'Real Liberals' and Conservatives in the City of London, 1848-1886
This is not an economic history. Neither is it a post-modernist tract. Rather this thesis is a knowledge based history that examines the political and cultural life of the City of London between 1848 and 1886 alongside its financial and commercial institutions. In attempting this task it has not been assumed that the City's signifying character was necessarily to be found in the financial and commercial institutions of its dominant middle: the streets leading off the Bank of England. Instead the City's vital hub and essential nature have been sought in its places of religious worship, municipal politics, Livery Companies, and in its clubs and associations. All of these elements over the period under review became the domain of a reinvigorated Conservative party. For this study, it is the view from the boundaries of the City that provide the best mirror back to its centre. By adopting a range of sources and approaches outside those usually employed by economic historians, the City's movement from Liberalism to Liberal Unionism and then to Conservatism is traced from its citizens defence of the City as a community during the Chartist threat of 1848, to its more general defence of property and the constitution
Claus, Peter Mark
Philosophy
'Real Liberals' and Conservatives in the City of London, 1848-1886. This is not an economic history. Neither is it a post-modernist tract. Rather this thesis is a knowledge based history that examines the political and cultural life of the City of London between 1848 and 1886 alongside its financial and commercial institutions. In attempting this task it has not been assumed that the City's signifying character was necessarily to be found in the financial and commercial institutions of its dominant middle: the streets leading off the Bank of England. Instead the City's vital hub and essential nature have been sought in its places of religious worship, municipal politics, Livery Companies, and in its clubs and associations. All of these elements over the period under review became the domain of a reinvigorated Conservative party. For this study, it is the view from the boundaries of the City that provide the best mirror back to its centre. By adopting a range of sources and approaches outside those usually employed by economic historians, the City's movement from Liberalism to Liberal Unionism and then to Conservatism is traced from its citizens defence of the City as a community during the Chartist threat of 1848, to its more general defence of property and the constitution
real conservatives city_london economic_history neither post modernist tract rather knowledge base history examines political_cultural life_city london alongside financial commercial institution attempt task assume city signify character necessarily find financial commercial institution dominant middle street lead bank_england instead city vital hub essential_nature seek_place religious worship municipal politics companies association element period review become domain reinvigorate conservative_party study view boundary city provide_best mirror back centre adopt range_source approach outside usually employed economic_historian city movement liberalism liberal conservatism trace citizen defence city community threat general defence property constitution