The Changing Fortunes of the Conservative Party

Very often in an exam question I will have to ;

Compare the importance of Peel’s role to the influence of Disraeli, Whig Failures and Economic Conditions.

Robert Peel

Prior to 1830 he was the Home secretary.

Peel supported Wellington over the issue of Catholic Emancipation 1828/29 (More rights for Catholics)

This issue split the Tory Party - It caused great divisions!

Traditional members of the party thought Peel was going against Tory Party principles, betraying them.

Leadership Problems - Death of Liverpool in 1828

Canning unpopular

Goderich Ministry collapsed in 1828

Wellington MP up to 1830

3 Factions emerged ; Canningites, Ultras, Supporters of Wellington

1830 Collapse of the Tory Party

Wellington’s speech over Parliamentary Reform resulted in the collapse of the Tory Party.

States there is nothing wrong with the way parliament is structured - This made the party lose support.

The speech saw the Tory Party in the political wilderness for a number of years.

How did the Tory Party recover after 1832??

Role of Peel and importance of Tamworth Manifesto
- 1832 Reform Act united the party against further reform.
  - Accepted the reform act but did not support further parliamentary reform.
- In 1834 Peel issued the Tamworth Manifesto (Party Promise)
  - Became the Conservative Party Manifesto
  - Turning Point in direction of the Tory Party
  - “Founder of modern Conservatism” - Gash
  - Appeals to more and more people - Modernises the Party
  - Shift from the use of the word ‘Tory’ to ‘Conservative’
- Peel states the Conservative Party will always be in favour of reform (other types) but would always preserve what was good about the British System.
- Very Important - Demonstrated to the public that the Conservative Party would be progressive but maintain their principles.

Party Organisation
- The party became much more organised and structured.
- Sir Francis Bonham
  - 1832 Carlton Club set up as the Conservative Party Headquarters
  - Conservative regional offices around the country

Whig Failures
- Working Class disappointed with Whig legislation
  - However, have no influence in Parliamentary power
- Middle Class disappointed with the lack of economic reform
  - During late 1830s after a major economic downturn the Whigs had no clear policy on economic recovery
- Campaigns against the Poor Law Amendment Act - More expensive than they thought
- Lichfield House Contract made it look like the Whigs would do anything to remain in power.
  - Whigs formed an agreement with the Irish in order to stay in power.
  - Wanted to remove Peel from his 100 days in office
  - This made people see them as devious

Economic Factors
- - Government debt of £7.5 million
  - Economic depression
  - Reintroduction of income tax
  - The reform of the banks

Solutions

Economical

The Budgets and Free Trade

The issue of Free Trade

The Whigs had failed to make any progress and over 1200 goods were still subject to tariffs.

Peel came under the influence of the Manchester Group – who believed tariffs were stifling industry.

The higher taxes on imported goods the higher the cost of production – so prices were kept high – hitting the poor.

Also Foreign countries resented the tariffs so were unwilling to trade.

Peel “ We need to make this country a cheap place to live in”

The Budgets 1842 and 1845

The budgets swept away a large proportion of the remaining duties.

Duties removed form over 600 items

Duties greatly reduced on 500 others

No longer any export duties

No import duties on raw cotton, livestock meat potatoes

Duty on cheese imported from the colonies reduced from 10 shillings to 1 shilling per hundred weight

How successful??

Worked exactly as Peel wanted – a trade revival followed, exports increased, unemployment fell, food ( not bread) became much cheaper.

Income Tax

Income tax was reintroduced at a rate of 7p in the £ on incomes over £150 per year. (should have only lasted 3 years)

How successful?

Together with the trade reforms – Paid off the Whigs's debt and had £2 million left over.

The Bank Charter Act 1844

The banking system was unstable – any bank could issue notes with any face value, without the gold reserves to support the value.

Key features of the Act

No new banks could issue notes

Existing banks were restricted in issuing notes

Bank of England could issue notes to the value of £14 million; anything beyond that figure had to covered by Gold reserves.

How successful?

Very successful, eventually only the Bank of England issued notes, and controlled the amount of currency in circulation.

The £ became stable and London the monetary (money) centre of the world.

The Companies Act 1844

This act placed controls on the formation of companies. All companies had to be officially registered and produce accounts.

Limited success but some companies – those who needed special approval from Parliament were exempt (free from obligation)

Peel’s reforms moved Britain into a golden age of prosperity that was to last until 1875.

Social

Peel was aware of the terrible conditions in some factories and towns.

Peel did not want to pass laws – it would be more effective to let the economic policies

bear fruit.

Peel did not want to lose the support of the middle class businessmen.

Pressure for social reform

1842 – Unemployment reached its peak
Unrest led by the Chartists
Pressure from Lord Shaftsbury – 10 hour movement.
Pressure from Edwin Chadwick – investigation into public health.

Extent of Reform

Mines Act 1842 – result of report on child labour.
- Limits women working mines, and children under 10.
- 10 hours a day
Factory Act 1844 – limits working to 10 hours
Railway Act 1844 – limits cost of travel some trains 1p per mile
Baths and Wash House Act 1846 – provision of low cost local wash houses.

Limits of the Reforms

Was Peel a reluctant reformer?

Peel refused to further amend the Poor Law.
1842 Mines Act – a step forward but only one inspector for the whole country.
Peel’s resistance to reducing daily working hours for women to 10, on the grounds it would harm the economy.
No legislation to combat the problem of public health.
All the reforms came from external pressure and not from Peel, Peel do not like Government intervention.

Ireland

In Irish politics Daniel O’Connell was losing influence to a group called Young Ireland, who favoured the use of physical force to free Ireland.

O’Connell staged a last attempt to force the British to repeal the Act of Union.

He addressed mass meetings, Tara in 1841, and the climax to the campaign was to be a monster meeting at Clontarf in 1843.

The response of Peel

Peel was not going to be frightened into giving way.

He announced that the Union would never be cancelled and any rebellion crushed.

The meeting at Clontarf was banned.

O’Connell now face a difficult choice;

Meet and be charged with rebellion

Cancel and be called a traitor by Young Ireland

O’Connell called the meeting off, Peel had out manoeuvred him.

Impact of Ireland on Peel and his Party.

Irish affairs had deeply divided the Conservative Party.

Peel had not be able to tackle the country's basic poverty.

Worse was to come, in 1845 the Irish potato crop had failed, famine was imminent.

Repeal of the Corn Laws now seemed vital.

The struggle to repeal the Corn Laws.

The Anti Corn Law League

Leaders : Cobden and Bright
Methods :
- non–violent, always within the law.
- Propaganda newspaper, leaflets, mass meetings, new postal system

Activities:
- mass meetings, 136 in 1843
- Divided country into areas, paid agents, fund raising from the middle class, petitions, get representation in Parliament.

Arguments for and against repeal

For

They were a restraint on Free Trade, kept food prices high, the rich gained at the expense of the poor.
If bread prices fall, real wages would increase, workers could buy more with the same money.
Improve the competitiveness of British Farmers
If we imported foreign corn, we could export more goods.
Improved trade would improve international relations.
Response to the Famine

Against

Cheap foreign corn would ruin British farmers
Unemployment would rise in agricultural workers
Demographic shift to the towns, overcrowding etc.
Dependence on imports could be a problem in a war.
Manufactures only wanted cheaper bread so they could pay lower wages.

Stages of repeal

1841 – election of Abolitionist MP’s forced Peel to slightly reduce duties
Between 1842 – 45 Peel became convinced of the need for Repeal – British farming needed to modernise to keep pace with industry
Peel was faced with the problem of leading a party committed to the Corn Laws
1845 – Irish famine, imported maize did not solve the issue, Scottish and English potato crop also failed.
- Peel told Cabinet that repeal of the Corn Laws was only way to solve famine. Debate as to whether Peel actually believed this or used it as an excuse to force reform.
Peel was not supported and resigned in December 1845.
- Whigs,led by Russell, form a Government.
Introduces a Repeal Bill, debated in Parliament for 5 months, Peel under attack from Protectionists led by Disraeli, Peel accused of betrayal.
Repeal Bill passed in 1846 – only with Whig support.
Wellington got the bill through the Lords.

Effects of repeal

No dramatic drop in prices – poor harvests were Europe wide
No real impact on British farmers
- British Farmers did modernise – and could cope with the increase demand for food – so more profits.
Trade improved
No impact on the Irish Famine

Destroyed Peel and the Conservative Party

Why was the Anti Corn Law League successful?

Single issue
Conservative Party were split
Support form the industrial middle class – funds for the campaign
Top blokes in charge – Cobden and Bright
Irish Famine
ACLL used all the tools they had – a nationwide campaign.

Was Peel a successful Prime Minister?

Yes

His policies led to an age of prosperity – financial stability, trade revived.

He restored confidence in politics – out manoeuvred the Chartists and O’Connell

He was a progressive reformer? Accepted things he had previously opposed

He was a man of principle

No

A one trick pony – all his faith in free trade

None of the ideas were his – in fact he often started by opposing many things he later accepted.

Did Peel betray his Party?

No

The new party under his leadership adapted to the demands of the 1840’s

He didn’t destroy,he created – gave the party a sense of purpose.

Peelite supporters remained within the party even after 1846.

Yes

Peel sacrificed his party on many occasions

1829, 1834, 1842, 1845

Ignored traditional party values – landed interest

Ireland

The Corn Laws

Did Peel put the nation above party politics?

Yes

Peel was more concerned with good government that catered for all the people even at the risk of being unpopular in his own Party.

His policies were designed to draw moderates away from extremes.

Peel gave the Party a national appeal and national leadership, he was a hero of the new enfranchised classes

Peel’s Second Ministry 1841 - 1846

Key Issues/ Questions

To what extent was Peel the most successful Conservative prime minister of the 19th Century? (Peel VS Disraeli

Did Peel create the modern Conservative Party?

Did Peel betray the Conservative Party?

How successfully did Peel deal with problems during 1841 - 1846?

How successfully did Peel deal with problems during 1841 - 1846??

Peel’s Problems in 1841

Ireland
Economic issues
- Corn Laws
- Free Trade
- Budget Deficit (Whigs spent more money than what was coming in)

Social Issues
- Unemployment / Poverty
- Poor Living and Working conditions

Political Issues
- Different factions - Need to bring groups together (Instability)
- Not popular (Skeptical of Peel)
- Catholic Emancipation 1828/29 - Betrayed party principles by agreeing

Economic Issues

Create the policies for the good of the country.

However, as he is leader of the Conservative Party some feel betrayed.

Budget deficit - £7.5 Million in debt.

Focuses on introducing a Free Trade budget

Reduced duties on cheese, spices (Many different products)

1844 - Reduced duties on sugar.

Reduced duties - Increase productivity, competition and lead to an increased trade.

This in turn would improve the budget deficit.

Proved to be successful in improving trade (Positive)

Middle Class (business owners) worried about the potential problem of people buying reduced goods on their business.

Income Tax

Reintroduced Income Tax to people earning £150 a year.

Affected Middle and Upper Class.

Income Tax would raise money for the budget deficit.

Although it was only supposed to last three years, it went on indefinitely.

Caused friction among the Middle and Upper class, although seen to be successful.

Corn Laws

Introduced in 1815 - taxed imported corn

This was to protect the agricultural industry in Britain. (Protected the Landowners.)

Consumer (Working Class) is paying a higher price for bread (Exploited)

Protests (Read Anti-Corn Law League)

Peel (Free Trade)

Looks to repeal the Corn Laws as he believes it will make Britain economically wealthier due to being more competitive in the open market.

Members of the party disagree as they believe his job is to protect party interests.

As the party was made of Landowners, they disagreed as the Corn Laws ‘protected’ them.

Peel did successfully repeal the Corn Laws (Got it through Parliament) with support from the opposition.

After 1846 there is a ‘Age of Prosperity’ - Economically successful

Many party members believed he betrayed them.
The Repeal of the Corn Laws were unforgivable in the parties eyes.

	Created by Naomi Gauden almost 7 years ago

Note on 19th Century Britain, created by Naomi Gauden on 03/01/2018.