BRITISH HISTORY CLASS ESSAY: PARLIAMENTARY REFORM 1851-1885
Gloucestershire College
A-level history
Source of the essay: Shepley, N. & Byrne, M. (2015).
Aqa A-Level History: Britain 1851-1964: Challenge and Transformation. Hodder Education
‘The Conservative Party did more than the Liberal party to advance the cause of
parliamentary reform in the period 1851 to 1885’ (Agree or disagree?)
In 1851, the Whig Party prime minister Lord Russel recommended to his Cabinet that the
Government checks the proposing further parliamentary reform. As the matter of fact, he met a
strong resistance – Conservative Party, Palmerston (foreign secretary), majority of Whig MPs,
the House of Lords and even some radicals were against the reform. After Palmerston’s death in
1865, Lord Russell and Gladstone, introduced the parliamentary reform bill in 1866. Demand for
reforms had been growing and the bill had raised expectations in the country. As a result, Tories,
Lord Derby in particular, realised that it is rather impossible to oppose the reform completely.
That is why in this essay I will analyse whether Conservatives were contributing more to the
parliamentary reform in years 1851-1885 or it was the Liberals after all.
I have three arguments for the idea of Conservatives being the party doing more when it comes
to the parliamentary reform.
The first reason is the introduction of The Second Reform Act in 1867 by Conservatives –
Disraeli (chancellor of the exchequer) and Lord Derby (leading Conservative). One and a very
important reason for passing the reform, especially from Tories’ point of view, was the
competition between Tories and Liberals. The historian of the Conservative Party Robert Blake
admitted that Disraeli, motivated by his dislike of Gladstone, understood that many MPs
strongly wanted to see the back of the reform issue. His view of extreme reform was that
Gladstone is isolated, the Liberal Party stays divided and that he manages to strengthen his
position in the Commons. Of course, another essential cause for reform was that it was an
attempt for Conservatives to protect the electoral future of the party as it was only minority
government. Despite, three resignations of members of the Cabinet, Disraeli introduced the Bill
in March 1867. His bill became more and more radical as a result of the competition between
Gladstone and Disraeli and the Parliament witnessing series of complicated political
manoeuvres. To gain a political success, Disraeli temporary allied with Radicals. The introduction
of The Second Reform Act was vital to the world of politics and to society (franchise) because it
was a precedent to all of the other parliamentary reforms that followed and that I am going to
mention later in the essay.
The second reason is Disraeli’s policy of ‘Tory democracy’. It is an idea that Conservative party
should embrace reform (especially social reform) as the demand for it grew in the country. It
was also about alliance with working class people – defending their interests, giving support and
expecting support from them as a result. Working class people were a majority of population, so
gaining their support was vital to Tories. It could end their position as minority government. The
year 1867 is described as a ‘triumph of Disraeli’s political ideas (Tory democracy) by American
historian Gertrude Himmelfarb. The Second Reform Act of 1867 is a result of this policy. Tory
democracy meant alliance with working class people so extension of vote was a consequence.
Plus, support of the working class and redistribution of seats would protect Conservative seats.
That is why ‘Tory democracy’ played an important role in the development and introduction of
Gloucestershire College
A-level history
Source of the essay: Shepley, N. & Byrne, M. (2015).
Aqa A-Level History: Britain 1851-1964: Challenge and Transformation. Hodder Education
‘The Conservative Party did more than the Liberal party to advance the cause of
parliamentary reform in the period 1851 to 1885’ (Agree or disagree?)
In 1851, the Whig Party prime minister Lord Russel recommended to his Cabinet that the
Government checks the proposing further parliamentary reform. As the matter of fact, he met a
strong resistance – Conservative Party, Palmerston (foreign secretary), majority of Whig MPs,
the House of Lords and even some radicals were against the reform. After Palmerston’s death in
1865, Lord Russell and Gladstone, introduced the parliamentary reform bill in 1866. Demand for
reforms had been growing and the bill had raised expectations in the country. As a result, Tories,
Lord Derby in particular, realised that it is rather impossible to oppose the reform completely.
That is why in this essay I will analyse whether Conservatives were contributing more to the
parliamentary reform in years 1851-1885 or it was the Liberals after all.
I have three arguments for the idea of Conservatives being the party doing more when it comes
to the parliamentary reform.
The first reason is the introduction of The Second Reform Act in 1867 by Conservatives –
Disraeli (chancellor of the exchequer) and Lord Derby (leading Conservative). One and a very
important reason for passing the reform, especially from Tories’ point of view, was the
competition between Tories and Liberals. The historian of the Conservative Party Robert Blake
admitted that Disraeli, motivated by his dislike of Gladstone, understood that many MPs
strongly wanted to see the back of the reform issue. His view of extreme reform was that
Gladstone is isolated, the Liberal Party stays divided and that he manages to strengthen his
position in the Commons. Of course, another essential cause for reform was that it was an
attempt for Conservatives to protect the electoral future of the party as it was only minority
government. Despite, three resignations of members of the Cabinet, Disraeli introduced the Bill
in March 1867. His bill became more and more radical as a result of the competition between
Gladstone and Disraeli and the Parliament witnessing series of complicated political
manoeuvres. To gain a political success, Disraeli temporary allied with Radicals. The introduction
of The Second Reform Act was vital to the world of politics and to society (franchise) because it
was a precedent to all of the other parliamentary reforms that followed and that I am going to
mention later in the essay.
The second reason is Disraeli’s policy of ‘Tory democracy’. It is an idea that Conservative party
should embrace reform (especially social reform) as the demand for it grew in the country. It
was also about alliance with working class people – defending their interests, giving support and
expecting support from them as a result. Working class people were a majority of population, so
gaining their support was vital to Tories. It could end their position as minority government. The
year 1867 is described as a ‘triumph of Disraeli’s political ideas (Tory democracy) by American
historian Gertrude Himmelfarb. The Second Reform Act of 1867 is a result of this policy. Tory
democracy meant alliance with working class people so extension of vote was a consequence.
Plus, support of the working class and redistribution of seats would protect Conservative seats.
That is why ‘Tory democracy’ played an important role in the development and introduction of
