OCR Specification focus:
‘The roles of Gladstone and his colleagues; reasons for defeat in 1874’
The 1874 general election marked a decisive end to Gladstone’s first ministry. His political strategy, reform programme, and the public response all shaped the Liberal defeat.
Gladstone’s Political Strategy
Gladstone’s leadership was characterised by moral conviction, personal dominance, and a belief in principled politics.
William Ewart Gladstone, Liberal prime minister, whose moralised, centralising leadership shaped strategy in 1868–74. His dominance over Cabinet and appeal to conscience framed reforms and controversies that fed into the 1874 defeat. The portrait offers visual context for the personality behind “Gladstonian” politics. Source
He relied heavily on his reputation as the “Grand Old Man” of morality, often framing policies in religious or ethical terms. His style of leadership, however, was centralised and did not always allow space for colleagues to develop independent authority.
Leadership Style
Authoritarian control: Gladstone often dictated Cabinet policy, sometimes alienating senior colleagues.
Moral earnestness: He framed political decisions as moral imperatives, especially in issues like Irish reform and temperance.
Appeal to conscience: He frequently appealed directly to the electorate over Parliament, which disrupted conventional party management.
Gladstonian Leadership: A style of governance marked by moral earnestness, centralised authority, and direct appeal to the public, often prioritising principle over political expediency.
The Role of Gladstone’s Colleagues
Gladstone’s colleagues played important but often subordinate roles. Figures like William Harcourt, Robert Lowe, and George Goschen contributed to reform, but their influence was muted by Gladstone’s dominance.
Cabinet Dynamics
Robert Lowe (Chancellor of the Exchequer): Struggled to balance financial retrenchment with rising social spending.
William Harcourt: Supported law and order, but his influence remained secondary.
The Radicals: Figures like Joseph Chamberlain were emerging, but had not yet fully shaped Liberal direction.
The lack of a strong, cohesive second tier of leadership weakened the Liberal Party’s resilience.
The Reform Programme, 1868–1874
Gladstone’s government pursued ambitious reforms across Ireland, education, and the civil service, but these had mixed results in political appeal.
Irish Policies
Irish Church Act (1869) disestablished the Church of Ireland, ending Anglican dominance.
Irish Land Act (1870) attempted to improve tenant rights but left many dissatisfied, alienating both landlords and tenants.
Social and Domestic Reforms
Education Act (1870) expanded elementary schooling but angered both Anglicans and Nonconformists.
Civil Service and Army reforms modernised administration but were unpopular with elites.
Judicature Act (1873) rationalised the courts but lacked broad political resonance.
Problems of Reception
Reforms were often too moderate to satisfy radicals but too radical for conservatives, leaving the government open to criticism from both sides.
Political Challenges and Strategic Missteps
By the early 1870s, Gladstone’s political strategy began to falter. Several issues undermined public support.
The Irish Question
His attempts to deal with Ireland left the government open to criticism:
Land issues unresolved, leading to rural discontent.
Religious grievances persisted despite the disestablishment of the Church.
The Education Act
Angered Nonconformists who opposed state aid for Anglican schools.
Alienated Church supporters who resented state intervention.
The Licensing Act (1872)
Introduced stricter alcohol regulations.
Seen as moral interference, provoking hostility from brewers, publicans, and working-class voters who viewed it as an attack on leisure.
Licensing Act (1872): Legislation tightening alcohol sale regulations, granting magistrates greater power over licences, and restricting opening hours of public houses.
This measure epitomised Gladstone’s tendency to frame politics as moral reform, but it lost him substantial working-class support.
The 1874 General Election
The election of 1874 was the first conducted under the secret ballot, introduced in 1872.
This reduced the influence of landlords and local elites, making voters less susceptible to pressure. The change exposed weaknesses in Liberal popularity.
Campaign and Results
Gladstone dissolved Parliament in January 1874, hoping to secure support with his proposal to abolish income tax.
The electorate, however, responded coolly to the prospect of shifting taxation onto goods, fearing regressive effects.
The Conservatives under Benjamin Disraeli presented a united front and emphasised stability.
Liberals suffered a crushing defeat, winning only 242 seats to the Conservatives’ 350.
Results map of the 1874 United Kingdom general election. Colours and hatching indicate party returns, including multi-member constituencies. This visual clarifies the breadth of the Conservative majority referenced in the notes. Source
Reasons for Defeat
Overextension of reform: Too many changes alienated different groups.
Moral legislation: Resentment of Gladstone’s moralising measures like the Licensing Act.
Party fatigue: After years of reform, the electorate sought respite.
Conservative unity: Disraeli capitalised on Liberal divisions and presented pragmatic policies.
Poor timing: Gladstone’s sudden dissolution left many Liberals unprepared to campaign effectively.
The Aftermath
Gladstone briefly retired from leadership, declaring a wish to “abolish himself,” though he later returned. The defeat reshaped Liberal politics, forcing the party to reflect on the balance between principle and pragmatism in strategy.
The 1874 election thus highlighted the limitations of Gladstone’s leadership style, the difficulties of sustaining reform momentum, and the electoral risks of imposing moral legislation on a diverse electorate.
FAQ
Many middle- and working-class voters feared that the abolition of income tax would shift the burden of taxation onto indirect taxes on goods.
This would have disproportionately affected lower-income households, making essential items more expensive.
The proposal, intended as a populist measure, therefore appeared regressive and alienated groups Gladstone had hoped to win over.
The secret ballot reduced the influence of landlords, employers, and local patrons, who had previously coerced dependants into voting a certain way.
It allowed voters to express genuine preferences without intimidation.
This exposed the true extent of Liberal unpopularity, especially among working-class voters, leading to surprising Conservative gains.
Nonconformists, traditionally Liberal supporters, were alienated by the 1870 Education Act which permitted public funding for Anglican schools.
Their disillusionment weakened Liberal grassroots support.
In several constituencies, Nonconformist voters withheld support or abstained, contributing to Liberal losses.
Disraeli presented the Conservatives as a stable, pragmatic alternative, avoiding divisive moral legislation.
Unlike Gladstone, he emphasised party unity and avoided alienating key groups.
By contrasting his calm pragmatism with Gladstone’s moral zeal, he appealed to voters weary of upheaval.
The defeat highlighted weaknesses in Liberal organisation, especially compared to Conservative efficiency.
It encouraged the Liberals to place greater emphasis on constituency-level campaigning and better use of political associations.
This laid groundwork for more modernised Liberal electioneering in the later nineteenth century.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks):
Identify two reasons why Gladstone’s Licensing Act (1872) was unpopular with sections of the electorate.
Mark Scheme:
1 mark for each valid reason (maximum 2).
Possible answers:It restricted the hours public houses could remain open.
It gave magistrates greater control over licensing.
It was perceived as moral interference in working-class leisure.
It antagonised brewers and publicans by threatening their trade.
Question 2 (6 marks):
Explain why the Liberals were defeated in the 1874 general election.
Mark Scheme:
Award up to 2 marks for identifying reasons, up to 4 marks for explanation (6 marks total).
Indicative content:Overextension of reform (up to 2 marks): Liberals introduced many reforms which alienated both radicals and conservatives. Explanation earns credit, e.g. “Too moderate for radicals, too radical for traditionalists.”
Moral legislation (up to 2 marks): Measures like the Licensing Act lost working-class and brewer support. Explanation earns credit, e.g. “Voters resented Gladstone’s moralising tone and interference in daily life.”
Conservative unity (up to 2 marks): Disraeli presented a more pragmatic, united front. Explanation earns credit, e.g. “Conservative stability appealed to voters tired of Liberal division.”
Other valid points for up to 2 marks: Poor timing of dissolution, alienation of Nonconformists over education, electorate fatigue after continuous reforms. Explanation required for maximum marks.
Level guidance:
1–2 marks: Simple statements with little or no explanation
3–4 marks: Some explanation of factors but limited depth or range.
5–6 marks: Clear, developed explanation covering more than one reason.
