Britain In Crisis And War 1911-18 - Chapter 2. Flashcards
Who was in power between 1908-1916?
Herbert Asquith (LIBERAL)
What were the four major crises that occupied the Liberals in the period from 1911 to 1914?
-The conflict between the Lords and the Commons.
-The votes for women campaign.
-Industrial Strife.
-The threat of civil war in ulster.
What were the chief political and constitutional reforms 1911-14?
-Introduction of payment for MPs (1911)
-Parliament Act (1911)
-Home Rule for Ireland (1912)
-Trade Union Act (1913)
-Act disestablishing the Welsh Church (1914)
What was the Trade Union Act 1913?
Allowed the union funds to be used for political purposes.
Why was there tension between the Lords and the Commons in 1909?
The Liberals had won a majority in the Commons in 1906, therefore the only effective opposition to liberal policy that the conservatives could provide was in the Lords.
In 1909 Liberal proposed the ‘Peoples budget’ - the conservatives resisted it on the grounds that it was an unprecedented attack upon the rights of property. They argued that this made them entitled to reject it from the Lords.
What happened in the 1910 general elections?
The Liberals lost seats.
In the December election they had the same number of seats as the conservatives (272).
The liberals remained in government because of their reliance on Labour and Irish Nationalist members in the commons.
On what condition did the Lords say that they would pass the ‘People’s Budget’ on?
The Lords said that they would pass the ‘people’s budget’ if after two elections Asquith’s government was still in power.
This term was met as the liberals managed to stay in power after the two elections in 1910.
Why did the Lord’s refuse to pass the Parliament Bill?
Argued that the 1910 elections had failed to give Asquith’s government a clear mandate for such a radical constitutional change.
Also the Lords would loose their power to veto laws if the bill was passed.
How did the liberals pass the Parliament Bill through the Lords?
August 1911 - Asquith had persuaded King George V to create 500 new liberal peers to flood the Lords if the Lords did not pass the Parliament Act.
What were the main terms of the Parliament Act 1911?
-Delaying power of the Lords to be restricted to two years.
-A Bill sent up by the commons the three consecutivesessions to become law even if it might be rejected by the Lords.
-General elections to be held at least once every 5 years.
Why was Asquith hesitant to give women the right to vote?
Was concerned of the political and electoral consequences of such a large widening of the electorate.
Who were the suffragists led by?
Millicent Fawcett.
What was the major suffragette organisation?
the WSPU (Woman’s Social and Political Union).
Who was the WSPU led by?
Emmeline Pankhurst.
What was the 1913 Prisoners Temporary Discharge for Ill Health/ Cat and Mouse Act?
Allowed the authorities (who would previously force feed) to overcome the resistance of imprisoned suffragettes who went on hunger strike.
When the woman’s health deteriorated they were released on licence but when they recovered they went back to prison.
Which party supported the idea of woman’s suffrage?
The Labour Party - Keir Hardie was an enthusiastic campaigner for woman’s suffrage.
Why were the suffragettes not always clear in their objectives?
-There were many disputes within the movement.
-Sylvia and Charitable Pankhurst split the WSPI taking opposed views over suffragette militancy and whether the movement would support the Labour Party.
Emmilne accepted the conciliation bill.
What was the Conciliation Bill 1910?
It was a cross-party compromise which proposed dropping the idea of votes for working class women in return for parliament’s granting it to women who owned property.
Came to nothing since Asquith’s government declined to support it.
Where did Lloyd George stand on votes for women?
LG supported the suffragists and consistently voted in favour of their private members bills.
Lloyd George however feared that if the vote was extended to women in the same way it was to men, then only property owning middle class women would be able to vote, potentially increasing labour support.
How much did trade union membership increase from 1900 to 1914?
Increased from 1.9 million in 1900 to 4.1 million in 1914.
What was Winston Churchill accused of during the 1910-11 miners strike?
-Was accused by miners of ordering a shooting of strikers.
-Accusations followed an incident in Tonypandy, when a violent crash between strikers and the local police led the constables to appeal for troop reinforcements to control situation.
-Churchill did send officers, but did not specify how they should use their weapons.
Why were the miners striking between 1910-11?
-Were striking for a minimum wage.
-The strike was particularly serious in South Wales.
What was the Sidney Street Siege 1911?
A police and military action against a group of heavily armed anarchists who had occupied a house in London’s Sidney street.
How was Churchill involved in the Sidney Street Siege 1911?
-Churchill oversaw the ending of the siege.
-As Home Sec he went in person and gave advice to the troops who were dealign with it.
-Ordered 13 under field guns to be brought up - did not end up being used as the besieged killed themselves and set ablaze the building they held.
