Unit 2: To what extent did political parties change in the years 1780-1928? Flashcards
Describe parliamentary parties in the years 1780-1830.
In the early 1780s, Whigs and Tories were not clearly defined political parties, but loose alliances through friends, family and shared voting.
After Fox-North coalition collapse in December 1783, Pitt became Prime Minister.
During 1780, parliamentray parties became more identifiable with different political beliefs.
Describe the Tories.
Ruled 1783-1830.
Political philosophy included: maintenance of law and order, defence of property- explains their opposition to demands of political reform.
Describe the Whigs.
In 1792, Friends of the People was formed which was an organisation committed to parliamentary reform. It collapsed within 2 years but Whigs maintained their support for reform which gained wider acceptance in 1820.
Fox established some fundamental Whig beliefs: opposition of the increase in the executive power, parliamentary reform to improve the effectiveness of the House of Commons- 1806 achievement of getting slavery abolished.
Were able to come to power by 1830 by taking advantage of the Tory divisions other religion through supporting the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts 1828 and passing of Catholic Emancipation Act 1829.
According to historian Frank O’Gorman, what accelerated the trend towards the creation of a two party system?
Between 1760 and 1800, the role of the monarchy in politics, the American War of Independence and the impact of the French revolution reduced the number of independent MPs, while increasing the number of those who adopted one party label.
Reform Act 1832 established a clear political divide between Whigs and Conservative party, especially after issues of religious toleration and demands for parliamentary reform.
What was the impact of the Representation of the People Act 1832 on political parties?
Parties needed to register voters so became more organised. The Tory party set up the Carlton club to do this whilst the Whigs set up the Whig Reform club.
The need to contest elections rather than simply buying them made party politics essential.
In 1834, Peel issued his Tamworth manifesto which stated the views of the Tory candidates who supported him. The manifesto promised a reform of abuses but also a promise of protecting traditional institutions such as the Church of England.
In February 1835, the Whigs formed the Lichfield House Compact which was a deal to work together against peel and the Conservatives. This unified the different branches of the Whig Party.
In 1846, the Tories were split over whether to abolish the 1815 Corn laws which artificially increased the price of corn to protect producers from international competition. Peel wanted to repeal the law but 2/3 of Tories did not. This divided the party until 1859 when the Peelite conservatives joined the Whigs to form the Liberal party.
What was the impact of the Representation of the People Act 1867 on political parties?
This increased the size of the electorate, making the need for increased party organisation.
The conservatives formed the Conservative Central Office, which built a network of local party organisations called the National Union of Conservative and Constitutional Organisations. By 1871, it had 791 local associations.
Liberals were a little slower and founded the National Liberal Foundation in 1877.
Both parties paid local agents for voter recruitment to keep accurate lists of voters. Both parties also began investing more in newspapers; vital for publishing public info and party promises. Photographs were used in newspapers to show thoughtful, powerful party leaders.
Women’s organisations such as the Primrose League for the Conservatives were used to encourage women to influence their husband’s votes.
What was the impact of the Ballot Act 1872 on political parties?
Since patrons no longer knew who the voters would select, getting out a party message took on increased importance for winning votes.
What was the impact of the Corrupt and Illegal Practices Act 1883 on political parties?
Each candidate could only have one paid agent and they had to keep record of all expenses. By 1910, the average spent on each vote was just 18% of what it had been in 1880. This meant that having a clear party message was more important than using bribery.
Liberals and Conservatives both put more emphasis on local volunteer groups for canvassing and organising public events. For example, the Conservatives formed the Primrose League in 1883 which held social events.
What was the impact of the Representation of the People Act 1884 on political parties?
The enfranchisement of working-class voters led to the emergence of the Labour party by 1906.
What was the impact of the Redistribution Act 1885 on political parties?
This created single-member constituencies.
Lord Salisbury believed this would favour the Conservatives, as many suburbs (which had previously been split between county and borough seats) would now become single-member constituencies and its constituents would primarily vote Conservative.
This increased the seats in larger cities (which included suburbs) as the number of seats would now reflect population size.
What was the impact of the Representation of the People Act 1918 on political parties?
The enfranchisement of millions of working class spurred the growth of the Labour party. Their share of the vote rose from 7% to 22% in the 1918 general election.
This finalised the loss of dominance of the Liberal party. The Liberals had been split between Asquith and Lloyd George. Lloyd George had only passed the 1918 Reform Act with the support of the Conservatives. This meant that the conservatives were strengthened but the liberals were pushed to third place behind the Labour party.
What were the key factors of how and why the Whig Party changed in 1830-46?
In 1833-4, they passed reforms to please the middle class electorate eg the Factory Act 1833 limited the hours of work for factory children, the Abolition Act 1833 abolished slavery.
Whigs failed at attempts to settle Irish greviences which killed their reforming impetus, also opposed by the reorganising Tory party.
Whigs were disconcerted to see Peel back in office 1834-5 and realised that they need to broaden their support by forming alliances with other parties.
Therefore they formed the Lichfield House Compact in 1835 in which radicals and Irish MPs would work with the Whigs to bring down peel’s government and the Whigs would remedy some Irish problems.
Lichfield compact may have marked the birth of the Liberal party due to Lord John Russell’s adoption of the label in 1839.
Whigs returned to power in 1835 under Melbourne with decreased radicalism.
Whigs became disunited as some radical MPs in industrial town seats eg Richard Cobden-Stockport MP, promoted social reform to tackle urban problems such as housing and public health whereas the manufacturers who supported the radicals opposed policies that would interfere with business interests like military action abroad and promoted free trade.
Defeated in general election 1841.
What were the key factors of how and why the Tory/Conservative party changed in 1830-46?
In 1830-2 the party was divided over the issue of Catholic emancipation.
Defeated in general election 1832.
Despite some Tory MPs maintaining their support for the Church of England and opposition to reform, peel issued the Tamworth manifesto, presenting more favourable political ideas for thew new electorate (returning to policies of mild reform)- rece9ved wide publicity and increased their representation in Westminster to 279 seats.
Renamed Conservative party as the old name was associated with the repressive policies carried out by Pitt and his successors.
Returned to power in 1841.
The new 1832 electorate were attracted to Conservative’s willingness to adopt moderate reforms.
Conservative dominance in House of Commons lasted 5 years due to party split over issues connected with Ireland and with the Protestant ascendancy eg Peel’s proposal to increase state grant to the Catholic seminary that trained Irishmen to become priests only passed with Whig support.
Party collapsed over the issue of agricultural protection- when the irish potato crop was attacked by the potato blight- famine in Ireland led to the repeal of Corn laws.
Government defeated on the Irish coercion bill and resigned in 1846.
Many opponents of Peel couldn’t forgive his abandonment of traditional Tory values so him and his supporters remained a seperate parliamentary grouping that eventually merged into the Liberal party, conservatives had to regroup.
The fall of Peel’s government in 1846 and the split within the Tory party resulted in…
…a period of instability and political regrouping- Peelites tended to support the Liberal government.
What were the factors of how and why the Liberal party changed in 1846-86?
The coalition of reform minded MPs, Whigs, radicals, Irish and Peelites formed the Liberal party.
During 1860s, the development of the party was encouraged by the financial reforms carried out by Gladstone (promotion of lower taxation and free trade measures).
Gladstone became leader in 1868.
What were the factors of how and why the conservative party changed 1846-86?
Although conservatives were the largest single party, they were easily outnumbered by the Liberal party.
In order to show that the conservatives could be taken seriously, Disraeli hoped to sponsor a major piece of legislation- Second Reform Act 1867, new electorate wasn’t impressed. Liberal Party won 1868 election with 116 seats over Conservatives.
Landed and wealthier middle class formed the base of one party but their support wasn’t enough to provide majority seats. Disraeli decided to appeal to working class voters.
Disraeli’s speech to the National Union of Conservatives and Constitutional Association (NUCCA) 1871 criticising Gladstone’s innovations and pushed for the continuity of traditional Conservative beliefs.
What was Tory democracy?
When the Conservatives won the 1874 election, it was their first majority for nearly 30 years.
Tory democracy was imposed as towns and cities were empowered to tackle issues such as slum clearance and public health- yet the impact weakened as it was not enforced on local authorities.
How successful was Disraeli as leader of the Conservatives?
Disraeli lost 1880 election and died in 1881.
Lost 5/6 general elections.
Ensured that Conservatives survived the potentially disastrous split of 1846.
The projectionists of the 1840s were transformed into a national party with diverse support.
Conservatives remained a strong electoral force, despite damaging divisions over free trade and protection.
List three ways Gladstone’s liberalism reflected in legislation passed during his time in power.
Investigation and radicalisation of country institutions eg Education Act 1870 allowed for schools to be established where there weren’t enough provisions from the Church of England or voluntary associations, provided non-denominational education for those aged 5-13, led to almost universal literacy.
Civil service open to public competitions, the purchase of commissions in the armed forces was abolished and the army became more humane with the abolition of flogging in peacetime.
Retrenchment (low taxation)- the acceptance of free trade and for foreign policy not to involve expensive commitments.
What was Gladstone’s view on government intervention?
Gladstone’s political beliefs embodied the classic liberalism of the 19th century: individual freedom, laissez-faire attitude toward social questions.
This was sufficient in the 1850s and 60s as Britain was still a large agricultural society, but couldn’t accommodate the rapid economic changes under industrialisation.
Gladstone believed that government intervention to improve living standards of the people would be harmful, therefore promoted self-help.
Why can it be argued that Gladstone was obsessed with Ireland?
Gladstone was determined to pacify Ireland:
He provided the temporary solutions of the disestablishment of the Irish church in 1869 and the Land Act 1870 in his first ministry.
A further Land Act 1881 to pacify the country by reducing evictions of peasants from their tenancies.
But the Irish parliament party often obstructed parliamentary business, thus weakening the government’s legislative achievements.
Third Reform Act 1884 gave Irish peasantry the vote, secured 86 seats, giving it the balance of power in the House of Commons.
In 1886, Gladstone took office after the Liberals and Irish forced out Salisbury’s government and was committed to granting home rule to Ireland.
This failed which caused a split in his party in 1886, Chamberlain and his supporters and the last of the Whigs transferred their allegiance to the Conservatives.
How successful was Gladstone’s liberalism?
It rationalised many institutions of the state which encouraged the growth of a strong capitalist economy.
The party’s reluctance to carry out reforms to improve social conditions was not popular with the electorate.
Gladstone had made Ireland a central feature of Liberalism, but failed to provide a solution to the Irish question.
Who was Lord Salisbury?
Conservative- 13 years as Prime Minister.
Salisbury is responsible for the adoption of single-member constituencies in the Redistribution Act 1885- ensured Tory electoral dominance (1885- 114/226 borough seats were Tory candidates).
Divisions in the Whig party meant radicals under Joseph Chamberlain supported Salisbury.
Salisbury worked to preserve party unity- refused to support Chamberlain’s radical program, instead established a consensus in the cabinet rather than persuading ministers to a particular point of view.
Salisbury had learned from Peel and Gladstone that radical changes in policy could split a party.
His strong government was a huge factor in Conservative dominance in elections for the century.
Who was Asquith?
Liberal Party- Prime Minister for years.
Dealt with issues of the Irish Home rule and women’s suffrage.
He formed a wartime coalition government with the Conservatives in 1915.
However, his ineffective leadership led to the Conservatives to bring him down in 1916.
Asquith and his followers went into opposition.
During the post-war election of December 1918, the coalition parties won a huge victory- 127 coalition liberals elected while Asquith’s supporters were reduced to 37 MPs.
