1906-1914 (The Liberal Crisis)- Social (Social Issues) Flashcards
Who are the upper class?
Wealthy landowners whose family dominated GB society.
Contained Lords and now also big factory owners
Who are the upper middle class?
Factory owners, professionals (lawyers, doctors etc.)
Who are the lower middle class?
Non manual employees such as shopkeepers
They earned less than skilled workers yet had higher social standing
Who are the working class?
Made up 75% of the population
28% skilled, 34% semi skilled, 9% unskilled
Unskilled workers lived in poverty as they couldn’t afford to provide enough for their family
Who provided the first scientific estimates of poverty?
Charles Booth (interviewed 4000 people)
What percentage did the government estimate the extent of poverty to be, and what did Booth find it was?
Gov= 25% Booth= closer to 30%
Where did Booth study?
London
What did Rowntree say the main causes of poverty were?
Economic factors, namely unemployment and low wages
Where did Rowntree study?
York
What % of poverty did Rowntree discover?
28%
What was the required earnings needed to stay out of poverty (stay above the poverty line)?
21 shillings
What 3 things did families in poverty suffer?
- Lack of education
- Poor diet
- Substandard housing
What did both Booth and Rowntree conclude the solution would have to be?
An approach by society, not just the individual
How much would the Liberals social reforms cost?
£16m
How did the government raise the money needed for social reforms?
Imposed new taxes (primarily on wealthier people)
Who was the Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1909 who introduced the Peoples Budget?
David Lloyd George
What was ‘progressive taxation’?
Income tax on a sliding scale
Those with incomes under £3k paid 9d for every pound they earned
Those with incomes over £3k paid 1s2d for every pound they earned
How much did a person have to earn to be included in the ‘super tax’?
£5k
What were cars taxed according by, and who did this impact?
According to horsepower
3d/gallon tax on petrol
The rich as they were the only ones who could afford cars
What was the ‘death duties’?
Inheritance tax on estates worth more than £5k
How were landowners taxed for selling land?
Tax on profits made
Why did the 1909 budget become known as the ‘People’s Budget’?
Because the rich paid the greatest proportion of tax by a significant margin
The People’s Budget was passed through the HoC, but was blocked by the HoL. Why?
Strong Conservative majority in HoL
The Lords would be hardest hit by the budget
This caused a constitutional crisis
What did the Torys call the People’s Budget?
“An act of class warfare”
What did DLG say about the People’s Budget?
“This is a war budget. It is for raising money to wage implacable warfare against poverty and squalidness”
What was the 1906 Education Act?
Free school meals for needy children
What was the 1906 Workmen’s Compensation Act?
Extended provision for compensation to workers due to accidents at work/work related diseases
What was the 1907 Education Act?
Free medical inspection
What was the 1908 Children’s Act/ what did it include?
protection of children against neglect
juvenile courts
young offenders centres
sale of tobacco and alcohol to children to be illegal
What was the 1908 Old Age Pensions Act?
Pension of 5s/week for a single person, and 7s6d/week for a married couple
What was the 1909 Trade Boards?
Fixed minimum wage and inspection of conditions in certain trades
What was the 1909 Labour Exchanges?
Places set up for employers to meet those seeking work
What was the 1911 National Insurance (unemployment) act?
Receive weekly benefit of 7s/week for 15 weeks for certain trades (insured trades)
What was the 1911 National Insurance (sickness) Act?
Compulsory scheme that covered workers from loss of earnings whilst sick
What was the 1911 Shops Act?
Weekly half day holiday for shop workers
What were the 1908 and 1911 Coal Mines Acts?
Fixed 8 hour day underground, improved safety conditions
Did the Liberals achieve what they intended?
Yes- to create a basic minimum (a ‘lifebelt’)
Did the majority of the poor benefit?
Yes- they saw a significant boost in their incomes
Give 4 criticisms of the Liberals and their attempt at social reform?
- Short supply of decent housing
- No attempt to reform the Poor Law
- No reform to education (after their 1906 Education Bill was rejected, they gave up on that)
- Those with large families received no specific help
