Through close examination of dozens of electoral contests in carefully chosen constituencies, the author demonstrates that the fundamental division separating the burgeoning liberal and conservative parties in England in the 1830s and 1840s was religion, and that this controversy was what created a perceptible two-party system in British politics.

Autorentext
RICHARD D. FLOYD has a BA from The College of William and Mary and a PhD from Washington University, USA. He has taught a number of introductory surveys in history, and as well as upper-division courses in British, European, and imperial history. His other publications include a chapter in History, Nationhood and the Question of Britain (Palgrave, 2004) and contributions to reference works on European, Irish and military history. He lives in St. Louis, Missouri with his wife and three children.

Inhalt
Introduction: The Politics of Dissent at the Time of the Great Reform Bill PART I 'A Free Trade-a Free Vote-and a Free Religion...': The Politico-Religious Landscape of Reformed England, 1832-1847 Religion and Politics in a Northeastern Cathedral Town: The Case of Durham Religion and Politics in an Industrial Midland City: The Case of Nottingham Religion and Politics in an East Anglian Port City: The Case of Ipswich Religion and Politics in a Southern Midland Agricultural Town: The Case of Bedford Religion and Politics in a Southwestern City: The Case of Exeter PART II Evidence of Partisan Alignment in Parliament, 1833-1847 Evidence of Partisan Alignment at the Constituent Level, 1832-1847 Conclusion: The Legacy of Dissent in English Politics in the 19th Century Appendix A Appendix B