BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

ABSTRACT
BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE: THE CHANGING CHARACTER OF
POPULAR POLITICS, 1883-1901
Diana Elaine Sheets
This thesis has two principal objectives: to trace the
organizational development of the Primrose League between 1883 and 1901
and to examine its role in creating a popular basis of support for
Conservatism, thereby minimizing any losses incurred to the party by
the enactment of the Corrupt Practices Act of 1883 and the 1885 Reform
Act.
A major reassessment is also provided of the Marquis of
Salisbury, the leader of the Tories during the years under review. It
is argued that Salisbury played a fundamental role in formulating the
tactics and strategy of the modern Conservative party, the predominance
of which is unchallenged to this day.
Existing works by Ostrogorski and Robb provide only a general
overview of the development of the Primrose League, omitting a detailed
examination of the Minutes, the papers of Conservative party leaders,
newspapers, and many primary and secondary sources.
Here the first
systematic study of the origins and development of the Primrose League
between 1883 and 1901 is given.
The first detailed examination of the
demographics of the membership is also provided, based on the 1888 and
1899 Rolls of Habitations and selective membership rosters maintained
by local associations.
These sources suggest that the Primrose League achieved its
greatest level of participation in 1883, when it claimed over a half