1887 Constitution and the Rise of Strickland

The 1887 Constitution 

The Constitution granted Malta a Council of Government consisting of 20 members, 14 of whom were to be elected members. In exceptional situations any decision taken by the elected members could be bypassed.  Unfortunately this Constitution had only a short span of life. Difficulties arose due to the heated "language question", and on the 3rd June 1903 this Constitution was revoked and substituted by another one, similar to that of 1849.

What effect would having a majority of elected members in the Council of Government have in Malta?


Can you mention 1 important drawback for the Maltese in this Constitution. 


What would this mean for the Maltese politicians in important votes? 

Sir Gerald Strickland

What impression does this painting of Sir Gerald Strickland give you? Focus especially on his facial expression and his posture.















"We should be as English as possible in speech and thought as well as in fact". He once also said: "I will do everything I can to make the Maltese as English as possible". 

What reactions do you think will the Anti-Riformisti have had to such declarations?



Sir Gerald Strickland would lead a number of reforms aimed at reducing the importance of Italian especially in the Lyceum and the University. In 1898 Strickland was in charge of two important reforms. One of them was the so called 'libera-scelta' which offered Maltese parents a choice between Italian and English. This together with the abolishing of Italian from the courts in 1899 would lead to a response from the members of the Legal Profession:

" The Maltese are not a race conquered by England, they appealed to England for protection...but they did not give up their freedom...the Maltese extremely regret that they should be forced to change the language of education which they have adopted for many centuries..."

The British would not be moved and Fortunato Mizzi, the leader of the Anti-Riformisti would not give up either. A stalemate would exist until 1903 when the British would suspend the Constitution after more education votes were blocked by the Council.


What were the reasons for the conflict between the Anti-Riformisti and the British Government?