5. Politics In Wartime WW1 BRT Flashcards
How did the liberal crisis seem to ‘vanish’ when Britain declared war on Germany
- redmond and Carson urged their men to join Army
- home rule act suspended
- suffragettes give up campaigning
- trade union members generally patriotic
1915 coalition: why did the Liberal gov initially try ‘business as usual’ when war broke out
Initially believed it would be over by Christmas
1915 coalition: what was the only change that the liberal government implemented when war broke out
Brought in Lord Kitchener as Secretary for War
1915 coalition: when was DORA passed
8 August 1914
1915 coalition: what did DORA give the state
An unprecedented level of control over people’s lives
1915 coalition: who were Asquith and his government losing the support of April-May 1915
Confidence of their early supporters
1915 coalition: what was clear about the war by 1915
- war would last a long time
- home front as important as front line
1915 coalition: what eventually forced Asquith to accept an all party coalition
Military disaster st Gallipoli and apart shell shortage on western front lowered govs prestige further
1915 coalition: what was Bonar Law given in war coalition
Colonial office
1915 coalition: who replaced Churchill at the treasury
Balfour
1915 coalition: what was LG put in charge of
Ministry of muntjions
1915 coalition: how were liberals unhappy with interventionist position of gov
- uncomfortable with conscription
- some believed state was threatening civil liberties with intro of DORA
1915 coalition: when did liberal party split
During Maurice debate of 1918
LG and lib division: why did LG support coalition
He had a clear understanding of demands on home front of total war
LG and lib division: who took over as Secretary for War when Kitchener died in 1916
LG
LG and lib division: how was the war coalition cabinet unsatisfactory
23 cabinet ministers- too many to effectively carry out business of conducting a war
LG and lib division: why was there tension within coalition
All key positions held by liberals and conservatives distrusted Asquith
LG and lib division: what effect did tensions within War cabinet have
Direction of war hesitant and piecemeal
LG and lib division: by when had the conservatives completely withdrawn their support for Asquith
1916
LG and lib division: what did LG propose after discussions with Bonar Law
Creation of a small war cabinet consisting of himself, Bonar Law, Carson
Asquith remain PM but wouldn’t take part in War cabinet
LG and lib division: 5 ways in which LGs new coalition gov changed way Britain was governed
- smaller War cabinet of 5
- most top jobs conservative
- cabinet secretariat- more efficient
- PM developed own PMs secretariat
- more gov ministries set up for wartime needs
LG: how did liberal MPs react to LG replacing Asquith as PM
Continued to recognise Asquith as party leader but pledged to support gov in conduct of war
LG: why did LGs support now depend on conservatives
Many liberals viewed LG as a traitor for dividing liberal party
LG: how can conservatives support for LG be described
Toleration not trust
Influence of lab and 1918 constitution: why did lab party almost split in 1914
Whether it should support the war
Influence of lab and 1918 constitution: why was party opposed to war and militarism
Essentially believed in international cooperation of working class
Influence of lab and 1918 constitution: why was MacDonald mercilessly criticised in press
Refused to compromise and support the war
Influence of lab and 1918 constitution: when did reward for most of labour movement supporting war come
When I’m 1916, Arthur Henderson became first ever lab politician to be given a place in cabinet
Influence of lab and 1918 constitution: what did Labour Party force gov to do with rising wartime prices pushing rents up
Gov to pass legislation which fixed wartime rents at prewar levels
Influence of lab and 1918 constitution: what was ‘fair play’ that labour party pushed for
Controls on profiteering and unrestricted market forces and for high taxation of war profits
Influence of lab and 1918 constitution: why were price controls introduced in 1917
To help stabilise food prices
Influence of lab and 1918 constitution: what impact did introduction of price controls and excess profits duty have on labours credibility
Increased it
Influence of lab and 1918 constitution: when did the Labour Party end it’s wartime cooperation with LG
When Henderson was refused permission to attend a conference in Stockholm which aimed to look at ways to bring about peace
Influence of lab and 1918 constitution: what did freedom from gov allow Henderson to work on
Reorganising Labour Party and putting together its policies for post war Britain
Influence of lab and 1918 constitution: what effect did Henderson’s Work after leaving gov have on Labour Party
United lab party and put it in strong position for competing with other 2 main parties
Influence of lab and 1918 constitution: how did Law benefit labour
- TU membership doubled to 8 million
- widening of franchise- bigger electoral support from working class
The Labour Party constitution: when did lab adopt new constitution
Feb 1918
The Labour Party constitution: what was Party to be composed of
Various affiliated groups: trade unions, socialist societies, cooperative societies, trade councils, local labour parties
The Labour Party constitution: who would manage the party
An executive of 23 members- this executive would be elected at annual party conference
The Labour Party constitution: what was means of production, distribution and exchange to be taken over by
Gov or community (nationalised)
Became known as clause IV
The Labour Party constitution: what would happen to surplus wealth
It would be redistributed
The Labour Party constitution: what would happen to TUs power
They’d have more
The Labour Party constitution: effect of consitiuon
Gave lab party more confidence
The Labour Party constitution: how did lab party reassert it’s independence from liberals
Labour Party ministers resigned as soon as armistice singed
coupon election 1918, LG coalition and Bonar Law: how did Baldwin judge LG and Bonar Law together
‘Most perfect partnership in political history
coupon election 1918, LG coalition and Bonar Law: why did LG discuss his ideas and policies every morning with Bonar Law
Once he had Bonar laws approval he would be able to get them through cabinet and commons
coupon election 1918, LG coalition and Bonar Law: how did Bonar Law act as a mediator between LG and back benchers
Kept PM informed of opinions of backbenchers and kept backbenchers informed of what LG was thinking
coupon election 1918, LG coalition and Bonar Law: Bonar laws successes of chancellor of exchequer 1916-1918
-1917 raises £600 million via War loan campaign and by setting interest rates at 5 rather than 6%
coupon election 1918, LG coalition and Bonar Law: which rivalry still dominated British politics by the end of the war
Asquith V LG
coupon election 1918, LG coalition and Bonar Law: where was LG popular
In country but most of liberal parties funds and organisation in constituencies under Asquith control
coupon election 1918, LG coalition and Bonar Law: what did LG persuade Bonar Law and conservative leaders to do
Call an election before end of 1918
coupon election 1918, LG coalition and Bonar Law: why was Bonar Law happy to call an election before end of 1918
Realised LGs popularity and believed coalition gov would help preserve unity in country
coupon election 1918, LG coalition and Bonar Law: why was it known as a coupon election in 1918
Those who fought election in support of coalition were given a certificate signed by LG and Bonar Law
coupon election 1918, LG coalition and Bonar Law: what had been passed by the time of the coupon election
representation of the people act feb 1918- extended vote to wider section of society than before
coupon election 1918, LG coalition and Bonar Law: what was success of conservatives in gaining 332 down to
- coupon factor
- nationalistic mood of country
- electoral reform- reshaping of constituencies
New coalition gov of 1918: why was LG in a weak position as PM
- his power rested less on his own party supporters than on his former political enemies
- leader of one wing of a divided party in decline
Policies and problems of LG coalition: what non war related issues did LG coalition have to deal with
- competition from Germany and USA
- growth of TU movement
- divisions over home rule for Ireland
Policies and problems of LG coalition: issues stemming directly from war
- gov debt
- dislocation of trade and industry
- problem of demobilising over 5 million men
Policies and problems of LG coalition: 1918 education act
- raised school leaving age to 14
- larger grants given to local authorities to improve teachers salaries
- secondary schools remained fee paying but gov increased number of scholarships available
Policies and problems of LG coalition: Addison’s housing act 1919
- all local authorities obliged to ensure people had decent housing
- 170000 subsidised houses built
Policies and problems of LG coalition: extension of unemployment act 1920
Covered an additional 12 million workers
Policies and problems of LG coalition: agricultural act 1920
Mainted wartime guarantee of prices for wheat and oats
Guaranteed minimum wages for farm labourers
Policies and problems of LG coalition: what did meansures show
Gov intervention had now become the norm
Policies and problems of LG coalition: what did coalition face by 1922
Wide range of problems
Policies and problems of LG coalition: what did economic depression mean
Cuts in gov spending which severely limited reconstruction plans
Policies and problems of LG coalition: why and when did Addison leave ministry of health
March 1921 when subsidies for housing were ended
Policies and problems of LG coalition: how many working days were lost in 1921 due to increased TU Actitigty and industrial disruption
86 million
Policies and problems of LG coalition: what effect did Bonar laws resignation have on LGs position
Weakened it as coalition depended on his good working relationship with LG
Policies and problems of LG coalition: whinreplaced Bomar Law
Austen chamberlain- a critic of LG
The fall of LG: honours scandal 1922
LG accuses of selling peerages to finance his own political party through Lg fund
The fall of LG: what was honours scandal followed by
A foreign policy crisis- Chanak affair
The fall of LG: chanak affair
PM accused of acting high handedky, ordering British troops into action without consulting coalition partners
The fall of LG: what happened in October 1922 that convinced conservatives they had enough electoral support to break away from coalition
Victory at a by- election at Newport
The fall of LG: how had Bonar laws opinion on LG changed
He was critical of policies of gov and disapproved of LGS actions at chanak
The fall of LG: what happened at Carlton club
- meeting of conservative MPS
- speeches made by Baldwin and BONAR LAW
- conservatives voted overwhelmingly to vote next election alone
The fall of LG: when did post war coalition end
LG resigned a few hours after conservatives voted to fight next election alone
The fall of LG: election relsults 1922
- conservatives 330 seats
- liberals 116 seats combined
- labour 142
The fall of LG: what did 1922 election reveal
Extent of liberal party decline
