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Line 62: − + − The [[British Liberal Party|Liberal Party]] won the 1880 general election and Gladstone resumed his position as Prime Minister. He set about disengaging Britain from a series of colonial wars and passed the 1884 Reform Act, which further extended the franchise. However, this government was to become known as the ‘Ministry of Troubles’, with problems both at home and abroad. He was forced to resign in 1885 after the death of [[General Gordon]] in Khartoum, for which Gladstone was held indirectly responsible.+ + + + + + Line 70:
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→After 1880
==After 1880 ==
===Later terms (1880-1885, 1886, 1892-1894)===
With the Liberals defeat in the elections of 1874, Gladstone relinquished leadership of the Liberal Party. He returned as prime minister in 1880, and his government lasted until 1885. Legislation passed included the Land Act of 1881 for Ireland, and the third [[parliamentary Reform Act of 1884]].
However, this government was to become known as the ‘Ministry of Troubles’, with problems both at home and abroad.
====Foreign policy====
He set about disengaging Britain from a series of colonial wars, but his foreign policy, which was one of avoidance of entanglements, lacked consistency and distinction. The 1880-85 period had mixed results at best. He undermined his reputation among pacifists and anti-imperialists by his military attack on Egypt in 1882. He was then denounced by jingoes when he sent General [[Charles George Gordon]] to the [[Sudan]] then failed to rescue him as he was besieged at [[Khartoum]] for 10 months and killed 2 days before rescuers arrived.
In 1886, Gladstone was able to defeat [[Lord Salisbury|Lord Salisbury’s]] Conservative government through an alliance with Irish Nationalists and introduced his [[Home Rule]] Bill for Ireland. The issue split the Liberal Party and the Bill was defeated at the second reading. The government then lost the 1886 general election to be replaced by Lord Salisbury’s Conservative Ministry.
In 1886, Gladstone was able to defeat [[Lord Salisbury|Lord Salisbury’s]] Conservative government through an alliance with Irish Nationalists and introduced his [[Home Rule]] Bill for Ireland. The issue split the Liberal Party and the Bill was defeated at the second reading. The government then lost the 1886 general election to be replaced by Lord Salisbury’s Conservative Ministry.
Soon after, with his eyesight and hearing failing him, Gladstone resigned at the age of 84. He would make one more speech in 1896 to denounce the [[Armenian atrocities]], but died in 1898 at the age of 88. He was given a state funeral and buried in [[Westminster Abbey]].
Soon after, with his eyesight and hearing failing him, Gladstone resigned at the age of 84. He would make one more speech in 1896 to denounce the [[Armenian atrocities]], but died in 1898 at the age of 88. He was given a state funeral and buried in [[Westminster Abbey]].
==Beliefs and political values==
===Laissez-faire policy===
During his second term as prime minister Gladstone was confronted with a worsening agricultural and trade depression, to which his policy of laissez-faire provided no answer. Cheap grains imported from America were ruining British farmers; across the world tariffs were increasing and thus restricting British exports and causing unemployment; and a formidable growth of European armaments was menacing British security. That challenge stimulated two mass movements of British opinion, and demands arose for a policy of [[social reform]] at home and for a vigorous imperialist policy overseas. Gladstone rejected both demands. He held that the [[national character]] and prosperity would both be undercut by a [[welfare state]] of the sort that [[Bismark]] was initiating in Germany. He held that a race among the [[Great Powers]] for military and naval supremacy would quickly get out of hand if Britain either joined in or expanded its overseas empire in compensation for increasing relative weakness in Europe.
===Corruption===
Disraeli's Conservative Party was proposing solutions that were popular and the root cause of Gladstone's anger toward Disraeli was his belief that his rival was deliberately corrupting the minds of the British people upon whom Gladstone placed their trust. Gladstone was visited by moods of black depression. At such times he spoke with an engaging but unguarded simplicity about his personal wish to retire and his public duty to remain at his post in order to execute the will of God; he was regarded in consequence by most of his enemies, and even by some of his friends, as a humbug. The most outstanding example of his lack of sophistication was his sudden espousal of the cause of Ireland.
===Democracy===
===Democracy===