Peel's Administration 1841-1846

Peel returns for his second time PM, as the conservative gain a majority

Peel's chosen cabinet consists of three future PMs: Lord Aberdeen, the Earl of Derby, and William Gladstone

The Whigs leave a budget deficit behind for Peel to deal with

Lord John Russell attempts to introduce a free trade budget

Almost 50% of Ireland's population is living in poverty, either in 1-2 room hovels in the countryside, or renting small amounts of land from absentee landlords

Peel strengthens the Conservative party by recruiting moderate Whigs to his cabinet such as Lord Stanley and Sir James Graham

Trade unions and the Anti-Corn Law League gain ground at the expense of the Chartists

The Royal Agricultural Society is founded

The Railway Clearing House is established

By this year, Feargus O'Connor is established as popular leader of Chartism

The Plug Plot riots take place in Staffordshire. While demands varied by location and industry, the strikes were prompted by proposed wage cuts

Peel passes the Mines Act, preventing women and children working underground

Peel introduces peacetime income tax, a tariffs cut and adjusts the sliding scale for the Corn Laws in this budget. He calculates that income tax would raise £4 million

Peel's reduction of the Corn Law sliding scale leads to steadier bread prices

A Royal Commission of inquiry into Children's Employment is released, interviewing working children

Edwin Chadwick publishes 'The Sanitary Conditions of the Labouring Population'. This becomes the cause of great debate

Peel's government reject Chadwick's recommendations, believing that they would be too expensive to initiate

An economic slump caused by high unemployment, wage reductions and general distress provokes a rise in Chartism

Peel's government appoints a paid registrar to administrate on behalf of all registered societies, benefiting Friendly Societies

Peel promises to pursue impartial policies in an attempt to win over the Catholics and to diffuse O'Connell's repeal campaign

Peel extends the Poor Law Amendment Act

Peel appoints William Gladstone as President of the board of Trade

Daniel O'Connell is arrested at one of his 'monster meetings'

The Factory Education Bill attempts to make schooling under Anglican direction compulsory for child labourers. It is rejected over arguments on which religious denomination would provide it

The Devon Commission is released, a commission appointed by Peel to research problems with land leases

Peel introduced the Bank Charter Act, aimed at supplying expanding industry with larger loans and increasing confidence in British currency

Young Ireland is formed, a more radical form of O'Connell's aims

The Rochdale Pioneers' cooperative is established

James Nasmyth creates the Steam Hammer, a tool for shaping large pieces of wrought iron

Gladstone's Regulation Railway Act is passed, providing a minimum standard for rail passenger travel

The Joint Stock Companies Act introduces a salaried Registrar of Companies.

In this budget, Peel renews income tax for a further 3 years, as well as abolishing duties on raw materials and reducing duties on imported sugar

This Enclosure Act stipulates that any open land in immediate vicinity of a village or town is to be preserved in perpetuity

Disraeli publishes Sybil, inspired by Chadwick's Report. In this novel, he suggests the concept of Britain being 'two nations' influencing the later ideology of one nation conservatism

Peel increases the Maynooth Grant, soughting to improve the relationship between Catholic Ireland and Protestant Britain

The Irish Potato Famine begins

Peel resigns as PM, after facing fierce opposition to his plan to repeal the Corn Laws. Included in this opposition is Benjamin Disraeli, who viciously attacks peel, accusing him of betraying Conservative principles

Peel returns as PM despite resigning, in light of Lord John Russell's failure to form a government

The public works legislation allocates funds for employment on roads and drainage works in Ireland. Half of the cost is granted in aid

The Agricultural Drainage Act sets up loans for farmers to improve field drainage

Kay-Shuttleworth's committee attempts to establish a national scheme of teacher training. It fails due to criticism of additional costs

Peel officially repeals the Corn Laws

Peel is forced to resign as PM again, the result of defeat

Lord John Russell replaces Peel as PM