Changes

'''William Ewart Gladstone''' (1809-1898), a Scot, was the great [[British Liberal Party|Liberal]] prime minister of Britain's golden age of parliamentary government. Along with his equally great [[Conservative]] rival [[Benjamin Disraeli]] he dominated British politics for the second half of the 19th century.<ref> "Liberal" and "Conservative" had very different meanings in 19th century Britain compared to American usage in the 21st century.</ref>  Gladstone served as Liberal prime minister four times (1868–74, 1880–85, 1886, and 1892–94). His financial policies, based on the notion of balanced budgets, low taxes and laissez-faire, were suited to a developing capitalist society but could not respond effectively as economic and social conditions changed. Called the "Grand Old Man" later in life, he was always a dynamic popular orator who appealed strongly to British workers and lower middle class. The deeply religious Gladstone brought a new moral tone to politics with his evangelical sensibility and opposition to aristocracy. His moralism often angered his upper-class opponents (including Queen Victoria), and his heavy-handed control split the Liberal party. His foreign policy goal was to create a European order based on cooperation rather than conflict and mutual trust instead of rivalry and suspicion; the rule of law was to supplant the reign of force and self-interest. This Gladstonian concept of a harmonious [[Concert of Europe]] was opposed to and ultimately defeated by a [[Bismark|Bismarckian system]] of manipulated alliances and antagonisms.  

'''William Ewart Gladstone''' (1809-1898) was the great [[British Liberal Party|Liberal]] prime minister of Britain's golden age of parliamentary government. Along with his equally great [[Conservative]] rival [[Benjamin Disraeli]] he dominated British politics for the second half of the 19th century.<ref> "Liberal" and "Conservative" had very different meanings in 19th century Britain compared to American usage in the 21st century.</ref>  Gladstone served as Liberal prime minister four times (1868–74, 1880–85, 1886, and 1892–94). His financial policies, based on the notion of balanced budgets, low taxes and laissez-faire, were suited to a developing capitalist society but could not respond effectively as economic and social conditions changed. Called the "Grand Old Man" later in life, he was always a dynamic popular orator who appealed strongly to British workers and lower middle class. The deeply religious Gladstone brought a new moral tone to politics with his evangelical sensibility and opposition to aristocracy. His moralism often angered his upper-class opponents (including Queen Victoria), and his heavy-handed control split the Liberal party. His foreign policy goal was to create a European order based on cooperation rather than conflict and mutual trust instead of rivalry and suspicion; the rule of law was to supplant the reign of force and self-interest. This Gladstonian concept of a harmonious [[Concert of Europe]] was opposed to and ultimately defeated by a [[Bismark|Bismarckian system]] of manipulated alliances and antagonisms.  

[[Image: Gladstone.jpg|thumb|right|220px|William Ewart Gladstone, Liberal Prime Minister of Britain in the late 19th century]]

[[Image: Gladstone.jpg|thumb|right|220px|William Ewart Gladstone, Liberal Prime Minister of Britain in the late 19th century]]