1900-1906 Liberal Victory Flashcards
The Boer War
The war lasted longer and was more costly that anticipated - 55,000 British soldiers killed, captured or wounded
Methods used to defeat the Boers caused moral outrage - concentration camps
The war highlighted the amount of malnutrition present - army struggled to recruit
1902 Education Act
Before 1902 - Anglican and Catholic schools had been funded by their churches
The act funded these school through local rates - angering the nonconformists who opposed organised religion and did not want their taxes funding such groups
1904 Licensing Act
Another issue concerned with non-conformists
Act aimed to reduce the number of pubs, infuriating temperance section nonconformists by compensating brewers for the cancellation of licenses
Chinese Labour Issue - 1902-1904
“Chinese Slavery” between 1902-1904 caused a scandal particularly for TU members
Chinese labourers were imported to South Africa working for very low wages - fearing employers may bring them to Britain, lowering wages at home
Taff Vale Railway Dispute
Failure to support Trade Unions during a dispute between Unions and the Taff Vale Railway Company in 1901
Company succeeded in demanding compensation for strike due to high wages and poor treatment
In 1902, the House of Lords ruled a company had rights to sue a TU, making striking impossible
Tariff Reform 1903
Conservative policy misjudgement
In 1903, Joseph Chamberlain wanted to introduce tariffs with low level tariffs on Empire countries (imperial preference)
The policy was appealing to industrialists and farmers however working/middle class voters feared tariffs would create an increase in food prices and a fall in living standards
Conservative Leadership
Arthur Balfour - Prime Minister
- Lacked political skill
- Appointed after Salisbury’s death
- Was not as sensitive to public opinion and did not understand deep social issues
Lib-Lab Pact 1903
Certified Liberal victory through the loss of parliamentary seats
Liberals and Labour agreed to not oppose one another in constituencies where one candidate was more likely to defeat the Conservatives
New Liberalism
New Liberalism stressed freedom from evils such as poverty, low wages and insecurity
Implies higher state intervention and government spending
Differed to Lassiez-Faire Old Liberalism which stressed self help
Reasons for New Liberalism
Rescue party from split over Home Rule in Ireland
Many Liberals were worried about the Labour movement as a political rival
Social Reform was an area the Cons. were vulnerable to attack - Liberals would have a clear alternative to the their policies
How many were captured, killed or dead in the Boer War?
55,000
How many seats had the Conservatives lost / Liberals Gained
Conservative loss - 245
Liberal gain - 217
What is Imperial Preference
A policy which favours low level tariffs on countries within the British Empire - with higher tariffs on non-empirical countries
Factors for Conservative loss of support
- Boer War
- 1902 Education Act
- 1904 Licensing Act (Brewer’s Bill)
- Chinese Labour
- Lack of social reform
- Tariff Reform
- Poor Leadership
- Taff Vale
Reasons for Liberal Victory
- New Liberalism
- Lib/Lab Pact
