To What Extent Was Peel's Reorganisation of the Tory Party responsible for the election victory of 1841?

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To What Extent Was Peel’s Reorganisation of the Tory Party responsible for the election victory of 1841?


After the Tories suffered their worst defeat in the 1832 elections, many believed that the road to success would be a long, hard struggle for the party to re-emerge as a political force. After extending the franchise that year through the Great Reform Act, the Whigs intended to gain perpetual support from those in favour of major change. However, this fantasy was interrupted when Tory leader Robert Peel led his party to victory in July 1841. After undergoing several major changes during Peel’s tenure, the reorganisation of the party resulted in Tory victory carrying a broader electoral appeal. Peel’s clever remodelling of the party substantiated Tory success whilst combating waning support. Nevertheless, one must recognise what part Whig failure played in the new Conservative gains. The Whigs had disappointed with their proposals for change and now Peel was able capitalise on these errors, and in doing so highlight his own party’s success.

     After a shattering defeat in the 1832 elections, the Tories seemed destined for failure. Having just 185 seats in Parliament and a legacy of betrayed principles through policies concerning debatable issues such as Catholic Emancipation, The Reform Act and the abolition of slavery; it was an unenviable position for any individual to inherit. However, with Peel’s dynamism and his innovative policies, he was able to “turn the Tory Party of one particular class into the Conservative Party of the nation”. Peel operated a policy of constructive opposition, offering amendments to legislation. Employing a new style of politics, he faced contentious issues constructively as leader of the Conservatives. In December 1834 Peel presented his Tamworth Manifesto. It aimed to portray the new ‘Conservative’ party as one geared for necessary progress to remedy “proven abuses”. Carefully maintaining established Tory principles, Peel recognised that the middle classes were more important than ever and that party policies needed to reflect the traditional values but also embrace the new industrial society. The Tamworth Manifesto affirmed Peel’s positive attitude to reform, whilst establishing a consistent policy within his own party. Rebranding the Tories as the ‘Conservatives’ helped Peel to distance himself from the stigma of the Ultras and helped to abandon the more dogmatic approach the party once took. Much of the credit should go to  F. R. Bonham, responsible for public relations and spreading the ‘revised principles’ of  Toryism . Peel aimed to reorganise the party on a national basis. He encouraged electoral organisation and the registration of the newly enfranchised. He took advantage of boundary and constituency changes, stressing the need for ‘good government’ where he clarified the equal application to the new middle class electorate as to the traditional supporters. With a more efficient and broader minded government in tow, it would leave the Conservatives with a strong foot in politics.

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 However, in this dramatics period of change, it was crucial that Peel demonstrated that he was not abandoning the foundations from where his new party attitude and policies stemmed. He therefore emphasised the system of peerage in the House of Lords, the maintenance of law and order, the protection of the Anglican Church and the role of the monarchy. It is clear that the Tory values of protectionism and stability were maintained and that Peel had not been carried away by reform for reform’s sake. It was this focused reorganisation of the party that most ensured Conservative success.

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