4. challenges and crises BRT Flashcards
which factors indicated that Britain was on verge of civil war by 1914
- constitutional crisis
- Ireland
- female suffrage
- industrial unrest
who did 1909-11 see a serious clash between
conservative dominated H/L and liberal dominated H/C
what was the first constitutional crisis 1909-10 over
peoples budget
what was the second constitutional crisis 1910-11 over
parliament act
why did Lloyd georges budget raise anger of conservatives
feared ideas of redistributive taxations and of progressive taxation- saw as an attack on rich
when did H/L veto the peoples budget
November 1909
what was broken when the HL vetoed the peoples budget
the convention that the lords shouldn’t interfere with money bills
what did the veto of the peoples budget leave the liberals with
no legal authority to collect taxes
had no choice but to call an election jan 1910 on issue
what issue did the liberals try to fight the 1910 election on
whether Britain should be governed by a majority of elected MPs (hC) or by non-elected, hereditary peers (HL)
peers vs the people
how did the conservatives fight their corner in 1910 election
suggested there were other ways to raise money- taxes on foreign imports
duty HL to restrain gov from making sweeping changes that electorate hadn’t voted on
what was the result of the 1910 election
liberals won only very narrowly
who were liberals relying on to pass the budget
irish nationalists
what were nationalists prepared to give their support in return for
an attack on powers of hl
why were irish nationalists keen to see the lords weakened
so they could achieve their desire for home rule in ireland
why did lords finally agree to pass the budget
commons able to show a majority for budget and an election
how did liberal bill of 1910 plan to curb the power of the lords
taking away its power to veto
what did the 1910 parliament bill propose
- HL have no power to amend/reject bills that speaker of commons certified to be true money bills
- HL have no power to reject other legislation but could delay it for up to 2 years- suspensory veto
- max period between general elections reduced from 7-5 years
what was the problem with the parliament bill
it would have to pass the lords to become law
what was asquith solution to the issue of the parliament bill passing the lords
to ask king Edward to promise to create enough liberal peers to outvote the conservative peers in HL
who was king George replaced by and why
he died suddenly may 1910
replaced by George V
what was George V solution
tried to get liberals and conservatives to agree to a solution without resorting to creation of new peers
what did the conservatives offer in the second constitutional crisis
offered to reform composition of HL but liberals were determined to reduce its constitutional powers
what issue did the consitutinal conference break down over
conservatives tried to insist lords should have right to veto any change in constitution unless electorate approved such change in a referndum
under what condition did king George finally agree to create liberal peers
if the liberals won a second general election in December 1910
who could liberals rely on to win general election December 1910
support of labour and irish nationalists
when did commons pass the parliament bill
may 1911
how did house of lords feel about parliament bill
there were sharp divisions within the house as to whether to cooperate with the bill/oppose it
what did the lords avoid by passing the parliament bill
having HL swamped by newly-created liberal peers
impact of constitutional crisis on the lords
could only delay legislation important to the commons
impact of constitutional crisis on the liberals
able to move forwards with their legislative programme of reform
impact of constitutional crisis on the conservatives
divided conservatives so much that balfour was forced to resign nov 1911- succeeded by bonar law
what did parliament act help with in terms of british constitution
helped make it more democratic
lords couldn’t permanently override commons, political power shifted to lower house
how was Campbell bannerman an obstacle to franchise for women
- prime minister 1905-08
- half-hearted in support for female suffrage
how did asquith feel about female suffrage
opposed to it
how did election results act as an obstacle to female suffrage
- political parties unclear as to impact of female vote and which party would benefit
- made liberals hesitate in case it disadvantaged party
how did social reforms act as an obstacle to female suffrage
- took up much parliamentary time
- caused much controversy
- reluctance to tackle another contentious issue
how did some men not being able to vote act as an obstacle to female franchise
still contentious
conservative party opposed to any widening of suffrage for men
how were stereotypes obstacles to female suffrage
- women and men operated in different spheres supposedly
- had different roles in society
- belief that women were mentally and physically inferior
did all women support the idea of female suffrage
no
when was the NUWSS set up
1897
who led NUWSS
MILICENT FAWCETT
what did NUWSS members believe in
non violent methods such as discussions, processions, petitions and public meetings to achieve their objectives
how many members and societies did nuwss have by 1914
500,000 members and 400 societies`
why did emmeline Pankhurst set up wspu in 1903
she was frustrated by NUWSS lack of progress
what campaign did wspu undertake
one of disruption
suffragette actions between 1911-1914
- arson
- physical assault
- hunger strikes
what was black friday
nov 1910
300 suffragettes tried to storm lobby of HC
police brutality used
when was cat and mouse act introduced
1913
what did government achieve by preventing legislation and treating suffragettes as they did
failed to stop militancy
succeeded in alienation both militant and moderate supporters of female suffrage
what did wspu step up its actions to include
- window breaking
- attacks on museums, churches and art galleries
how did nuwss respond to gov preventing legislation
started looking from liberal to labour party as an ally in parliament
impact of militant tactics
- increase in publicity for female emancipation
- women who were anti-violence joined NUWSS
- anti suffragettes organised themselves into national league of opposing womens suffrage in 1911
- convinced many that suffragettes weren’t responsible enough for vote
why was cost of living a reason for industrial unrest
1912- cost of living 14% higher than 1906
why was fall in levels of unemployment a reason for industrial unrest
more workers willing to confront employers
what happened despite social reforms that caused industrial unrest
gap between rich and poor widening
improved education of workforce 1912- increasing awareness of inequalities
how did trade disputes act cause industrial unrest
removed restrain that unions were legally liable for costs that employers incurred as a result of strike
how did unions joining together cause industrial unrest
more power
how did labour party cause industrial unrest
- hadn’t fulfilled hope of industrial workers that it would get legislation passed to help working class
- saw more direct action as an alternative
how did syndicalists cause industrial unrest
growing agistation by syndicalists
what was syndicalism
a revolutionary movement which called on workers to use violence to destroy the existing industrial-capitalist system
INCLUDE
IRELAND IN THIS TOPIC WHEN REVIVISNG
