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Period: to
Liberals and Conservatives
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The Great Reform Bill
- extension of the vote to male £10 householders
- effectively gave franchise to the middle classes, eg. shopkeepers
- abolished some of the smallest borough seats and partially redistributed them to the new industrial north towns
- previously only 6% of male pop. could vote
- middle classes owed vote to whigs
- passed by Whig
- introduced by Earl Grey
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Factory Act
- restricted hours of women and children in factories
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Sir Robert Peel = leader of conservatives
- replaced the Duke of Wellington
- tories would accept change where it could be proven to be beneficial to the country
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Poor Law Act
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Municipal Coorporations Act
- town councils, better organised, set up by gov.
- all men who paid rates were entitled to vote
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Disraeli's Maiden Speech
- laughed at
- 'I will sit down now but the time will come when you will hear me'
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PM = Peel 1841-6
- Peel didn't give Disreali office, bred resentment/anger/bitterness in Dis.
- Peel gave Gladstone cabinet status in 1843
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'Sybil'' published
- talked of the two nations (rich and poor)
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Repeal of corn Laws first proposed
- Derby = first minister to resign from Peel's cabinet
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PM = Russell(Whig) 1846-52
- formed after fall of Peel
- general election held in 1847 which confirmed Russell in power, 325 whig/lib/rad, 230 cons, 100 peelites
- russell = 'finality jack' after insisting 1832 reform was a settlement of the reform question, but rads anticipated more reform
- Palmerston = foreign secretary
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Irish famine
- failure of the potato crop
- demanded government reaction
- Peel decided to suspend corn duties so that grain could flow more freely into Ireland
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Disraeli's attack on Peel
- many backbenchers did not want to see Dis in position of authority because of it
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HofC leader = Bentinck 1846-8
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The issue of repeal of the Corn Laws
- peelites (incl. Aberdeen, Glads), Peel refused to ally with Russell's Whigs or his old cons. colleagues
- protectionists (largest single group in HofC)
- whigs
- radicals (not a coherant party)
- partly due to radical agitation of Anti-Corn Law League
- seen as a betrayal by Peel, seen as failing to protect the farming industry and the landed interest
- for 339 (112peels, 227whig/lib/rads
- agaisnt 242 (protectionist cons)
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Bentinck votes in favour of the removal of the Jewish Disabilities Act
- criticised and decides to resign, then died 9 months later
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Sugar Act
- removed trading privileges of British sugar planters iin the West Indies
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Chartist movement fades
- a working class movement that requesated universal male suffrage, its collapse allowed govs to propose parliamentary reform without appearing to give in to Chartist demands
- suggested extension of the franchise lower down the scale would be safe
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Repeal of the Navigation Laws
- overseas traders could use anhy ships they wished to transport their goods abroad
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Peel abolished the Corn Laws (predecided in 1846)
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'The Golden Age'
- over next 20 years = high time for british farming
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Don Pacifico Affair
- Gladstone didn't like Palermston's agression
- DP asked B for help over financial disputes with the Greek gov. because he was born in in gibraltar a British Territory
- Palmerston supported him
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Great Exhibition of 1851
- advertised the importance of british manufacture and internation trading to the world
- only opposed by a few traditional cons MPs
- pushed by prince Albert
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Russell's reform (failed)
- reduce £10 householder to £6, never got to the vote
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Religious Census
- half of total church attendance = nonconformist denominations supported by m/c
- but whig govs not want to move towards this degree of reform
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Ecclesiastical Title's Bill
- illiberal measure
- prevented RC bishops taking up titles with same name as CofE counterparts
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Disraeli = leader of cons in HofC
- due to lack of other good speakers
- & Chancellor of the Exchequer 1852 (briefly) Derby - 'they give you the figures'
- conmpeted with Marquess of Granby, J.C. Herries but emerged as natural leader
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'Compensation instead of Protection'
- malt tax/sugar tax reduced
- income tax extended to cover lower incomes than before
- Glad convinced HofC to vote against by majority of 19 votes and Derby resigned
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Russell's reform (failed)
- dissappeared at fall of the ministry
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PM = Derby(cons) 1852 (feb. to dec.)
- no longer officially support protection
- who?who? ministry - Duke of Wellington (only 3 members had previous gov experience) = minority gov.
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PM = Aberdeen(whig-peelite) 1852-5
- identified the supporters of free trade
- appointed Gladstone as Chancellor of the Exchequer, G produced budgets that lowered tariff duties on a number of goods to encourage trade expansion, wanted to lowerr income tax
- whigs/peels shared positions equally in the cabinet
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The Budget of 1853
- removed duties on 123 items and reduced on 133
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Russell's reform (failed)
- dissappeared with the outbreak of the Crimean War
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Northcote-Trevelyan Report
- recommended competitive entry
- not acted upon until many years later (after 1868)
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Crimean War 1854-6
- highlighted administrative inefficiencies, lack of communication back home
- dispute between turkey and russia, britain ingtervened on turkey's side as B had strong trading links with Turkey
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Repeal of Newspaper Tax
- growth in popularity of newspapers
- newspapers cheaply available, political knowledge and discussion spreading to the lower classes
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PM = Palmerston(whig) 1855-8
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Repeal of Advertising Tax
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Abolition of Stamp Duty
- cheaper press
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The Arrow Incident
- dispute over China seizing a vessel flying the British flag near Hong Kong
- Chinese refused to apologise so Palmerston approved shelling of Canton
- condemned in Parliametn, censure(condemnation) carried by 263 votes to 247
- Palmerston dissolved Parliament and was reelected, he was not undone!
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Palmerston handling of Indian Mutiny 1857/8
- Indian uprising agaisnt British control
- Palmerstone supported Lord Canning, gov. general of India
- his handling of it impressed many
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PM = Derby(cons) 1858-9
- 16 month brief conservative control
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Reforming the government of India
- Cons
- gov take full authority (no East Ind. Trad. Comp.)
- new post - secretary of state for india
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The Orsini Affair
- Italian nationalist tried to assassinate Napoleon III
- plot was hatched in england and Nap. III complained that there was no english law which restrained such an activity
- Palmerston brought in Conspiracy to Murder Bill - defeated in Parliament
- Palmerston accused of giving in to foreign affairs
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PM = Palmerston(lib) 1859-65
- peelites faded out by this point
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Reform Bill (disraeli)
- Derby in favour of it, when it failed he resigned
- but met resistance from opposition AND own side, ultimately defeated
- seen as a blatant attempt to gain political advantage, clearly favoured cons.
- £10 brough franchise extended to counties
- extension of borough boundaries to include more rural voters
- £20 lodger vote
- fancy franchises (coined by J. Bright)
- limited redistribution of seats
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The Formation of the Liberal Party
- Willis' Rooms London
- non-conservative MPs to unite agaisnt Derbvy's cons gov. and his policy towards 'the question of Italian Unification'
- not overly important as - didn't change Palmerston's views - lib ideas had already been forming
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Budget (lib)
- only 48 items left on the tariff
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Repeal of the Paper Duty
- helped give Glads the name 'The People's William' & increased his reputation among journalists
- coupled with development of the steam press in the 1850s and increase in communication due to the telegrapoh and railways
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The Alabama dispute
- Ship built by British attacked on south side agaisnt N in Amer. Civ. war
- had to pay £3.25mill
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'Moral right to vote' speech (Gladstone) 'pale of the Constitution' speech
- impressed by the way Lancashire cotton workers handled the cotton crisis during the American Civil War, implied that the working class had a moral right to vote
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Visit of Guiseppe Garibaldi
- democratic hero on visit to England
- caused excitement in Radical circles, Palm's gov cut short his tour
- protest committee complaining about his early departure was formed and became the Reform League
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PM = Russell(lib) 1865-6
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Income Tax Reduced
- 10d to 4d
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Death of Palmerston
- Palm's death would bring changes, predicted Gladstone would take over ' when he takes my place there will be strange doings'
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PM = Derby(cons) 1866-8
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Reform Bill
- growth in population
- greater prosperity of the skilled working class
- borough franchise £10 to £7
- extension to counties for rents of over £14
- fancy franchise
- modest redistribution
- vigorous opposition ( some libs)
- reaction in country when bill was defeated was extreme, Reform League planned demonstartion in Hyde Park, repeated may 1867
- Lowe (been to australia) warned of 'perils of democracy' - inflamed working class opinion
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Temporary Depression 1866/7 winter
- major finance company collapsed May 186
- poor harvest after wet summer
- cattle plague
- major cholera outbreak
- unemployment
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Second Reform Act
- let D succeed as Prime Minister in 1868
- Derby - 'Leap in the Dark'
- Dis. wanted to score points on Glad
- electoral advantage
- satisfy radicals/reform league pressure/quieten it down
- sold to cons. with safeguards - personal payment of rates (hodgkinson's amendment, so compound householders ultimately included) - two - year residence qualification (reduced to 1) - fancy franchises (removed)
- accepted - wanted to see end to reform Q
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Abolition of Compulsory Church Rate
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PM = Disraeli(cons) 1868
- Derby retires in feb
- 'at last I have reached the top of the greasy pole'
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PM = Gladstone(lib) 1868-74
- liberal party united
- 'my mission is to pacify Ireland'
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National Union of Conservative Associations set up
- try to increase support for cons.
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Disestablishment of Anglican Church in Ireland
- passed by majority of 118
- most succesful piece of Glad's Irish leg. as removed a major Irish grievance
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Female householders granted vote in Municipal Elections
- began political involvement of women
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Army Reforms (1869-71)
- Edward Cardwell
- abolition of peace time flogging
- twelve year min reduced to 6 with 6 in the reserves
- rearmed with Henry Martini rifles (prussians used them)
- removal of unjustified privilege, abolition of purchase of commisions
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Irish Land Act
- compensation for eviction (unless non-payment of rent)
- limitation on power's of eviction for non-payment if Court judged the rent too high
- compensation for improvements
- tenants wanted 3Fs (fixed tenancry, free sale and fair rent) didn't get it.
- not very satisfactory
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Civil Service Act
- lazy/inefficient civil servatns
- competitive entrance exam
- foreign office = exempt as Glad thinks aristocracy must deal with diplomatic things
- strongly opposed by upper class so order in council used to make it law
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Neutrality in Franco-Prussian War
- divided British opinion
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Education Act 1870
- Chamberlain = National Education League which wanted non
- denominational state-aided education.
- W.E. Forster took it through the HofC
Terms:
- 5-13 all given opportunity to attend school
- where church/voluntary schools existed they could remain, but no more allowed
- School Board would raise money and organise equip. etc.
- could excuse fees for poor parents/make attendance comp
- religious teaching not in favour of one church
- but satisfied noone completely
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Religious Equality and University Tests Act
- non-anglicans could now become a professor/master of an oxbridge college
- no dramatic effect
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Trade Union Act
- protected TU funds
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Criminal Law Amendment Act reinstated
- peaceful picketing banned
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Secret Ballot Act
- longstanding demand of the radicals
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Liscensing Act
- alcohol seen as cause of crime/poverty/violence
- local authorities would determine opening hours
- enforcement by police
- penalties agaisnt tampering with beer
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Crystal Pale speeches
- April - Machester Free Trade Hall
- June - Crystal Palace London
- outlined Dis' aims and three objects - empire/tradition/elevation
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Irish Universities Bill
- Trinity College = protestant atmosphere
- proposed new, non-denominational university
- controversial subjects would not be taught e.g. philosophy
- defeated in HofC, G offered to resign but Dis let him weaken further
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Judicature Act
- last major piece of legislation in Glad's ministry
- represented considerable admininstrative achievement
- forms the basis of much of the legal system in England today
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PM = Disraeli(cons) 1874-80
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Licensing Act
- Cross
- Drinking time increased by 30 mins
- police search powers reduced
- magistrate's discretion removed
- Dis' gov. amending unpop G act to gain support
- gov. intervention had become accepted in this area
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Factory Act
- textile factories hours reduce 60 to 56.5 for women
- child age limit for half time raised to 10yrs, full time to 14
- Cross
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Artisan's Dwelling Act 1875
- Richard Cross
- local authorities could buy slum housing and build new, cheap housing in its place
- first ever substantial piece of housing regulation
- Birmingham = good
- PERMISSIVE!
- only 10 authorities used it by 1870s
- created housing problem in London where housing was demolished without being replaced
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Friendly Societies Act
- Northcote
- FSs could be given actuarial advice
- FS funds grew, 1891 = 4.2 mil, 1901 = 6.2 mil
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Sale of Food and Drugs Act
- Sclater-Booth
- harmful ingredients forbidden in foods, some drugs banned
- main piece of leg. until 1928
- state reg.
- limited to harmful substances e.g. x salt to beer or water to milk
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Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act
- Cross
- Legalised peaceful picketing
- please TU leaders/remnoved major grievance
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Public Health Act
- Sclater-Booth
- consolidatory measure
- Medical Officers of Health
- seen as triumph of administrative efficiency
- coupled with pollution of rivers act of 1874, remained basis of public health law until 1920s
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disraeli's purchase of Suez Canal shares
- personal triumph for disraeli
- used rothschild to get the money
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Merchant Shipping Act
- Adderley
- shipowners draw line around vessel to indicate max. load
- owed to MP Plimsoll
- step towards greater regulation, but line was drawn by owner
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Employers and Workmen Act
- Cross
- replaced Master and Servant Act with more sensitive names
- all breaches of contract now dealth with in civil courts, (no longer in criminal for employees)
- law now treat all classes equally
- Howell (TU secretary) = satisfied
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Education Act
- Sandon
- 10-14 only leave school if have certificate
- parliamentary grants for schools could exceed what they themselves had raised
- education up to 10 now effectively compulsory, more and more exempt from school fees
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Royal Titles Act
- show British authority in India was more welcome
- indicate to russians that an expansion of their empire near India would not be welcome
- QV = Empress of India
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Gladstone attacks Dis' foreign policy
- Dis health = not good
- 'beaconsfieldism' - Midlothian Campaign, meddling, expensive & unsuccessful British influence abroad
- gov lost a number of by-elections
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Gladstone's anti Turkish leaflet
- britain was interfering again
- 40,000 copies in first few days
- divided public opinion
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National Liberal Federation set up (NLF)
- organised support for the party
- ordinary lib members get say in electing management committees
- helped lib 1880/5 election performance
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Zulus and the Boers
- Dis appointed Frere as governor-general of cape colony in South Africa, sim to Lytton
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Factory Act
- Cross
- consolidated all previous legislation
- abolished factory/workshop distinction
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The Congress of Berlin
- revised San Stefano Treaty
- 'big bulgaria' carved up
- britain obtained cyprus
- Dis - 'peace with honour'
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Civil War in Afghanistan
- British officials murdered, serious instability
- Dis's 'foward' policy to blame, as well as his appointment of Lord Lytton
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Midloathian Campaigns nov/dec
- Brilliant speeches
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PM = Gladstone(lib) 1880-5
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Ground Game Act
- could shoot rabbit/hare on property despite Landlord's wishes
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Burials Acts
- non-conformists can be concecrated in graveyards beside chapel
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Education Act
- age 5-10 = compulsory
- truancy officers
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The Emplyers Liability Act
- extended workman's rights for compensation for accidents at work
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Disraeli Dies
'for you this is an event, for me it is the end' -
The women's Property Act
- legal protection for their property (not automatically husbands)
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The Corrupt Practices Act
- defined unlawful practices clearly in voting
- financial restrictions placed on candidate's election expenses
- party agents would have to account precisely for their expenses
- election workers paid a fee for their services to reduce bribery
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Corrupt Practices Act
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Corrupt and Illegal practices act
- limit on money candidates can use in elections
- heavy penalty for bribery/corruption
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Agricultural Holdings Act
- landowners must compensate tenants for improvements if they left
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Representation of the People Act
- extended vote to county householders
- 2.6 mil new voters
- 40% of male pop still can't vote until 1918
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PM = Salisbury(cons) 1885-6
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Redistribution of Seats Act
- < 15,000 lost both MPs
- <50,000 lost 1 MP
- borough boundary commisioners
- 23/670 remained double seats
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PM = Gladstone(lib) 1886
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PM = Salisbury(cons) 1886-92
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Coercian act
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PM = Gladstone(lib) 1892-4
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Second Home Rule Bill
- 80 Irsih MPs in UK parliament, can vote on matters concerning empire and Ireland