Question 1
1 ‘The Conservative victory in 1841 was due to the leadership of Sir Robert Peel.’
Use the four sources in their historical context to assess how far they support this view.
Source A: The leader of the Conservative Party outlines the strategy he thought would best serve the party in its aim to become the Government.
My opinion is decidedly against all manoeuvring, all flirting with Radicals, for the mere purpose of a temporary triumph over the Government. How can the Conservative Party, if again called to the Government, hope to maintain itself, except by winning the goodwill, or at least by reducing the hostility, of many of the more moderate and responsible supporters of the present Government? The surest way to prevent this is by subtlety and party tactics.
Sir Robert Peel, letter, 25 May 1834.
Source B: A politician and pamphleteer describes the Conservative Party in terms of its principles and support.
The opinions of the great body of Conservatives in this country are liberal, honest and generous. They are prepared to proceed upon the conviction that they gain by adopting much that has already been accomplished. With regard to its numbers, and social position, the Conservative Party does not consist alone of the Peerage. Rather, it embraces a vast proportion of the numerical amount of the population. It extends into every quarter of the country and every class of the community. It rests upon the support of the majority of the property of the country, and is sustained by the attachment to the Anglican Church. I claim for the Conservatives the rank of a national party, comprising a vast section of the people.
Sir John Walsh, Chapters of Contemporary History, 1836.
Source C: A political and social diarist, who knew the great political figures of the day, provides his assessment of the reasons for the Conservative victory in the general election of 1841.
The Whigs complain bitterly of the apathy that has prevailed, and cannot understand why their promises of cheap bread and cheap sugar have not proved more attractive. It is true that there has not been any strong Tory reaction. However, there has been a revival of Conservative influence, which has been gradually increasing for some time and, together with it, a continually decreasing confidence in the Government. They have been getting more unpopular everyday with almost all classes. When they brought forward their Budget, the majority of the country, even those who approved of its principles, gave them little or no credit for the measure, and believed that their real motive was to recover the popularity they had lost, and to make a desperate plunge to maintain themselves in office.
Charles Greville, The Greville Memoirs, 11 July 1841.
Source D: A former MP expresses his view to Sir Robert Peel about the reason for the victory of the Conservative Party in the election of 1841.
The elections are wonderful, and the curiosity is that all turns on the name Sir Robert Peel. It is the first time that I remember in our history that the people have chosen the first Minister for the Sovereign. Here, every Conservative candidate professed himself in plain words to be Sir Robert Peel’s man, and on that ground was elected.
John Croker, letter, 20 July 1841.
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