Britain 1890-1918 Flashcards
What was Britain like in 1890?
Patriotic, dominant, class structure, poverty, large families
Where did children in Victorian Britain work?
In the workhouses
What were government and society dominated by in 1890?
Hereditary landed class of aristocricy
Who has benefitted from the Industrial Revolution?
Aristocrats and the middle class
In 1890, which country was the leading global power with the largest empire?
Britain
Where were the worst conditions in 1890 Industry?
Sweated industries, like matchbox, pin and shovel making
What were living conditions like in 1890?
- 18 people would sleep in a room ‘9x15’ feet
- Work was uncertain as wages were meagre and irregular
- ‘If you can’t work, go home’
What is an humanitarian?
Someone who believes in reform to help the human state
What is philanthropy?
A love of mankind
What is laisser-faire?
The idea that gov. should not be involved in everyday life
What is self-help?
The old idea that you should help yourself with no help from the government
What is welfare state?
The alternative to self-help, whereby health care, education etc are paid for by the government
Who won the 1906 election?
The Liberal Party, won by a landslide
Who was the Liberal prime minister in 1906?
Henry Campbell-Bannerman
When Bannerman resigned in 1906, who took over as PM?
Herbert Asquith
Which 2 people pushed the Liberal Reforms of 1906?
David Lloyd George and Winston Churchill
Why did the Liberals reform?
- Influence of key individuals like DLG and Churchill
- State recruits for Boer war were worrying
- Labour party acted as a threat
- Experience
When did Seebohn Rowntree publish ‘Poverty; a study of town life’?
1901
When was the Boer War fought?
1899-1902
What reforms were given to children?
- 1906 - Free school meals for children
- 1907- Pay for school medical inspections
- 1908- The childrens act- Juveniles were set up
- 1912- Free school medical inspections
What reforms were given to the old?
-1908- Gov. funded pensions }– 70+ got you 5 shillings a week. Life expectancy was 54
What reforms were given to the sick?
Health insurance- pay in and get 26 weeks care
What reforms were given to the un/under-employed?
1903- 300 people got a job each day
How did Conservatives react to the reforms?
Opposed the cost and ‘Nanny state’ idea
How did doctors react to the reforms?
Were not convinced about the health insurance
How did workers react to the reforms?
Hated wage deductions
How did the Labour party react to the reforms?
Critisized fact that workers had to fund their own benefits
What was set up by Lloyd George in 1908?
The Peoples Budget
What was the aim of the People’s Budget?
To raise money for the reforms
What is suffrage?
The vote
What is franchise?
The body of people entitled to vote
What were the suffragists (set up date?)? How did they try to get the vote for women?
Member of the NUWSS party, formed in 1897. Believed in peaceful, law-abiding protests
What were the suffragettes (set up date?)? How did they try to get the vote for women?
Member of the WSPU party, formed in 1903. Used violent methods to get their views across
Who led the suffragists and suffragettes?
Suffragists- Millicent Fawcett
Suffragettes- Emmeline Pankhurst
Why did Liberal leaders oppose female suffrage?
They thought if wealthy women got the vote, they would vote for Conservative
Why did backbench Conservative MP’s oppose female suffrage?
They didn’t like the idea of changing roles for women
In the years up to 1900, how many times did Parliament receive a bill and how many times was it rejected?
Received 15 times, rejected 15 times
When did Direct Action begin?
1908
What was Direct Action? What were some of the actions done?
The violent actions carried out by suffragettes in an attempt to get the vote for women. Suffragettes threw stones at 10 Downing Street, Edith New made speeches and chained herself to a railing inside Downing Street and Mrs Pankhurst had plotted for the House of Commons to be ‘rushed’
What tactics were used to win the vote?
Propaganda, meetings, demonstrations, hunger strikes and putting pressure on Parliament
What happen in 1911 with the Conciliation Bill?
Gov promised Conc. Bill for womens votes but Bill was dropped in favour of introducing votes for men. He said a clause for womens votes could be added if MP’s wished
How did the female suffrage parties react to the Bill being dropped in 1911?
Suffragists - Organised more meetings and demonstrations
Suffragettes - Bombed DLG’s house, burned churches
What was the Cat and Mouse act?
Women go on hunger strike in prison, then released until health was restored before sent back to continue sentence.
What happened on 5th June 1913?
Emily Davison threw herself beneath the King’s horse
Why did Davison throw herself beneath the King’s horse?
In an attempt to put a suffragette scarf on it
How did Emily Davison die?
She sustained many injuries from the horse.
Why did World War 1 start?
On June 28th 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by Serbian terrorists
What is Total War?
A war where all members of a country are involved.
Why was World War 1 different for Briton’s on the Home Front? Give 2 reasons
1) It was the first war where civilians on the Home Front could be affected
2) Suffragettes and Suffragists stopped campaigning and involved themselves in the war effort
Name 2 ways in which Britain was affected
1) Zeppelin bombing raids from Germany (UNexpected)
2) DORA by the Gov.
How many men had volunteered for war by Sept 1914?
750,000
Who lead the campaign to recruit more men by October 1915?
Lord Kitchener
What was Pal’s Battalions?
When all men from the same street, factory of town were able to fight in the war together, so with friends
When was compulsory conscription introduced? Who was it for?
Introduced in January 1916, for all single men aged 18-41
What were men who refused to fight known as?
Conscientious objectors, or conshies
By March 1916, how many men had volunteered to fight?
2.5 million
When was DORA put into action?
8th August 1914
What was the purpose of propaganda?
To help keep morale high and continue the total war effort
What does DORA stand for?
Defence of the Realm Act
How many people were arrested and later released as part of DORA?
1 million!
Name 3 policies under DORA
- no feeding bread to horses or chickens
- Beer was diluted
- British Summer Time established so workers could work for longer
What was the munitions crisis of 1915?
A shortage of artillery on the front lines of WW1
How did DLG solve the munitions crisis?
He set up the ministry of munitions, so supplies heavily increased
What were munitions work like?
+: better pay, jobs for women, serving the country
-: TNT poisoning (yellow skin), accidents, long shifts
What happened at Silvertown in 1917?
On 19th January 1917, a bomb in a munitions factory went off killing 73 and wounded 400
What other War work did women do?
Bank tellers, clerks, bus and tram conductors, police, firefighters and ticket collectors
When did compulsory rationing begin?
1918
When was the battle of the Somme?
July 1916
What was the British Convoy system? What did it combat?
It was more land farming as German ships had began to bomb food ships to Britain
When was the women’s land army set up?
1917
What happened during the spring offensive? (2 points)
- 1 million shells had been fired into British lines in the first 2 hours
- Germans advanced 40 miles on the 1st day
How did Field Marshall Haig respond to the Spring Offensive?
He called to arms and wanted to finish the fight!
How did certain work groups respond to Haigs response?
Miners- suspended strikes and worked extra shifts
Ship builders - gave up Easter to work
Men in protected jobs: enlisted to join the army
How was the German home front different to britains?
- industry was crippled by strikers
- crowds wanted peace
- slowly starved out of war
How did the USA help Britain at the end of WW1?
USA entered war and fought with Britain and its allies- all volunteers!
What was the Representation of the People act, when did it come to power and what were its policies?
Gave the power to some women to vote
Act became law on 6th Feb 1918
Allowed men over 21 to vote, women over 30 to vote
