Peel's Conservatism: A Blend of Free Markets and Strong Government

Peel's conservatism marked a pivotal point in the history of the Conservative Party. From an ideological perspective, the 'Tamworth Declaration' published by Peel in 1834 marked the birth of conservatism as the ideology of the Conservative Party. Politically, Peel's achievement lay in rebuilding the old Conservative Party's organizational structure and creating a party adapted to the new environment. During his administration from 1841 to 1846, Peel's conservatism sought to blend traditional Conservativeism with the burgeoning industrialization and urbanization (Allsop et al., 2019).

On one hand, Peel maintained and emphasized key elements of the old Conservative Party, such as sound and strong government, law and order, and the protection of private property. On the other hand, he implemented policies safeguarding the interests of the emerging bourgeoisie, liberating economic development from feudal politics. This was highlighted in the repeal of the Corn Laws, which ultimately led to his downfall.

This report posits that Peelian conservatism was a synthesis of free markets and strong government. On the political front, Peale was credited with rebuilding the opposition party's organization and morale, leading to a decisive election victory in 1841. It was a balanced approach. It balanced the development of industry and economy with the preservation of the landlord class's power and privileges and the old system's preservation to the greatest extent possible. It was an ideology designed to promote party unity. However, this party's discipline was not stringent and also contributed to future divisions within the Conservative Party.