Gladstone's+first+ministry,+1868-1874

Reforms:

In the first ministry Gladstone had his chance to put into practice what he saw as the principles of liberalism. There was a rush of long overdue reforms (this dismayed Queen Victoria).

Educational Reforms

Public Schools Act 1868 - this act revised the governing bodies of the "Clarendon" schools such as Eton and Harrow.

Endowed Schools Act 1869 - this act aimed to improve secondary education by appointing 3 commissioners.

Foster Elementary Education Act 1870 - this was the most important education act passed in this period, the act laid the foundations for the English elementary education system. The system meant that non-Anglican church run schools could revive funding from the government.

University Test Act 1871 - made it possible for non-Anglicans to take up fellowships in universities such as Oxford and Durham.

Benefits: Industrialists, Children

Losers: Private schools, Anglicans, The National Education Union (wanted to preserve the existing Anglican-dominated education system) and the National Education League (a non-conformist pressure group from Birmingham who demanded an education system that catered for all religions, they didn't believe that these acts went far enough to achieve this.)

Makes more of lives

Fairer society, move towards meritocracy Army Reforms

Queen Vic. Duke of Cambridge Commander (no Qualifications)

Purchasing of commissions Act 1870 - this banned the Purchasing Commission, in future, promotion within the officer class was to be based on merit only. This proposal met such fierce opposition in the HoL that it had to be introduced by Royal Warrant.

War Office Act 1870 - it divided the war office into 3 departments (The Commander in Chief, Surveyor-General and Financial Secretary) which made the system more efficient.

Army Enlistment Act 1870 - this permitted a 3 year enlistment in the army in addition to the normal 12 years which improved efficiency.

Cardwell Reforms

Benefits: Army itself, good (skilled) workers, Duke of Cambridge

Losers: those who had money but no skill, members of the HoL who wanted to buy a position in the army for their sons.

Fairer society, move towards meritocracy

improves gov. efficiency Civil Service Reforms

1870 Recruitment through competitive exam

all civil posts open to competition

Benefits: Civil Service, the good 'what you know' workers

Losers: the people reliant on 'who you know', the foreign office

Fairer society, move towards meritocracy

improves gov. efficiency Licencing Reforms

Licencing Act 1872 - fix opening & closing hours and the content of alcohol was inspected.

Aim : to hopefully give people the opportunity to better themselves/make more of lives

Passed due to pressure put on the government by the United Kingdom Allience and the Band of Hope Union. Electoral Reforms

The Ballot Act 1872 - extension of democracy (Secret Ballot stated in Charters), it meant that voting was to be done in secret to avoid bribery. Candidates were no longer to be nominated at hustings and only a certain amount of money was to be spent on election campaigns.

Corruption illegal practices Act 1883

Benefits: Working class, tenants, radicals e.g. john Bright

Losers: land owners who wanted employees / tenants to vote a particular way, candidates

fairer society Legal Reform

The supreme court of Judicature Act 1873

- streamline system

- increase efficiency

Benefits: people especially those who want to appeal

Losers: those who lose their job

improves gov. efficiency

fairer society Local Government Reform

The Local Government Act 1871 - reorganised health administration and sanitary laws were researched.

The Public Health Act 1872 - improved sanitation and flushing toilets were introduced (WC).

Winners: Everyone (pretty much)

Losers: Government (expensive to implement). Trade Union Reform

Trade Union Act 1871 - was passed due to pressure put on the government by the New Model Unions who had shown loyalty to the Liberals in the 1868 election. The NMU were keen to gain legal recognition following the Hornby versus Close case of 1867.

Winners: New Model Unions

Losers: The government (official unions were more of a threat to them).

The university tests act 1871

Only anglicans were allowed to become teachers or members of the administration, or to hold scholarships and fellowships at Oxford and Cambridge universities.

Gladstone wished to remove this glaring injustice and to promote equality of opportunity

The act abolished this special privilege of the church of England and threw these posts open to all suitable candidates, whatever their religious belief.

Why did Gladstone lose 1874 election?

divisions in Liberal party

- policies alienated different groups

- reform upset considerable amount of people

- New Model Unions campaigned against repeal of Criminal Law amendment Act

- National Education League disappointed with Fosters Education Act

- UK alliance disappointed with the Licencing Act

unpopular policies

- changing things directly, too much reform for people at the time

- Scandles

- imperial foreign policy

- fear of indirect taxation

allienation of other groups

- Landowners suspicious of possible impact of Irish Land Act on property rights (& persuades tenants to vote Tory)

- Church of England by Irish Church Act & Uni. test Act

- Liberals upset goups that could influence election

Tories got their act together

- reorganised since 1867

- by '74 Tories were highly effective electoral machine

- Disreali policy programme outlined '72

Conservative working men's clubs helped spread electoral support for the Tories.