How adequately do the following sources support the view that nineteenth century politicians had been successful at preventing or controling political change?

Authors Avatar

HISTORY A2 COURSEWORK

PART A SOURCES: 16 MARKS

HOW ADEQUATELY DO THE FOLLOWING SOURCES SUPPORT THE VIEW THAT NINETEENTH CENTURY POLITICIANS HAD BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT PREVENTING OR CONTROLING POLITICAL CHANGE?

The 19th century was a time period in which many reform acts took place. However, there are many differing views as to the extent of the change and whether politicians were able to control the extent of change. Sources A1 to F2 show opinions on the period of reform acts and are helpful in assessing the view that politicians were successful in controlling or preventing change.

A number of the sources provided would lead someone to believe that the politicians in the 19th century had very little control over change. Both sources B1 and E1 are written by conservatives who are attempting to argue that the politicians are not in control. Source B1 is written by J W Crokerwho argues that reform “will lead to as complete a subversion of our ancient constitution, as the long parliament”. This is suggesting that politicians are not in control and reform would lead to parliament losing power. Source E1 is written by Robert Lowe and is similar in that it also argues that parliament will lose power and it also suggests that reform would lead to the “violent people…finding themselves in a full majority of the whole constituency”. Although both of theses sources are convincing in there arguments, it must be remembered that they were both written by people who were in the minority at the time and although they are concerning different reform bills they were both written at times when they were panicking about the possible impacts of reform. We know that they were in the minority as both the bill in 1832 was passed and the later bill was finally passed in 1967.

Join now!

E2 and E3 also challenge the title and suggest that politicians were not in control. Source E3 puts forward an argument that suggests that the reform was a mere gamble taken to suit party interests and the 1867 reform bill became far more radical that any politician had desired. The source suggests that the presence of the reform league was the only reason for reform. However this is no a strong argument as it is known that the real reason that the 1867 reform act was passed was because Disraeli wanted it to go through. Source E2 can be used to ...

This is a preview of the whole essay