Changes

===Religion===

===Religion===

His mother, intensely religious, was an evangelical of Scottish [[Episcopal]] origins,<ref> Partridge, (2003) p 18</ref>  and his father joined the [[Church of England]], having been a [[Church of Scotland|Presbyterian]] when he first settled in Liverpool. The boy was baptized into the Church of England. He had previously experienced and ignored, from motives of worldly ambition, a call to enter the Church and become an Anglican priest, and his conscience tormented him for the rest of his life. He made amends by attempting to force his political career into conformity with the pietistic religion in which he fervently believed. In 1838 Gladstone nearly wrecked his career when he tried to force a religious mission upon the Conservative Party. He published a book which argued that the [[State]] had neglected its duty to the Church of England; and he coolly suggested that, as that Church possessed a monopoly of religious truth, Nonconformists and Roman Catholics ought to be excluded from all official employments. The historian [[Thomas Babington Macaulay]] and other critics tore his arguments to shreds, and Sir [[Robert Peel]], Gladstone's chief, was outraged. Peel was greatly attached, however, to his high-minded and extraordinarily good-looking young protégé, and he succeeded in diverting Gladstone's attention from theology to finance.

His mother, intensely religious, was an evangelical of Scottish [[Episcopal]] origins,<ref> Partridge, (2003) p 18</ref>  and his father joined the [[Church of England]], having been a [[Church of Scotland|Presbyterian]] when he first settled in Liverpool. The boy was baptized into the Church of England. He had previously experienced and ignored, from motives of worldly ambition, a call to enter the Church and become an Anglican priest, and his conscience tormented him for the rest of his life. He made amends by attempting to force his political career into conformity with the pietistic religion in which he fervently believed. In 1838 Gladstone nearly wrecked his career when he tried to force a religious mission upon the Conservative Party. He published a book which argued that the State had neglected its duty to the [[Church of England]]; and he coolly suggested that, as that Church possessed a monopoly of religious truth, Nonconformists and Roman Catholics ought to be excluded from all official employments. The historian [[Thomas Babington Macaulay]] and other critics tore his arguments to shreds, and Sir [[Robert Peel]], Gladstone's chief, was outraged. Peel was greatly attached, however, to his high-minded and extraordinarily good-looking young protégé, and he succeeded in diverting Gladstone's attention from theology to finance.

Gladstone altered his approach to religious problems, which always held first place in his mind. Before entering Parliament he had already substituted a High Church Anglican attitude, with its dependence upon authority and tradition, for the narrow evangelical outlook of his boyhood, with its reliance upon the direct inspiration of the Bible. Now in middle life he decided that the individual conscience would have to replace authority as the inner citadel of the Church. That view of the individual conscience affected his political outlook and changed him gradually from a Conservative into a [[British Liberal Party|Liberal]].

Gladstone altered his approach to religious problems, which always held first place in his mind. Before entering Parliament he had already substituted a [[High Church]] Anglican attitude, with its dependence upon authority and tradition, for the narrow evangelical outlook of his boyhood, with its reliance upon the direct inspiration of the Bible. Now in middle life he decided that the individual conscience would have to replace authority as the inner citadel of the Church. That view of the individual conscience affected his political outlook and changed him gradually from a Conservative into a [[British Liberal Party|Liberal]].

 

 

 

 

Another aspect of Gladstone’s religious mission was his work in rescuing prostitutes from the streets. He would aim to find them alternative employment and rehabilitate them back into mainstream society. His work was seen as controversial and criticised by many, but he continued this practice with the full support of his wife even when he was Prime Minister.

==Parliament==

==Parliament==

Gladstone served as President of the Board of Trade (1843-44) during the second ministry of [[Robert Peel]]. He resigned in 1845 over the Maynooth Grant issue, but returned in December as Colonial Secretary. Peel’s government fell in 1846, and Gladstone followed his leader in separation from the [[Conservative Party]]. After Peel’s death in 1850, Gladstone became leader of this ‘Peelite’ faction in the House of Commons.

Gladstone served as President of the Board of Trade (1843-44) during the second ministry of [[Robert Peel]]. He resigned in 1845 over the Maynooth Grant issue, but returned in December as Colonial Secretary. Peel’s government fell in 1846, and Gladstone followed his leader in separation from the [[Conservative Party]]. After Peel’s death in 1850, Gladstone became leader of this ‘Peelite’ faction in the House of Commons.

In 1852, he became [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] in a Whig-Peelite coalition government led by Lord Aberdeen. The government resigned in 1855 over the [[Crimean War]] and Gladstone spent the next four years in the political wilderness, refusing to join Derby’s Conservative Ministry on the grounds that he did not want to work with [[Benjamin Disraeli]].

In 1852, he became [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] in a Whig-Peelite coalition government led by [[Lord Aberdeen]]. The government resigned in 1855 over the [[Crimean War]] and Gladstone spent the next four years in the political wilderness, refusing to join Derby’s Conservative Ministry on the grounds that he did not want to work with [[Benjamin Disraeli]].

 

When he became [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] in 1853 he made that office, for the first time, the second most important in the government. He inaugurated an era of unexampled prosperity by applying the creed of [[laissez-faire]] to the nation's economic problems and by setting individuals free from a multitude of crippling and obsolete fiscal restrictions. His annual budget statements were eagerly awaited, and the crowning moments of the first phase of his career were the great budgets of 1853 and 1860. He popularized finance and moralized it, arguing that self-discipline in freedom is the essential condition of human strength and happiness.

==Conservative to Liberal==

==Conservative to Liberal==

In an historic move, Gladstone joined [[Lord Palmerston|Palmerston’s]] new [[British Liberal Party|Liberal]] government in 1859 as [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]]. In this post, Gladstone was steadily able to reduce income tax during his time in office. He had originally opposed further electoral reform, but by 1865, was in favour of extending the franchise to the working classes in the towns.

In an historic move, Gladstone joined [[Lord Palmerston|Palmerston’s]] new [[British Liberal Party|Liberal]] government in 1859 as [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]]. In this post, Gladstone was steadily able to reduce income tax during his time in office. He had originally opposed further electoral reform, but by 1865, was in favour of extending the franchise to the working classes in the towns.

However, not all of the new legislation was popular with the voting public. Gladstone was defeated in the 1874 general election by his Conservative counterpart [[Benjamin Disraeli]], and soon after resigned as Liberal leader. However, Disraeli’s aggressive foreign policy (particularly in the Middle East) spurred Gladstone back into frontline politics as he launched an extensive campaign against the Conservative government, (known as the ‘Midlothian Campaign’) in 1879 and 1880.

 

However, not all of the new legislation was popular with the voting public. Gladstone was defeated in the 1874 general election by his political rival [[Benjamin Disraeli|Disraeli]], and soon after resigned as Liberal leader. However, Disraeli’s aggressive foreign policy (particularly in the Near East) spurred Gladstone back into frontline politics as he launched an extensive campaign against the Conservative government, (known as the ‘Midlothian Campaign’) in 1879 and 1880.

==Later Years==

==Later Years==

The [[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.

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.

In 1886, Gladstone was able to defeat [[Lord Salisbury|Lord Salisbury’s]] 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.

In 1892, Gladstone was re-elected Prime Minister for the fourth and final time. The following year he introduced his second Home Rule Bill. It passed by a small majority in the Commons, but then was defeated in the Lords.

In 1892, Gladstone was re-elected Prime Minister for the fourth and final time. The following year he introduced his second Home Rule Bill. It passed by a small majority in the Commons, but then was defeated in the Lords.

==Principles==

==Principles==

[[Image:Gladstone2.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]  

[[Image:Gladstone2.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]  

* Gladstone believed in the ‘[[Laissez faire|laissez-faire]]’ philosophy that good government does not interfere much in the affairs of individuals. His thrifty personal habits were reflected in his role as [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]]. He saw excess government expenditure as ‘a great moral evil’.

* Gladstone believed in the ‘[[Laissez faire|laissez-faire]]’ philosophy that good government does not interfere much in the affairs of individuals. His thrifty personal habits were reflected in his role as Chancellor of the Exchequer. He saw excess government expenditure as ‘a great moral evil’.

* He was opposed to war and despised the cost of military activity, reminding parliament that he ‘uniformly opposed [[militarism]]’ throughout his career.

* He was opposed to war and despised the cost of military activity, reminding parliament that he ‘uniformly opposed militarism’ throughout his career.

* Was a firm supporter of [[free trade]], believing that international peace and domestic prosperity could best be maintained by removing barriers to reciprocal trade between nations.

* Was a firm supporter of [[free trade]]--with no tariffs on imports into Britain--believing that international peace and domestic prosperity could best be maintained by removing barriers to reciprocal trade between nations.

* Believed that success was the result of hard work and that failure showed a lack of moral spirit. He therefore believed that the poor should help themselves to alleviate their own condition.

* Believed that success was the result of hard work and that failure showed a lack of moral spirit. He therefore believed that the poor should help themselves to alleviate their own condition.

* Gladstone was never a fervent supporter of [[democracy]], stating: ‘I am a firm believer in the [[aristocracy|aristocratic]] principle – the rule of the best.’ However, in 1864 he contended that ‘every man who is not presumably incapacitated by some consideration of personal unfitness or of political danger is morally entitled to come within the pale of the constitution’, implying at least a cautious support of household suffrage. For his time in British politics, this could even be interpreted as a relatively positive view on democratic principles.

* Gladstone was never a fervent supporter of democracy, stating: ‘I am a firm believer in the aristocratic principle – the rule of the best.’ However, in 1864 he contended that ‘every man who is not presumably incapacitated by some consideration of personal unfitness or of political danger is morally entitled to come within the pale of the constitution’, implying at least a cautious support of household suffrage. For his time in British politics, this could even be interpreted as a relatively positive view on democratic principles.

* A strong supporter of the British [[monarchy]], despite [[Queen Victoria|Queen Victoria’s]] resentment of him. She never liked his serious demeanour, and complained: "He always addresses me as if I were a public meeting."

* A strong supporter of the British monarchy, despite [[Queen Victoria|Queen Victoria’s]] dislike of him. She never liked his serious demeanour, and complained: "He always addresses me as if I were a public meeting."

* Described himself as a ‘man in politics’ rather than a politician. He only wanted to do useful work for the good of the country and could never understand his popularity.

* Described himself as a ‘man in politics’ rather than a politician. He only wanted to do useful work for the good of the country and could never understand his popularity.

==Gladstone on the American Constitution==

==Gladstone on the American Constitution==