British History 2020 – Exam Solutions

Merits of Whig Oligarchy:

• Stable government after the Glorious Revolution of 1688
• Promoted constitutional monarchy and parliamentary supremacy
• Supported religious toleration for Protestants
• Fostered economic growth and colonial expansion

Demerits of Whig Oligarchy:

• Limited political participation – only wealthy landowners could vote
• Corruption and patronage were widespread
• Neglected the interests of the growing middle class and urban population
• Resisted political reforms that would expand the electorate

Causes of Downfall:

• Rise of George III who wanted to reassert royal power
• Internal divisions within the Whig party
• Failure to address growing demands for parliamentary reform
• American Revolution weakened their political standing
• Emergence of new political ideologies and parties

Initial Positive Influence:

• Inspired British radicals who supported democratic ideals
• Encouraged calls for parliamentary reform and expanded suffrage
• Promoted ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity
• Influenced writers like William Godwin and Thomas Paine

Conservative Backlash:

• Edmund Burke’s “Reflections on the Revolution in France” (1790) criticized the revolution
• Government repression through measures like the Two Acts (1795)
• Fear of similar uprising led to crackdown on reform movements
• Strengthened conservative ideology in Britain

Long-term Impact:

• Contributed to the development of both conservative and radical political thought
• Influenced the Romantic movement in literature
• Shaped British foreign policy for decades
• Ultimately delayed but didn’t prevent parliamentary reforms in the 19th century

Key Parliamentary Reforms:

• 1832 Reform Act: Extended franchise to middle-class men, abolished rotten boroughs
• 1867 Reform Act: Extended vote to urban working-class men
• 1872 Ballot Act: Introduced secret voting
• 1884 Reform Act: Extended franchise to rural working-class men
• 1918 Representation of the People Act: Gave vote to all men over 21 and women over 30
• 1928 Equal Franchise Act: Gave women equal voting rights at age 21

Path to Political Democracy:

• Gradual extension of suffrage eliminated property qualifications
• Secret ballot reduced corruption and intimidation
• Redistribution of seats made representation more equal
• Payment for MPs (1911) allowed working-class representation
• Ultimately achieved universal suffrage by 1928

Critical Examination:

• Britain became democratic through gradual reform rather than revolution
• Elites maintained significant influence throughout the process
• Democratic transition was relatively peaceful compared to other European countries
• The monarchy and House of Lords retained some powers despite democratic reforms

Peel as a Liberal Conservative:

• Founded the modern Conservative Party with the Tamworth Manifesto (1834)
• Supported Catholic Emancipation (1829) against traditional Tory views
• Introduced the Metropolitan Police (1829) – a liberal reform for public safety
• Repealed the Corn Laws (1846) to address famine in Ireland – a liberal economic policy

Peel as a Conservative Liberal:

• Maintained commitment to law and order and property rights
• Opposed radical political reform and Chartist demands
• Supported the established Anglican Church
• Believed in gradual, pragmatic reform rather than revolutionary change

Critical Examination:

• Peel’s policies reflected pragmatic adaptation to changing social and economic conditions
• His willingness to change positions based on evidence (like on the Corn Laws) showed liberal tendencies
• His emphasis on stability and gradual reform reflected conservative principles
• The statement captures Peel’s unique position in British political history – bridging conservative and liberal traditions

Middle East and Suez Canal Crisis (1956):

• Egyptian President Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal in July 1956
• Britain, France, and Israel conspired to retake control of the canal
• Israel invaded Sinai, followed by Anglo-French ultimatum and intervention
• International pressure, especially from the US and USSR, forced withdrawal
• Marked the end of Britain as a global superpower

Withdrawal from Palestine:

• British mandate in Palestine became increasingly untenable after WWII
• Jewish resistance and Arab opposition made administration difficult
• Britain referred the issue to the United Nations in 1947
• Withdrew in 1948, leading to the creation of Israel and subsequent Arab-Israeli war

Withdrawal from Suez Canal:

• Economic strain made maintaining military presence difficult
• International pressure and condemnation of the invasion
• US financial pressure threatened Britain’s economy
• Changing global power dynamics with US and USSR as superpowers
• Domestic political opposition to the military action

League of Nations:

• International organization founded after WWI (1920) to promote peace and cooperation
• Proposed by US President Woodrow Wilson but the US never joined
• Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland
• Predecessor to the United Nations

Work of the League:

• Settled minor international disputes in the 1920s
• Administered territories under the mandate system
• Worked on humanitarian issues: refugee assistance, fighting disease
• Promoted disarmament through conferences
• Addressed social issues like drug trafficking and slavery

Causes of Failure:

• Absence of major powers (US never joined, Soviet Union joined late, Germany and Japan left)
• Lack of enforcement mechanisms – no military force of its own
• Unwillingness of member states to commit to collective security
• Could not prevent aggression by major powers in the 1930s (Manchuria, Abyssinia)
• Structure gave too much power to the Council where major powers could veto action
• Economic depression of the 1930s led countries to focus on domestic issues

Causes of Falkland War (1982):

• Historical dispute over sovereignty of the Falkland Islands (British since 1833, claimed by Argentina)
• Argentinian military junta sought to divert attention from domestic problems
• Breakdown of diplomatic negotiations over the islands’ status
• British signals that they might reduce their military presence in the South Atlantic
• Argentinian miscalculation that Britain would not respond militarily

Impact on Britain-Latin America Relations:

• Immediate deterioration of relations with Argentina
• Most Latin American countries supported Argentina’s claim diplomatically
• Chile provided covert assistance to Britain, straining regional relations
• Britain’s image in Latin America was negatively affected in the short term
• Long-term relations gradually recovered, but the sovereignty issue remains unresolved
• Britain maintained its military presence in the South Atlantic, causing ongoing tensions

Long-term Consequences:

• Strengthened Margaret Thatcher’s government in Britain
• Contributed to the collapse of the Argentinian military junta
• Britain maintained control of the Falklands but at significant financial cost
• The dispute continues to affect Britain’s relations with Argentina specifically