OCR Specification focus:
‘The effects of the defeat of Peel on the Conservative party; the leadership of Derby; Disraeli's support for constitutional reform; the aims and importance of the 1867 Reform Act and reasons for defeat in 1868.’
The years 1846 to 1868 were crucial for the Conservative Party, which faced collapse after the repeal of the Corn Laws but gradually rebuilt under Derby’s leadership and Disraeli’s strategy.
The Aftermath of Peel’s Defeat (1846)
The repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846 by Sir Robert Peel split the Conservatives into factions: the Peelites, who followed Peel into free trade liberalism, and the protectionist Conservatives, who opposed repeal. This schism left the party fractured and struggling to maintain coherence in opposition.
Peelites: Favoured free trade, reform, and gradual liberalisation. Many would later merge into the Liberal Party.
Protectionist Conservatives: Resisted repeal and sought to defend traditional landed interests.
The result was electoral weakness and a loss of identity. For two decades, the Conservatives fought to re-establish credibility while competing with both Whigs/Liberals and Radicals.
Corn Laws: Protectionist tariffs on imported grain designed to keep prices high in favour of domestic producers.
The Leadership of Lord Derby
Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby, became leader of the Conservatives after Peel’s fall.
Frederick Richard Say’s 1844 portrait shows Derby as a senior statesman before his three premierships. Use it to anchor discussion of his party leadership during the rebuilding years after 1846. The date slightly predates the 1846 split but is appropriate for identifying the key figure. Source
Although not a dominant reformer, he provided stability during years of weakness.
Derby served three times as Prime Minister (1852, 1858–1859, 1866–1868), but usually headed minority administrations.
His leadership helped preserve party unity, maintaining a platform around traditional institutions and moderate conservatism.
Derby relied heavily on Benjamin Disraeli, who emerged as the party’s leading strategist and parliamentary figure.
Derby’s aristocratic style limited mass appeal, but his tenure prevented the Conservatives from dissolving entirely during turbulent times.
Disraeli’s Role in Party Revival
Benjamin Disraeli played a pivotal role in reconstructing the Conservative Party into a viable alternative to the Liberals.
A National Portrait Gallery cabinet card photograph of Disraeli (1878) by C. Jabez Hughes, offering a clear likeness for classroom use. It post-dates the 1867 Act but accurately represents the architect of the Conservatives’ reform strategy. Extra biographical inscriptions on the card exceed OCR requirements and can be ignored. Source
Early Positioning
Disraeli positioned himself as an advocate of constitutional reform, unusual for a Conservative at the time.
His speeches emphasised One Nation Conservatism, a vision of uniting classes through paternalistic reform.
One Nation Conservatism: A political philosophy developed by Disraeli advocating that the ruling classes should act in the interests of all classes to prevent social division.
Parliamentary Leadership
Disraeli served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in Derby’s short-lived ministries.
He proved a formidable debater against Gladstone, consolidating his reputation as the intellectual and rhetorical force of the party.
By the mid-1860s, he effectively became the architect of Conservative political strategy.
The 1867 Reform Act
The Second Reform Act of 1867, introduced under Derby’s government but largely engineered by Disraeli, was a turning point in Conservative revival.
A Leap in the Dark presents Britannia riding a horse with Disraeli’s face as she hurtles into the thicket marked “Reform.” The image captures the bold, risky character contemporaries perceived in the 1867 settlement. It includes observers such as Gladstone, Bright, and Derby; these figures add context beyond the OCR focus. Source
Aims
To seize the initiative from the Liberals, who had long advocated reform.
To appeal to the newly enfranchised working classes and reshape the Conservative base.
To modernise the party’s image as responsive to national needs.
Provisions
Extended the franchise to male householders in boroughs, significantly enlarging the electorate.
Added around one million new voters, particularly in urban centres.
Importance
Demonstrated Conservative willingness to embrace reform rather than resist it.
Allowed the party to portray itself as a national, rather than purely landed, institution.
Laid the groundwork for Tory democracy, the belief that the Conservatives could appeal directly to the masses without surrendering elite leadership.
Reform Act of 1867: Legislation extending the right to vote to many urban working-class men, doubling the electorate and altering the political balance of Britain.
Reasons for Conservative Defeat in 1868
Despite the reforms, the Conservatives were defeated in the 1868 General Election, which brought Gladstone’s Liberals to power.
Electoral Geography: The new voters in boroughs tended to support the Liberals, who were better organised locally.
Liberal Unity: The Liberals, under Gladstone, presented a clear reforming programme and benefited from moral authority.
Conservative Limitations: The party still lacked strong grassroots organisation compared to the Liberals’ networks, such as the National Liberal Federation.
Irish Disestablishment Issue: Gladstone’s commitment to disestablish the Anglican Church in Ireland attracted significant popular support, undercutting Conservative appeal.
Overall Significance of 1846–1868 for the Conservatives
The period between Peel’s downfall and the defeat of 1868 was marked by transition. The Conservatives shifted from a fractured, protectionist party of landowners to a re-emerging national force under Derby and Disraeli.
Peel’s split weakened the Conservatives but created space for Disraeli’s ideological innovations.
Derby’s leadership gave the party survival and stability, though not mass success.
Disraeli’s bold reforms in 1867 transformed the Conservative reputation, even though the immediate result was electoral defeat.
The Conservative experience of 1846–1868 set the foundations for their later revival under Disraeli in the 1870s, when One Nation Conservatism and pragmatic reform would help them return to power.
FAQ
The Peelites split from the Conservatives because they supported free trade, while the main party clung to protectionism.
They gradually aligned with the Whigs and Radicals, sharing similar views on economic liberalism and administrative reform. By the mid-1850s many Peelites, including Gladstone, had moved into the emerging Liberal Party, leaving the Conservatives firmly tied to landed and protectionist interests.
Derby was an aristocrat who rarely connected with the newly expanding electorate.
He relied on influence in the House of Lords, rather than building mass popular support.
His aloof manner and sporadic parliamentary appearances made it difficult for him to inspire widespread loyalty.
This leadership style preserved party stability but prevented major electoral breakthroughs.
Disraeli’s speeches in Parliament attacked Liberal policies and presented Conservatives as defenders of the constitution.
He often used sharp wit and memorable phrases to undermine opponents like Gladstone. His rhetorical emphasis on national unity, tradition, and responsibility helped build a stronger party identity when the Conservatives lacked electoral strength.
Urban areas tended to favour Liberals, as middle-class and radical groups dominated borough politics.
Conservatives were hampered by:
Weak local organisation compared to the Liberals.
Limited appeal to industrial workers.
Association with landed elites rather than urban interests.
This weakness made Disraeli’s push for reform in 1867 a calculated risk to expand Conservative influence.
Although Disraeli hoped the new voters would reward the Conservatives for reform, many turned to the Liberals.
The Liberals were better organised locally and had stronger networks in urban boroughs.
Gladstone’s programme, particularly his plan for Irish Church disestablishment, captured moral enthusiasm.
Conservatives still appeared tied to traditional landowners and lacked broad working-class support.
The Act’s long-term significance outweighed its short-term electoral outcome.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks):
Who led the Conservative Party after Peel’s resignation in 1846, and what was his role in maintaining party unity?
Mark Scheme:
1 mark for identifying Lord Derby (Edward Smith-Stanley) as leader.
1 mark for explaining that he preserved unity and stability during a period of weakness.
Question 2 (6 marks):
Explain two reasons why the 1867 Reform Act was significant for the Conservative Party.
Mark Scheme:
Up to 3 marks for each reason explained.
Award 1 mark for identification of the reason, 1 mark for explanation of its significance, and 1 mark for developing the explanation with relevant detail.
Indicative content:
The Act showed Conservative willingness to embrace constitutional reform (1), which helped modernise the party’s image (1), portraying it as a national rather than a purely landed interest (1).
It extended the franchise to urban working-class men (1), which Disraeli hoped would broaden Conservative electoral support (1), laying the foundations for the idea of Tory democracy (1).
