1852 United Kingdom general election facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
1852 United Kingdom general election

← 1847 7–31 July 1852 (1852-07-07 – 1852-07-31) 1857 →
← outgoing members List of MPs elected in the 1852 United Kingdom general election →
All 654 seats in the House of Commons 328 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party   Leader Earl of Derby Lord John Russell Party Conservative Whig Leader since July 1846 October 1842 Leader's seat House of Lords City of London Last election 325 seats, 42.7% 292 seats, 53.8% Seats won 330 324 Seat change 5 32 Popular vote 311,481 430,882 Percentage 41.9% 57.9% Swing 0.8% 4.1%
Colours denote the winning party—as shown in 1852 United Kingdom general election § Notes
Prime Minister before election Earl of Derby Conservative Prime Minister after election Earl of Derby Conservative

The 1852 United Kingdom general election was a big event in British history. It helped shape the main political parties we know today. After this election, the Conservatives became more focused on people living in the countryside. The Whigs and later the Liberals became the party for people in towns and cities.

The election results were very close. The Whigs, led by Lord John Russell, won more individual votes. However, the Conservative Party, led by the Earl of Derby, won slightly more seats in Parliament.

This made it hard to form a strong government. The Conservative Party was split into two groups. One group was the "Protectionist Tories" led by the Earl of Derby. The other group was called the "Peelites," who supported Lord Aberdeen.

Lord Derby's government was a "minority government." This means his party didn't have enough seats to win votes easily. He appointed Benjamin Disraeli as the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who handles the country's money. But in December 1852, Derby's government fell apart. This happened because of problems with the new budget Disraeli proposed.

After Derby's government collapsed, a new government was formed. It was a "coalition government" made up of Peelites, Whigs, and Radicals. Lord Aberdeen led this new government. The main reason Derby's government fell was a "vote of no confidence" over the budget. But the real issue was about the Corn Laws, which had divided the Conservative Party.

Understanding the Corn Laws

The Corn Laws were very important in Britain. "Corn" in Britain meant wheat, rye, or other grains, not maize like in the US. Wheat was used to make bread, which was a main food for most people. So, the price of wheat really affected how much it cost to live.

The Corn Laws were rules that put a very high tax, called a "protective tariff," on wheat brought into England from other countries. This made imported wheat very expensive. Because of this, the price of bread and other foods made from grain went up a lot. This made life harder for poor people.

People started asking for the Corn Laws to be removed as early as 1837. Bills to get rid of them were brought to Parliament every year. Finally, they were removed in 1846.

The Split in the Tory Party

A group within the Tory (Conservative) Party, called the "Peelites," helped remove the Corn Laws. They were followers of Prime Minister Robert Peel. In 1846, when Peel was Prime Minister, he voted with the Whigs against many members of his own party to repeal the Corn Laws.

Some leaders, like John Bright and Richard Cobden, wanted to go even further. They wanted to lower taxes on all imported goods. These leaders were called "free traders." The decision to remove the Corn Laws caused a big split in the Tory Party that could not be fixed.

The Peelites were not "free traders," but they often voted with the Whigs on issues about international trade. This made it very difficult for the Tories to form a strong government. This split was clear in the election of 1847. The Whig party won a majority of seats then. They knew they could count on the Peelite Conservatives when trade issues came up. The split continued to affect politics in the 1852 election.

Political Parties Change

The split in the Tory party was a major reason why British political parties changed. In the 1852 election, the main part of the Conservatives became the party for people who owned land in the countryside. The Liberals and Peelites became the party for people in towns and growing industrial areas.

Why the Government Fell in 1852

Even though the 1852 election showed that most people supported "free trade," the Conservative government, which was a minority, stayed in power. An opportunity for the other parties came in December 1852. Benjamin Disraeli, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, presented the government's new budget.

Because the economy was not doing well, the budget suggested raising taxes on the middle class. It also gave some tax cuts to the rich landowners in the countryside. The budget also made the middle class in Ireland pay income tax. This made some Irish members of Parliament angry. These members had supported the government on other issues.

Because of this, many Irish Conservatives voted against the government's budget on December 17, 1852. This was a "vote of no confidence," and it caused the government to fall.

After the government fell, Lord Aberdeen was asked to form a new government. He formed a "coalition government" with Peelites and Whigs on December 19, 1852. This government lasted until January 1855. It also fell apart because of issues related to Britain's involvement in the Crimean War.

Election Results Summary

A map showing the results of the 1852 UK general election.

Even though the Conservatives seemed to have a small lead in seats over the Whigs, the Conservative party was divided. About 290 were "Protectionists," and 35-40 were "Peelites." The Whigs themselves were a mix of different groups. So, the numbers don't fully show how much support each side truly had in Parliament.

Who Voted for Whom?

How Many Seats Each Party Won

See also

• List of MPs elected in the 1852 United Kingdom general election