel?
The Carlton Club
Conservative Associations
The Tamworth Manifesto
When was the Carlton Club set up?
1832
What was the Carlton Club?
It was the central headquarters in London for the party.
Who ran the Carlton Club?
Sir Francis Bonham.
What did the Carlton Club do?
Sent out information about policies to MPs and candidates.
What were Conservative Associations?
They were set up in constituencies and ensured that Conservative supporters were registered to vote under the new regulations of the 1832 Reform Act.
What did the Conservative Associations do?
Organised speakers and gave voters information at elections.
When was the Tamworth Manifesto issued?
December 1834.
Who did the Tamworth Manifesto appeal to?
The voters of Tamworth, a constituency in Staffordshire.
What did the Tamworth Manifesto do?
Outlined Peel’s main view:
He saw the GRA as the final settlement of parliamentary reform.
He said he would not be pressured into making decisions by the people. He claimed he was a liberal Tory, and would aim to keep a ‘strict economy.’ He also claimed he would consider the needs of the other classes, not just the needs of the aristocracy.
What did his claims he was a liberal Tory mean?
He would consider reforming things if they actually did need reformed.
What was the idea of a ‘strict economy’?
Not wasting money.
When was Peel’s first ministry?
December 1834-April 1835
What happened in the election of 1832?
The Tories won around 175 seats compared to a Whig majority of 440. Many predicted the Tory party was finished.
What happened to the Whigs in 1834?
They were forced to resign despite their huge majority, with the Church of Ireland being their main issue - the official Church of Ireland was protestant, but the majority of people in Ireland were English.
How did the Tamworth Manifesto benefit Britain?
It gained the Conservatives over 100 seats by the election of January 1835. They were still a minority, but were showing signs of recovery. The King asked Peel to form a government.
