Joseph Chamberlain: A Most Radical ImperialistJoseph Chamberlain was a dynamic orator, notable reformer and superb parliamentary tactician of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In his early political career Chamberlain was a radically minded Liberal Party member and a supporter of political reform, yet after the Liberal Split, his allegiance changed dramatically when his Liberal Unionist Party entered into alliance with the Conservatives. As Colonial Secretary in Salisbury's government, he was a prime instigator of the Boer War and an important negotiator in the attempts to build an Anglo-German alliance. Ultimately disenchanted with the Conservative leadership of Salisbury and Balfour, he played an integral role in the Unionist Split over the issue of Tariff Reform which ultimately led to Balfour's downfall. Travis Crosby here sheds light on an often-overlooked, but exceptionally influential politician. He argues that Chamberlain was driven primarily by a personal need for power and control - characteristics that went beyond political loyalties. Nevertheless, his accomplishments as chief spokesman for electoral and social reform, and his achievements as Colonial Secretary, were genuine and lasting.This book sheds new light on an influential character who played an important role in the development of British politics. |
Contents
1 | |
2 An Entrepreneurial | 7 |
3 The Radical Politician | 17 |
4 Minister of the Crown | 27 |
5 The Making of an Imperialist | 39 |
6 Fluctuating Schemes | 49 |
7 In the Wilderness | 69 |
8 The Puritan Maid | 87 |
10 Power Gained | 111 |
11 Joes War? | 131 |
12 Tariff Reform | 157 |
13 Power Lost | 183 |
Notes | 193 |
247 | |
261 | |
9 Power Deferred | 101 |
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Common terms and phrases
Amery Austen Austen Chamberlain Balfour Beatrice bechuanaland believed bill Birmingham Boer Britain British cabinet campaign Chamberlain Papers Churchill Collings Colonial Office Colonial Secretary Conservative December Diaries Dilke early economic election electoral Empire favourable February foreign free trade Garvin Gladstone Gladstone's Gladstonian Harcourt Papers Hartington Highbury Historical Journal History Home Rule House of Commons Ibid imperial important Ireland irish J. L. Garvin Jameson Raid January Jesse Collings John Joseph Chamberlain late later leader leadership League legislation letter Liberal Party Liberal Unionist London Lord Salisbury Marsh Mary meeting Milner ministry Morley national Education League negotiations nettlefold and Chamberlain Neville nonconformist November o’shea October Oxford parliament parliamentary Parnell political prime minister programme radical resignation Rhodes role Salisbury's scheme Selborne September social South Africa speech tariff reform tion Transvaal Uitlanders Unionist alliance Unionist Party Victorian West Africa wrote