Britain Issue 4 liberal reforms

Question 1

growth of new liberalism

Answer 1

evidence:
- philosophers J A hobson and TH green had moved away from old liberalism and believed the government had a responsibility to support the poor “the purpose of state action is to free its citizens from hinderances and disabilities”

• herbert asquith appointed winston churchill and david Lloyd george to his cabinets, both new liberals who believed they needed to help the poor.

analysis:
- this was significant in the passing of welfare reforms as opinions were gradually shifting to support the poor and a new team of liberal thinkers were in the making.

• they were both strongly committed to welfare reform and were hugely responsibly for the increase in intervention, and tackled poverty in the old, young, sick, and unemployed.

counter analysis:
- as the liberal manifesto from 1905 made no mention of social reforms, therefore the new liberalists were limited.

evaluation:
- booth and row tree reports..
- “ new liberalism was given a powerful impetus by the revelations of booth and rowntree” (peter murray)

Question 2

booth and rowntree’s concerns over poverty

Answer 2

evidence:
- in 1900 charles booth published a survey on poverty in london, revealing 30% of the population was living in poverty.
- Seebholm rowntree found the same stats in york.

• booth and rowntree revealed poverty was caused by low wages, unemployment, old age and illness, and that the young suffered due to their parents own poverty.

analysis:
- it probed that more people were in poverty than assumed, and consequently allowed new liberalism to gain popularity as david lloyd george and winston churchill believed the state needed to intervene.

• this was important as the new liberals took this information and targeted their focus on these very groups.

counter analysis:
- A.L bowley went on to do research in 5 different towns and cities and his work could have been more influential as it was on a larger scale.

evaluation:
- influenced new liberalism
- morrison and morrison argue that the reforms were moving in line with a sea change in public opinions which resulted from their findings.

Question 3

national security & efficiency

Answer 3

evidence
- during the recruitment of the boer war, 25% of the urban male population were rejected on medical grounds.

• the royal commission on physical training in scotland found that children in edinburgh were significantly under height and under weight.
• otto von bismarck passed welfare reforms in the 1880s in germany, with a clear system of welfare benefits.

analysis:
- this led to concerns over the countries ability to defend itself against countries with a stronger army.

• the royal commission stated that “provisions should be made for the regular inspection of school children”, leading to free school meals.
• led to liberal reforms as germany was a fairly new country and britain could not be seen falling behind.

counter analysis:
- it was actually labour who were responsible for free school meals and this likely pushed party competition rather than national security and efficiency.

evaluation:
- link to booth and rowntree
- “those who believed it was morally wrong to allow widespread poverty to exist in britain were therefore joined by others who saw the scale of poverty as weakening britains place in the world” - sydney wood

Question 4

party competition/challenge from labour

Answer 4

evidence:
- the labour party was a growing party which appealed to the working class with its promise of national insurance, old age pensions and provisions for poor children.

• in 1907 the liberals lost 3 seats to labour politicians in by-elections

analysis:
- the liberals likely went on to pass reforms which followed the same values as labour in hopes to maintain support from the working class.

• the by elections influenced the liberals as they now believed if they did not show support for the poor they would lose to the labour party.

counter analysis:
- the challenge can be overlooked as the liberals already managed the issue in 1900 with a secret electoral pact so social reform from 1906 was not really a response to the labour party.

evaluation:
- historians say the challenge of labour isn’t as influential as the liberals had begun change long before the existence of the labour party.
- “The 1906 election provided the Liberals with the chance to show that there was a party of concern and conscience which could legislate in the interest of the poor“ derek fraser

Question 5

municipal socialism

Answer 5

evidence:
- city fathers in glasgow spent funds on providing clean water, via the glasgow waterworks act of 1855

• joseph chamberlain of birmingham took action to clear slums, “we have not the slightest intention of making profit indirectly in the comfort of the town and in the health of the inhabitants.”

analysis:
- as this led to a reduction in cholera and other water spread disease, other governments were influenced to follow the same path.

• his work directly influenced sydney and beatrice web, who in turn influenced the growth of new liberalism.

counter analysis:
- many liberal reforms passed this way were not compulsory, like the free school meals in Manchester, which were entirely optional.

evaluation:
- local government reform actually prevented action on a larger scale and delayed national action