Britain- WW1 Asquith and Lloyd-George Flashcards
How did actions in the war undermine some key Liberal beliefs?
- increased control of civillian life
- increased taxation
- restricting trade
- allying with Russia (viewed as oppresive and outdated under Tsarist autocracy)
Who did Labour remove as their leader and then replace during WW1?
- removed MacDonald (pacifist)
- replaced with Arthur Henderson
Who ran the Times and the Daily Mail during world war 1 and pushed the idea of the ‘shell shortage?’
Lord Northcliffe
Who were back bench conservatives criticising for inadequate work during WW1?
Lord Kitchener
What were the Unionists openly criticising in 1915?
The shell shortage
When did Asquith form his coaltion government?
1915
Who was in what role in the 1915 coalition?
Asquith- PM
Kitchener- Minister for War
LG- Minister for Munitions
Balfour- First Lord of the Admiralty (replaced Churchy)
Bonar Law- Colonial Secretary
Who forced adoption of conscription in WW1 and when?
Conservatives, 1916
Events of 1916
- conscription was introduced
- losses at the Sommes
- British defeat in Messopotamia (Iraq) at Kut
- rising in Ireland in April
What position did LG takeover in 1916?
Minister for War after Kitchener drowned at sea
Events of December 1916 LG vs Asquith
1st December: LG proposes 3 man war council
3rd December: Asquith agrees to the council
4th December: Asquith rejects council
5th December: LG resigns
6th December: Asquith resigns (thinking they won’t form a government without him)
Bonar Law asked Asquith to form a government with him.
Asquith declined.
LG was the only option.
7th December: LG becomes PM
Why did LG become PM?
- he had proved his capabilities when he was Minister of Munitions and Minister for War
- he was more dynamic and charismatic as a wartime leader
- Asquith made serious errors of judgement
- Trade Unions and press had good relations with LG
What scandal happened before WW1 that gave Asquith a bad name (and impacted Lloyd George)?
The Marconi scandal- 1912
Allegations and rumours about insider trading in Marconi shares involved a number of government ministers, including Lloyd George, the Chancellor of the Exchequer; Sir Rufus Isaacs, the Attorney General; Herbert Samuel, the Postmaster General; and Alexander Murray, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury. The allegations were based on the fact that Isaacs’ brother, Godfrey Isaacs, was managing director of Marconi.
