Topic 3 Revision sheet – Reform and Consolidation 1842-1865 Gladstone and Palmerston (Protectionists = want to protect British Farming form Foreign Competition) Due to the Repeal of the Corn Laws parliament was divided 1. The protectionists conservatives led by Bentinck, Disraeli and Stanley 2. The conservative free traders (Peelites) led by Peel, Aberdeen and Gladstone 3. The Whigs led by Russell and Palmerston 4. The radicals led by Cobden and Bright 5. Irish MPs (The Irish and the radicals usually supported the Whigs) This resulted in frequent changes in parliament 1846-52 = Russells first ministry (Whig) 1852 = Derby’s first ministry (conservative minority) 1852-55 = Aberdeen’s ministry (Whig-Peelite coalition Gladstone as chancellor) 1855-58 = Palmerston’s first ministry (Whig) 1858-59 = Derby’s second ministry (conservative minority) 1859-65 = Palmerston’s second ministry (Whig-Peelite coalition Gladstone as chancellor) Gladstone as Chancellor 1852-55 (Aberdeen’s ministry) Gladstone continued with Peels tradition of getting closer to complete free trade 1853 budget – duties on all foodstuffs nearly all abolished + duties on all manufactured goods halved Gladstone then planned to abolish income tax, and started to reduce it. Crimean war (1853-1856) – income tax had to rise, gave government bad press. Aberdeen resigns. 1859-65 (Palmerston’s second ministry) 1860 Cobden Treaty – Fears of threat from France - Napoleon III - Palmerston demanded more money for military. *Gladstone sent free trader MP Cobden to Paris *Cobden negotiates the Cobden treaty – a free trade agreement between France and Britain It removed international tension, removed French scare and improved trade. 1861 – Gladstone abolished duty on paper – ‘tax on knowledge’ By 1865 Gladstone’s budgets meant Britain was essentially free trade, only 16 duties on imported goods remained. Income tax was at a very low rate and only for those earning £200 a year or more. Reform of Civil Service – (Gladstone believed in minimum government expenditure) he introduced competitive examinations for posts in civil service *each department was made accountable for its budget and expenditure – with records kept. Limited Liability – Gladstone introduced the idea of limited liability Limited liability = if a company fails, the investors are only liable to cover the costs of their initial investment. Topic 3 Revision sheet – Reform and Consolidation 1842-1865 Gladstone and Palmerston Palmerston Secretary at War – 1809-1829 Foreign secretary 1846-51 Home secretary 1852-55 Prime minister 1855-58 and 1859-65 Why did he dominate politics? - There was no other alternative - Political parties were in disarray after repeal of Corn Laws e.g. conservatives were split; allowing the Whigs to be in strong position - Palmerston manages his image through the press – helped by Gladstone’s abolishing of the duty on paper –Palmerston wrote articles for newspapers. - Popular both in and out of parliament - His foreign policy had won him support Why was there no further parliamentary reform? Factor 1 – the dominance of Palmerston Factor 2 – the failure of Chartism - Kennington common and the land plan failure weakened calls for parliamentary reform - W/C focused themselves on trade union activity Factor 3 – mid Victorian stability - Free trade reforms of Peel and Gladstone were working! - Thanks to the Whigs with their reform act 1832 the middle class were on side! - Social reforms such as *Factory Act 1850 = 10.5 hour day and *Public Health act 1848 = set up boards of health - Exploitation of workers was no longer occurring in UK instead in the British Empire. Attempts for reform were made by Lord John Russell in 1852, 54, 60 But there was little support for reform! Important – Gladstone spoke in favour of Edward Baine’s plan to give the vote to people of W/C..