Influence of monarchy
What is royal patronage and how was it used by George III to garner support of MPs in the 1780s? What war was happening at this time that informed patronage?
patronage granted positions in goverment and administration. Lots of government contracts during American War given to secure support.
Why was aristocratic influence in houses of commons so substantial in the late 18th century?
Head of family sat in the Lords and bothers/sons sat in House of Commons. They were large landowners with power and influence, especially in counties where electors voted for local aristocrat's preference.
What was the county and borough franchise in 1780?
county franchise - vote to all freeholders worth property of 40 shillings a year
borough franchise varied widely - could be based on properties owned, taxes paid or if you were member of town corporations, under control of government departments who were chief employers
-pocket/rotten borough one person owned most property nominated candidate - rotten borough once areas of economic activity but now depopulated -
What ideology defined whigs when they were in opposition from 1783-1830?
parliamentary reform
religious toleration for catholics/non conformists
broad moral/religious issues
1807 - Fox - abolished slave trade
How would you define liberal toryism of the 1820s?
What are sinecures and how were these used by George III in 1780s?
How was this different to William Pitt?
Sinecures are offices that require little or no work but come with good pay
When people died, Pitt abolished the post
Did aristocratic influence change with 1832 Reform Act?
No. In fact, it increased as more seats were awarded to counties.
What happened in reform act of 1918 and 1928
1918 - all males over 21/19-20 year olds who fought in the war given the vote/ women aged 30 and over who owned or rented property worth 5 pounds or had university degree
1928 - conservatives wanted to attract female voters - all women over 21
What split the liberal party in 1886?
And again in 1899-1902?
Disagreed over Irish Home Rule - Whigs in the liberal party joined the conservatives which gave them a majority
Disagreed over Boer War - radical members opposed imperialism while many supported conservative government's conduct of the war
What was Peel's Tamworth manifesto?
He issued a statement of his party's beliefs for the electorate with large publicity. Emphasised liberal toyrism - support of reform - changed name to conservatives to separate party from repressive response to parliamentary reform in 1790-1820
Yorkshire Association supported by county's gentry petitioned for reduction in patronage and reduction in land taxes increased to pay for the war. The whigs and Burke also wanted to reduce cost of court and sinecures -- Burke thought this would help to avoid parliamentary reform
Why was aristocratic wealth reduced in the 1880s?
Fall in agricultural prices because of import of cheap American corn
death duties which broke up estates
What changed with the Representation of the People Act 1832?
counties 40 shillings in property remained added tenant farmers renting property worth 50 pounds a year- electorate increased 55 percent
Borough franchise made more uniform - electors who owned or rented property worth 10 pounds - residency of 2 years in property
This disqualified men working in towns where rent was lower as in the north or moved for work
changes in distribution - new boroughs created in industrial towns and cities/to offset influence extra seats given to counties/boroughs with small population (under 2000) lost both seats/boroughs 2000-4000 lost one seat
What divided the conservative party between 1828-30?
What divided the conservative party in 1846?
1828-30 - those who wanted to repeal Test and Corporations Acts (had to be Church of England to be in government etc) and Catholic relief - let catholics own property etc
1846 - conservative split over repealing corn laws to help with Irish famine - peel and supporters joined Liberal party
How was the Labour Party formed?
Trade union delegates and members of Fabian Society and moderate members of Social Democratic Federation
How did the abolition of the property qualification for MPs in 1858 and payment of MPs in 1911 change representation in the House of Commons?
Election was now open to all men - however many could still not afford travel and time from work - payment of MPs led to growth of Labour party
How did the Second and Third Reform Act, Ballot Act, Corrupt Practices Act and Redistrbution Act reduce aristocratic influence?
Household suffrage - large new electorate influenced by organised parties not aristocratic interests
Ballot Act 1872 - Gladstone introduced secret ballot - reduce pressure from landlords in counties and factory oweners in town
Corrupt Practices Act 1883 - set limits on campaign spending - money used to bribe voters - detailed records of spending
Redistribution Act 1885 - single member constituencies - suburbs separate from towns - seats to reflect population size - politics now dominated by class
What was the context for reform?
What changed with Representation of the People Act 1867?
Chartist movement/Gladstone supported reform/growth/ Disraeli keen to restore image of Conservative party who were in power/ of circulation of papers coverage of American civil war and crimean War/Reform league - strong national organisations wanted universal male suffrage
counties - owners and leaseholders of properties worth 5 pounds
boroughs - 1 year residency and owners/renters/lodgers in property worth 10 pounds per year - significant portion of working class but only 1 person in household/ unskilled working class and women still didn't have the vote
new constituencies created - new boroughs meant electors not voting in counties where they might challenge nobility/ number of seats for big manufacturing cities Liverpool, Birmingham etc increased 2-3
What were some of Gladstone's achievements in the Liberal party?
Education Act 1870
civil service open to open competition
abolished purchase of army commissions
support of retrenchment kept taxes low
What caused Tory defeat in 1906 election?
protective tariffs to protect british industry from unfair competition was very unpopular - liberals campaigned on free trade
What happened after William IV dismissed Melbourne and invited Peel to form at government in 1834? What does this tell us about changes in the influence of the monarchy?
Peel called an election but did not win enough seats and so Melbourne returned to office. He could no longer choose PM without parliamentary support.
What was the context leading up to the Parliament Act of 1911? What did the 1911 Parliament Act do?
House of Lords revising chamber but they jetisoned bills that did not suit personal and political influences. For example, opposed to Gladstone's plan to repeal Paper Duties and his plan for Irish Home Rule (as they owned land in Ireland) - rejected these bill as well as 1909 Budget that planned to raise taxes on landed and wealthy. The Parliament Act could not reject/amend money bills and after 3 time through commons - any bill could bypass House of Lords
What changes happened with Reform Act 1884?
same for counties and boroughs - men who owned/renters/lodgers in property worth 10 pounds a year
eliminated disparity between rural and urban working class
What were the successes of the first Labour government?
Housing Act - construction of 50 k houses
improved pensions and unemployment benefits
extended secondary education
expanded health provision
What turned Labour into a mass political movement?
When was Labour first lead the governnment?
upset by Taff Vale case (unions had to pay cost of strike action and Society of Railway Servants required to pay), unions joined with LRC - that then changed its name to Labour
universal franchise
electoral pact between LRC and liberals that liberals would not put forward a number of candidates
formed government in 1924 with liberals to form Labour government