There Was Little Difference Between the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party in the Mid-1860s. How Much Do You Agree or Disagree with This Statement?

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History Essay Question: There was little difference between the Liberal party and the Conservative party in the mid-1860s. How much do you agree or disagree with this statement? What are the differences between the Liberal party and the Conservative party? This is a popular question. People seem to have a firm idea that both parties are very different since they generally oppose each other when in actuality that is not the case. There are therefore, many differences between the two parties but there are actually some similarities. This essay will examine what the difference is between the Liberals and the Conservatives or whether they are the same in the mid-1860s , and will then go on to analyse the reasons for its differences and similarities . The final part of the essay will ask if there really is any similarities between the two parties. The first main difference between the Liberals and the Conservatives in the mid-1860s is their beliefs. The Liberals led by William Gladstone, were general believers of Gladstonian Liberalism. This was essentially “peace reform and retrenchment”. Gladstone’s own financial policies that were based on balanced budgets, low taxes, and laissez-faire (self-help) were better suited to the developing capitalist society of Britain in the mid-1860s. The Liberals were not very big supporters of the Monarch and wanted the Monarchy out of the political area and it just to be solely the government. The Liberals wanted reform, especially the Radicals. If you compare this to the beliefs of the Conservative party who generally believed in One-nation Conservatism/Toryism. This phrase came to light by the Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, His conservatism had proposed a society with the social classes intact but with the working class receiving support from the government. Disraeli emphasised the importance of social obligation rather than
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