Book 3: Part 1 Liberal Reforms Flashcards
What were living conditions like before the liberal reforms?
Cramped and unsanitary and disease ridden
one third of the population lived in poverty in the 1800s
What were attitudes to the poor like before the liberal reforms?
Poor were blamed for being in the situation they were in
They were generalised as people who would smoke and drink their money away
If the poor wished to be out of poverty, the rich believed they could
What was done to help the poor before the liberal reforms?
-charities were helping the poor.
By 1900, 22,000 charities were set up
This shows people were helping the poor rather than the government
-social reformers helped the poor
Charles Booth published 70 books and found that 30% of the population lived below the poverty line
-people took him seriously as he was a well respected business man
-this helped changed attitudes to the poor so the poor would receive more help
What did Seebohm Rowntree do?
He divided the poverty in York into primary poverty (10%) and secondary poverty (17%)
He identified the causes of poverty Large family (52%) Low wages (22%) Death of wage earner (10%) Illness and old age wage earner (5%) Unemployment (10%) Other (6%)
This shocked the middle and upper class and changed views on the poor, this prompted people to take action to help the poor
What did John Galt do?
Put on lantern shows to the middle class He showed images of the poor to show they weren't lazy and their jobs resulted in early death This helped change the attitudes of the poor from the middle class. This prompted them to help the poor.
What did Charles Booth do?
Collected masses of information over 19 years and published 70 books. He found that 30% of London lived below the poverty line. He was taken seriously as he was a respected businessman. This prompted change as it changed people's negative view of the poor and prompted the middle class and upper class to help
What were the 6 main causes of the liberal reforms?
Social reformers Increasing information about poverty National efficiency Key individuals Political rivalry
How did social reformers prompt the introduction of the liberal reforms?
Prompted the idea of “new liberalism”
This meant it was seen as morally wrong that supreme poverty should be allowed to exist alongside incredible wealth
Rowntree’s work had a powerful impact. Social reformers changed people’s views on the poor with their statistics and campaigning. This put pressure on the government to make positive changes
How did increasing information about poverty prompt the liberal reforms?
The Salvation Army sent new information to the government.
The governments own civil servants collected information about poverty
This put pressure on the government to help
What was employment like before the liberal reforms?
Unregulated industry
Dock workers- commonly got work 3 days a week
Had to search for work every day and wait by the docks
Gas workers
- shovel coal
- struggle to find work past 40
How did the scale of the problem/unequal distribution of wealth prompt the Liberal Reforms?
Life expectancy for the poot was 45.
The top 10% of the population owned 92% of the wealth
How did national efficiency prompt the liberal reforms? -3 things
- the government had to reduce its minimum height to find enough soldiers
- in some poor areas of Britain, 69% of volunteers to fight in South Africa wee deemed unfit to fight as they had not grown properly
- by 1900, USA and Germany had overtake Britain as the biggest industrial power
How did key individuals prompt the introduction of the liberal reforms -2 people
David Lloyd George was a prominent member of the liberal party who rose to Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1908.
He sympathised with the poor as he was raised in poverty.
Winston Churchill switched to liberals in 1906 when the reforms started.
How did political rivalry prompt the liberal reforms?
Conservatives had introduced reforms and Liberals were worried middle class would vote for them.
Most working class men could vote by 1906, liberals feared they would vote for labour
When was labour formed?
1900
What reforms did the conservatives introduce?
Unemployed workmens act
What was the people’s budget? 4 mark
Lloyd George -chancellor of the exchequer had to raise money for his reforms.
He thought the rich had inherited wealth so should pay for the reforms.
He planned to tax the rich.
The House of Lords opposed the budget but when the liberals won the 1910 election they agreed
Which reforms benefitted workers?
National insurance act 1911
National insurance act 1912
Which reforms benefitted the elderly?
Pensions act 1908
Which reforms benefitted children?
Free school meals 1906
School medical inspections 1907
Children’s act 1908
Which reforms benefitted the unemployed?
Labour exchange act 1909
What was life like for workers before the reforms?
If they were sick they would get no money for time off.
They were reliant on charity
They earned the equivalent of £10 for an 18 hour day in modern society
What was the national insurance act?
1911
Aimed to prevent poverty through illness
They paid 4 pence per week.
Employer added 3 pence
Government added 2
Workers in the scheme were entitled to free medical care
10 million men and 4 million women were insured
WHat was the national insurance act part 2?
1912
Aimed to prevent poverty when people fell out of workers
Open to people in unsteady trades like shipbuilding.
If a worker was unemployed, they could claim 7s 6d a week for up to 15 weeks per year.
It helped around 2.25 million people
