Past Essay Questions - Investigations Paper - Gladstone+Disraeli
Specimen Questions
Jan 2002
How successful was Disraeli as leader as leader of the Conservative Party in the period 1868-1880? 3
How different were the attitudes of Gladstone and Disraeli towards the passing of the Second Reform Act in 18667? 2
June 2002
Analyse Gladstone’s contribution to the development of Liberalism in the period 1846-68. 1
How justified was Gladstone in his criticism of Disraeli’s foreign policy as reckless territorial expansion? 4
Jan 2003
To what extent were the lives of the working classes improved by Gladstone and Disraeli respectively in their
ministries between 1868 and 1880? 3
Consider how far Disraeli and Gladstone differed in their policies regarding the British Empire. 4
June 2003
How far were Disraeli’s personal qualities the most important reason why he became leader of the Conservative
party in 1868? 1
To what extent did Gladstone achieve his aims in Ireland during the years 1868-74? 3
Jan 2004
To what extent were Gladstone and Disraeli already political rivals in the period 1852-68? 1
To what extent were Gladstone and Disraeli’s foreign policies from 1870 to 1880 driven by different ideologies? 4
June 2004
How important was Gladstone’s contribution to the development of Liberalism from 1852 to 1868? 1
How far was Disraeli an imperialist? 4
Source Based Questions:
Jan 2002
Gladstone's Disestablishment of the Church of Ireland 3
June 2002
Disraeli's attitude towards social reform 3
Jan 2003
Gladstone and Disraeli as Chancellor of the Exchequer 2
June 2003
Disraeli and Gladstone and the Bulgarian Atrocities 4
Jan 2004
The passing of the 1870 Education Act 3
June 2004
Second Reform Act
2
Key Issues for Study and Examination
What explains Gladstone's development from Tory to Peelite to Liberal, and Disraeli's from Tory to Conservative to
Tory Democrat?
How far did their ministerial careers clash or coincide in the period 1852-68?
Did either have a mission as Prime Minister from 1868 to 1880?
How far did ideology drive their attitudes and policies on foreign and imperial affairs from 1852 to
1880?
Content
Gladstone, Disraeli, parties and ideology 1846-80: party leadership by 1868, their attitudes to the development of
party and the political system, Gladstone's contribution to Gladstonian Liberalism, Disraeli's contribution to
Conservatism. 1
Gladstone and Disraeli as Ministers 1852-68: taxation, free trade, their roles as chancellors, their attitudes to
parliamentary reform (especially the Second Reform Bills and Act 1866-7). 2
Prime Ministers 1868-80: their differing approaches to Ireland, education, the church, civil service reform, social
issues. 3
Gladstone and Disraeli’s attitudes to foreign and imperial affairs 1852-80: their perceptions of British interests in
Europe, the Eastern question and ‘jingoism’, Disraeli and Derby, Gladstone's Bulgarian pamphlet of 1876,
Gladstone's Midlothian campaign 1879, their attitudes to the British empire. 4
NMG’s suggestions for 2005
Source Based Questions :
Disraeli and the development of conservatism
Attitudes towards the Empire
Essay Questions – Possible areas of inquiry
2nd Reform Act
Gladstone’s First Ministry – success/failure