From Aristocratic to Bourgeois England English History at Home and Abroad,

Congress of Vienna Legitimacy Britain supported overseas independence England retreated from Congress System when it seemed to entail intervention to restore political order on the continent. England entered “splendid isolation” for the next century.

Dealing with change Corn Laws (1816)—sliding tariff to protect English grains from foreign competitions. England clearly protectionist after Napoleon; much of public policy after 1815 involves how much liberal economics to enshrine

Postwar Dislocation Poor and out-of-work folk drill in the fields, which makes conservative property owners nervous Trade Unions were illegal—Pitt’s Combination Acts Peterloo Massacre—August 1819 Parliament passed “6 Acts” to control masses: no habeas corpus for those accused of treason; high taxes on radical press. Yet much of the radical movement simply wants representation in commons—far cry from Marxist revolution.

Political Structure George IV ( ) a drunk and not well- regarded Lord Liverpool—conservative P. M., fears that unrest will lead propertied classes to trade liberty for security Henry Addington, Lord Sidmouth, Home Secretary, uses spies to keep tabs on unrest Viscount Castlereagh—ran commons and did foreign affairs—little sympathy for poor

George IV Castlereagh Liverpool Sidmouth

George IV’s Divorce GIII forced George to marry Caroline of Brunswick (1795)—didn’t work out Separate domiciles—Caroline appeared in public with a new male child (she may have just been getting at GIV) (1810) Paid off to get her to the continent where she had many lovers Returned with her lawyer to get more $ or else she insisted on being Queen GIV wanted divorce—too public—and radical press sided with Caroline

Cato Street Conspiracy Arthur Thistlewood wanted to assassinate cabinet, burn London, and take over government. Gov’t spies boosted conspiracy to make it look bigger than it was It does discredit radicals, but not as much as the GIV divorce damaged conservatives, especially Liverpool.

New Political Faces in Liverpool Gov’t. George Canning—Foreign Secretary Robert Peel—Home Secretary William Huskisson—Board of Trade Liverpool died in 1827—Political division followed between Canning and those Canning didn’t like; Peel broke with Canning and Partnered with Duke of Wellington

Liverpool’s Lads: Canning, Peel, & Huskisson

Catholic Emancipation Peel and Wellington formed gov’t. in 1828— repealed Corporation and Test Acts Worked with Daniel O’Connel and Catholic Association of Ireland to gain support for Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829 Peel and Wellington lost support—Whigs asked where Tories had put their principles With death of George IV and under William IV, Wellington/Peel government collapsed and Earl Grey formed a new government.

William IV ( ) and Earl Grey

1832 Reform Bill Tories divided between Peelites and Wellingtonites; Grey’s Whigs rely on Old Tories like Melbourne and Palmerston to direct cabinet John Russell runs commons To get support for government, R. proposed 1832 Reform bill

Reform Bill Abolish rotten boroughs Enfranchising new, metropolitan centers Some minor equalizing of electoral districts Enfranchising bourgeoisie Really a conservative measure—letting rich and well-born vote Appeal to conservatives who feared the bourgeoisie would join w/ Radicals otherwise

Reform Bill First version failed Grey called for a general election and reformers gain in commons Second version passed commons but nixed in Lords Workingmen rioted Third bill passed commons and WIV told Grey he’d create enough reforming Lords to get bill passed. Lords acquiesced in face of having their membership diluted

Lord John “Finality Jack” Russel ( )

So What? Conservative leadership staved off revolution. Enfranchisement of Bourgeoisie moved conservatism away from singular protection of landed interests Post-1832 Reform Governments embraced range of reforms, even while struggling with the scope of Reform.