1: the 1906 election Flashcards
what was the result of the general election of 1906
landslide victory for liberals
notable liberal gov ministers
Lloyd George and Churchill
what did liberal gov put ideas forward of
new liberalism
what did the 1906 election also highlight
the rising popularity of the labour party
what 2 things related to the makeup of the parties influenced the results of 1906 election
leadership and campaigns
how did Boer War help conservatives in 1900
won impressive electoral victory because of patriotic support of gov and fact that war split liberals
how did the boer war contribute to long term downfall of conservatives
lasted longer and was more costly in lives and money than expected
why did the boer war cause moral outrage in britain
some of the methods used to defeat boers were awful
how did the boer war lead to concerns over the physical decline of the british race
exposed amount of malnutrition present
how did liberals gain support by boer war
claimed conservatives neglected poverty in cities
how did 1902 education act impact election result
roused fury of nonconformists- reverted to liberal party
what did the education act provide
all schools funded from local rates- nonconformists outraged that taxes might be spent on schools that they strongly objected
how did non conformists view education act
another privilege for C of E- already regarded as having unfair advantages
what did 1904 licensing act aim
reducing number of public houses
why did 1904 licensing act anger N.C
infuriated temperance section by proposing to compensate brewers and publicans for cancellation of licences
what was 1904 licensing act denounced as
‘brewers bill’- brewers supported conservatives
which groups did Chinese labour issue turn against conservatives
non conformists and trade unions
what was the Chinese labour issue
Chinese labourers imported into south Africa and kept in overcrowded camps
why did Chinese labour issue turn non conformists against conservative
moral outcry about treatment of chinese
why did trade unions turn against conservatives after Chinese li
feared employers might bring them into Britain and push down wages at home
unemployment high 1905- inadequate support for unemployed
taff vale case
railway workers striking. 1902 H/L ruled company was within its rights to sue trade union
why were trade unions horrified by taff vale case
impossible to call successful strikes
why did taff vale case lose workers and TU support for conservatives
act of parliament could overrule H/L judgement- Balfour: ‘matter for courts’ and refused
what did the taff vale case encourage
trade union support for a labour group in parliament
why was the conservative lack of reaction to liberal and labour attempts surprising
liberals: new liberalism
labour: campaigning for reform
how did balfour react to liberal and labour social reform campaigns
1902 education act only
provided for reform but only caused controversy
when was tariff reform campaign launched
1903- joseph chamberlain
what did chamberlain want
reintroduce tariffs with lower level tariff for goods coming from british empire than those from non empire- imperial preference
what did chamberlain argue that tariffs would do
- protect industry- more jobs
- provide revenue to fund social reform
- strengthen empire
what did people fear from tariff reform
dearer food and falling living standards
which leading conservative voted liberal on the issue of tariff reform
churchill
how did tariff reform affect conservative party
split them
how did tariff reform reunite liberals
belief in free trade was something liberals supported
how did liberals present themselves due to their free trade beliefs
the party protecting cheap food
how did Balfours position weaken conservatives cause
he was intelligent but lacked political skill
how did balfour lack political skill
not as sensitive to public opinion as his predecessor Salisbury, didn’t understand social issues
how was balfour responsible for timing of 1906 election
indirectly due to his decision that gov should step down Dec 1905
in what way did lib-lab pact secure govs defeat
in terms of loss of parliamentary seats
what did lib lab pact involve
liberals wouldn’t oppose labour candidates in 30 selected constituencies
LRC promised to restrict candidates in other constituencies in return
what did lib lab pact set out to prevent
a split in the anti conservative vote
how could it be argued that lib lab pact helped LRC more
giving it new political power
how did liberals view lib lab pact to have benefitted them
financially and from idea of progressive alliance on left, secured total defeat of conservatives
old liberalism: ‘freedom to do things’
new liberalism:
freedom from evils such as poverty and low wages in addition
old liberalism: laissez faire
new liberalism:
state intervention key in establishing minimum standards of life
old liberalism: self help
new liberalism:
poorer needed state help too
what did new liberalism put emphasis on
providing safety nets to prevent hard working but vulnerable citizens falling into destitution
what did new liberalism not suggest
everyone should state assistance- only vulnerable
examples of continuity between old and new liberalism
self help, importance of individuals and individual initiatives, free trade
how did new liberalism contradict traditional liberal emphasis on thrift and low taxation
implied higher gov spending
what were carried out in late 19th cent to prove that poverty was major problem in Britain
social investigations by rowntree and booth
what did the findings of social investigations support idea of
poverty largely caused by economic forces beyond control of individual and not idleness
examples of intellectuals that contributed to new liberalism
green and hobson
what did intellectuals argue
19th cent liberalism put too much stress of freedom of individual and not enough on role of society through state
political motives to new liberalism: divisions
could rescue liberals from recent divisions- theme that might unite it
political motives to new liberalism: labour
worried labour party may become potential political rival
social reform- working class vote
political motives to new liberalism: conservatives
social reform- conservatives vulnerable to attack
liberals would have clear alternative to conservative policies
why was Britain’s primacy at risk in the early 20th cent
concern that britains economy and workforce no longer as efficient as they had been
what deficiencies did boer war highlight
britains military and administrative ability and poor state of health amongst working class
which countries were catching up/taking over Britain industrially
Germany, japan, usa
how else was Germany growing other than industrially
militarily
what composition of liberal mps supported new liberalism
50% including Lloyd George and churchill
who was the liberal party led by 1905-08
Campbell bannerman
who was the liberal party led by 1908-15
asquith
what did CB gov pass
reforms that included free school meals and medical inspections for school children
what did CB gov show
reforms not just important for helping vulnerable but state were properly prepared to intervene in peoples lives
what did asquith work on as chancellor under Campbell bannerman
oaps
who did asquith appoint to be his ministers as PM
Lloyd George and churchill
what did Lloyd George introduce 1908
OAPS
how did Lloyd George help to push through controversial legislation
powerful speeches
what was Churchill particularly concerned with
low wages and unemployment issues
what did churchill play key roles in
1909 trade boards act and setting up labour exchanges
what category of people were the 30 members of the labour party in 1903
working men
who was chairman of labour party
hardie
who was labour secretary
macdonald
why were labour unable to have significant impact politically 1906
large majority of liberals
liberal programme of social reform- helped working people so labour had to support them
what was the conservative party renamed to in 1909
conservative and unionist party
who did conservatives formally merge with in may 1912
liberal unionists
in which house were conservatives powerless in following 1906 election
commons- less than 1/4 seats
how did conservatives still manage to block liberals bill
used permanent conservative majority in Lords
what did house of lords become known as
MR bALFOUR’S POODLE
what happened to the liberals’ 1906 education bill
it was mutilated so much by the lords that it had to be abandoned
examples of other liberal measures blocked by lords
Scottish land bill
abolition of plural voting bill
licensing bill 1908
why were liberals becoming more influenced by ideas of new liberalism
- growing awareness of causes of poverty
- working class vote
- concerns over national efficiency
