11 March 1873
Irish University Bill

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Gladstone proposes to create a new University of Dublin, embracing the Anglican Trinity College, a Catholic university, and the secular Queen's College. It would offer education to people from all religious backgrounds, while not teaching the potentially divisive subjects of religion, philosophy or modern history. The bill is attacked by all interest groups and fails.

Gladstone offers to resign but stays on when Disraeli refuses to form a minority government. Disraeli's refusal is a deliberate tactic: like Peel in 1839 (see Bedchamber Crisis), he hopes to profit from the government's disarray and position his party to win the next election.

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