1906-1914 - The Liberal Crisis, the Economy and Social issues Flashcards
What was the 1906 election results?
It was a Landslide Victory for the Liberal Party
What did the new Liberal Government put into practice?
‘New Liberalism’ > creating a range of reforms to tackle poverty and the social problems of the day
Name two key ministers part of the new Liberal government
Lloyd George and Churchill
State the eight reasons the Liberal Party won in 1906?
- Boer War (1902)
- 1902 Education Act
- 1904 Licensing Act
- Chinese Labour issue (1902-1904)
- Taff Vale case (1902)
- Tariff reform (1903)
- Lib-Lab Pact (1903)
- Balfour’s leadership/lack of social reform
Who exposed the horrific conditions and methods used against the Boers during the war?
Emily Hobhouse
How many civilians died in concentration camps during the Boer War?
26,000
What did the angry nonconformists nickname the 1904 Licensing Act?
‘The Brewers Bill’
What was the Chinese Labour issue?
A scandal that damaged the conservative support from nonconformists and trade unions when Chinese labourers were taken to South Africa in overcrowded camps and worked for very low wages
How did the Chinese Labour issue effect people back home in Britain?
People feared employers would bring them to Britain to work and reduce the wage sat home. This caused moral outcry due to the high unemployment
Why did the Taff Vale case in 1902 discredit the Conservatives?
It wasn’t directly the Conservatives fault but the House of Lords ruled, after a strike in Wales, that a company was within its rights to sue a trade union - making it impossible to strike. Only an Act of Parliament could overrule a Lords’ judgement and the Conservatives refused to introduce such legislation as Balfour believed it was a ‘matter for the courts’
Why did the Liberals and the Labour Party form a pact in 1903?
They shared similar ideas with regard to free trade and the Labour leadership was moderate so didn’t pose too much of a threat to the Liberals
What did Chamberlain the previous Conservative leader) argue about the benefits of introducing tariffs?
It would:
- protect British industry which would result in more jobs
- provide revenue to fund social reform
- strengthen the British Empire and thus Britain’s position in the world
Why did Tariff Reform contribute to the downfall of the Conservatives?
As many working and middle class voters feared that tariffs would mean dearer food and falling living standards. It caused a divide in the Conservative government and caused Churchill to leave.
How was the issue of Tariff Reform beneficial to the Liberal party?
It helped to reunite and strengthen the party because belief in ‘free trade’ was something all Liberals supported strongly. It was a ‘bread and butter’ issue of great concern to all voters in all classes.
‘laissez faire’
to leave alone
What did New liberalism suggest?
It stressed freedom from evils such as poverty, low wages and insecurity and it was believed that intervention by the State had a key role in establishing minimum standards of life
Which part of New Liberalism contradicted the traditional Liberal ideology?
The idea of higher government spending which contradicts the emphasis on low taxation
Which type of liberals believed there should be some element of redistribution of income by taxing the rich more heavily and diverting the money to the poor?
Radical Liberals
What were the main factors to the development of New Liberalism?
- The influence of intellectuals on the Liberal party
- The growing awareness of poverty and its causes
- Political factors/motives
- Concern over ‘national efficiency’
- Greater support for New Liberalism within the party
what did influential intellectual J. T. Hobhouse argue for?
‘Collectivism’: that governments should take action to distribute wealth more fairly throughout society thus taxes should be implemented
Which intellectual believed the economy faced a problem of ‘under-consumption’?
J. A. Hobson
T. h. Green argued for more…
social reforms to allow a broader definition of Liberalism
What were the political benefits for ‘New Liberalism’?
- rescue the Liberal Party from recent divisions
- aid the hopeful increase in the working class vote
- attack the Conservatives weak area of social reform