Britain Year 12 - A Level Flashcards
1
Q
Some factors affecting the Libs’ 1906 election victory/reasons for their 1906-1914 reforms…
(Libs win 49% of votes and Lab win 43.6% votes).
A
- The Boer War
- 1902 Education Act
- 1904 Education Act
- Chinese Labour issue
- The Taff Vale Case
- Neglect of social reform
- Cons’ leadership
- Lib-Lab Pact (1903)
2
Q
Boer War and the 1906 election…
(How this caused Cons’ support to decline)
A
- 80% of volunteers rejected due to malnutrition.
- Cost the govt. a very high £210m, and high death toll.
- Libs gain support by saying the Cons’ neglected poverty.
3
Q
1902 Education Act and the 1906 election…
This Act was set by the Cons
A
- (Before 1902) Anglican and Catholic schools were church-funded.
- 1902 Education Act meant all schools had to be funded by local rates, (by Cons).
- This was good however, Nonconformists were unhappy with their taxes going towards funding CoE schools.
- This saw Nonconformists go to the Liberal Party.
Nonconformists are Protestants who opposed CoE beliefs.
4
Q
1904 Licensing Act and the 1906 election…
A
- This aimed to reduce no. of pubs, displeasing Nonconformists, as pub owners had to be compensated due to licence cancellations.
- Many Nonconformists voted Libs, then Cons after Home Rule, then back to Libs.
5
Q
Chinese Labour issue and 1906 election…
A
- During the Boer War, Chinese labourers were used by the British, and they were treated poorly.
6
Q
1906 election and the Taff Vale case…
(In Wales) During Cons’ tenure in Jul 1901
A
- (Jul 1901) Dispute between Taff Vale Railway Company and the railway workers’ trade union.
- Railway company take railway workers’ trade union to court, to demand loss of profits due to strikes.
- (1902) HoL ruled that a company was allowed to sue a trade union.
- Trade unions were displeased with this, as this would prevent successful strikes.
- This made Cons look like they were against workers, encouraging a Labour group in Parliament.
7
Q
What entailed the Labour Party Constitution?
(Feb 1918)
A
- Redistribution of surplus wealth.
- Clause IV meant nationalisation of production, distribution and exchange.
- More trade union power.
- More different groups (trade unions, trade councils etc).
- Executive of 23 members would manage the party.
- Trade union membership doubled to 8m during the war.
8
Q
1906 election and neglect of social reform…
A
- Boer War contributed heavily to poverty reasons, and the new LRC were campaigning for sweeping reforms.
9
Q
1906 election and tariff reform campaign…
(During Cons’ tenure)
A
- (1903) Chamberlain wanted to reinforce tariffs, (lower tariffs for imports from empire).
AKA ‘imperial preference’.
10
Q
1906 election and Cons’ leadership
A
- Cons’ leader Balfour lacked political skill, and perhaps didn’t understand social issues enough.
11
Q
What’s laissez-faire?
New v old Liberalism
A
- Translates to self-help
- The belief that govts. should intervene as little as possible with people and businesses.
- (1859) Samuel Smiles wrote about this.
12
Q
1906 election and the Lib-Lab pact…
(Lib-Lab Pact of 1903)
A
- The Lib-Lab pact meant that the Liberals and Labour would not oppose eachother in the next 30 constituencies.
Libs and Labour had a similar approach wtih free trade.
13
Q
Some early Libs’ intellectuals and their ideas…
(Part of ‘New Liberalisim’)
A
T.H Green - Liberalism would give people a chance to be morale.
J.A Hobson - People should buy more to keep empire thriving.
J.T Hobhouse - Argued for ‘collectivism’ and even wealth distribution.
—> This may have somehwat rescued Libs’ from their internal rifts.
14
Q
What entailed the Osbourne Judgement?
(Liberal MP Osbourne wanted his union to demand a political levy).
A
-> Disputes over MPs’ pay.
-> (1911) MPs paid salary of £400.
- (1913) Trade Union Act allowed trade unions to levy money on its members.
15
Q
Problems for Labour after 1906…
LRC renamed to Labour, including Keir Hardie and Ramsey Macdonald.
A
- 30 MPs did not form a strong, clear body, as it had other group members.
- Despite being a good leader, Hardie coudln’t make a Labour a strong force within the HoC.
- New MPs were inexperienced for HoC.
16
Q
Stats on Labour growth…
(From 1906)
A
- (1906-1914) Trade union membership rises from 900k to 1.5m.
- Socialist societies’ membership rises from 17k to 33k.
17
Q
Who did the Cons merge with in 1912?
(+ Cons’ events till 1914).
A
- The Liberal Unionists.
- Cons’ 1906 defeat meant they were powerless -> Lansdowne (Cons’ HoLs leader) blocked Libs’ policies.
18
Q
(Before 1914)
Stats on Britain’s economy…
New industries, agriculture, staples, trade and external competition.
A
- Britain key shipbuilder until WW2.
- (1901) 1.4m agriculture workers, less than 2m in (1850).
- New industries grew at 3.8%, overall maufacturing growth rate at 2%.
(All over)
19
Q
Stats on British economy before 1914…
(Some drawbacks)
A
- (By 1913) 32% of total national wealth derived from investments overseas.
- Brits’ owned half the world’s shipping pre-1914.
- Brit’s had 1/4 of world trade.
- HOWEVER, U.S and Japan and Germany were overtaking them in iron and steel output, as well as new industries.
- Many British firms were subsidies for U.S and Japan electrical companies.
- (By 1913) Britain imported 90% of dye from Germany.
20
Q
Stats on British economy…
(By 1914)
A
- ‘Trade gap’ was occuring.
- (1870-1914) ‘late Victorian recession’ saw Germany and U.S overtake Brits in iron + steel output.
- (By 1913) 60% Brits’ exports from staples industry.
21
Q
Pros of Brits’ economy…
(1906-1914)
A
- Staple industries still profitable.
- London remained global commercial centre.
- World’s largest foreign investor + invisible exports’ value meant high British profits.
22
Q
Cons of Brits’ economy…
(1906-1914)
A
- A ‘low-wage economy’ meant rich/middle-class could afford new goods.
- Britain could not bargain with other nations to reduce their tariffs.
- Insufficient education/training (1k German engineers avg. whilst Brits’ had 400).
23
Q
Brits’ social issues…
(Till around 1914)
A
- (1889) Charles Booth found from his 4000 interviews that 30.7% of Londoners were in poverty.
- Rowntree investigated York and cocnluded that to stay above the poverty line, people had to earn 21 shillings weekly + 52% in regular but low-wage work (1900-01).
- Class divisions were upper class, middle class and working class, (by 1906).
(By 1906) 75% of population part of working class.
24
Q
Some of Libs’ social reforms after their 1906 electoral win…
A
- (1906) Education Act (meals) + Workmen’s Compensation Act.
- (1907) Education Act (medical inspection)
- (1908) Old Age Pensions Act + Children’s Act
- (1909) Trade boards est.
- (1911) National Insurance, Shops and Coal Mines Acts.
Cons’ reforms generally were not compulsory or existing acts codified.
25
What did the People's Budget entail?
| (1909)
- Chancellor of the Exchequer Lloyd George introduced some terms...
- An inheritance tax on properities worth over £5k
- Tax on cars according horsepower
- Tax on land-selling profits.
- Super tax for incomes over £5k.
- 3d per gallon tax on petrol.
| People's Budget cost the Libs approx. £16m.
26
What was the constitutional crisis of (1909-1911)?
- Cons HoL v Libs HoC.
- The 1st one was over the People's Budget and the 2nd one was over the Parliament Act.
27
Details of the 1st Constitutional Crisis...
| (1909-1910)
- Cons saw People's Budget as an attack on the rich.
- (Nov 1909) HoL vetoed the Budget, and a general election in (Jan 1910) would be called.
28
Details of Jan 1910 election...
- (Libs) - 275 seats.
- (Unionists) - 273 seats.
- (Irish Nationalists) - 82 seats.
- (Labour) - 40 seats.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
- LG dubbed this election 'The Peers versus the People'.
- Cons' argued for import taxes for Budget costs.
- Libs relied on Irish Nationalists for support, and the Irish wanted Cons HoL weakened in returnn to achieve Home Rule.
| Libs' win, with a HoC majority for the Budget, HoL pass the budget.
29
Details of the 2nd Constitutional Crisis...
| (1910-1911) and the 1911 Parliament Act.
1910 Parliament Bill:
- HoL cannot amend/reject passed HoC money bills.
- Max. period between general elections reduced from 7 yrs to 5 yrs.
- However, this Bill itself had to be passed by the HoL.
--------------------------------------------
-> So Asquith asked the King to get the Libs and Cons to agree on a solution without new peers.
-> Cons' agreed to reform HoL, but still wanted to veto constitution chance, (to block Home Rule).
-> So due to the Irish pressuring Asquith to reject this, the king created enough Libs' peers, leading to the Dec 1910 election.
30
Details of the Dec 1910 election...
| (Parliament Act)
- (Libs) 272 seats
- (Unionists) 272 seats
- (Irish Nationalists) 84 seats
- (Labour) 42 seats.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
- The Libs relied on Irish and Labour for support.
- (1911) HoC passed Parliament Bill, and then eventually in the HoL.
31
Impacts of the Constitutional Crisis...
- Divided Cons, with BL replacing Balfour as leader.
- Brits' constitution made democratic.
32
Details/reasons for industrial unrest...
| (1906-1914)
- (1906-1914) Cost of living by 14%.
- Gap between rich and poor was widening.
- (1913) 2 killed in Dublin transport strike (Home Rule link?)
- Labour may have not given enough support to workers, leading to strikes.
-> (Nov 1910-Jun 1911) Miners strike in Sotuh Wales.
-> National coal miners' strike.
(1914) Triple Alliance of doctors, miners and railways workers formed.
33
Events/details of suffrage movement
| (1906-1914)
- (1911) National League for opposing Suffrage movement is founded
- (1909) NUWSS tactics entail arson attacks.
- (1907) NUWSS hold open-air rally in Hyde Park.
- (1913) 'Cat and Mouse' Act. - This meant imprisoned women were force fed.
- (1909-1914) NUWSS rises from 12k to 50k.
34
Some details about Home Rule...
| Addtionally, Edward Carson and the Ulster Unionists.
- Opposed by the Cons, and they supported the Ulster Unionists.
- (Before 1911) Unionists relied on HoL to veto Home Rule Bill, so Unionists took action.
-> (1912) Unionist leader Carson drew up Ulster Covenant,
-> Ulster Covenant passed in HoC but not in HoC, and the Ulster Volunteer Force was made.
-> (Mar 1914) Curragh Mutiny saw British officers threatening to resign rather than fight Ulster resistance, (consisted of General Gough and 157 cavalry officers).
35
What was DORA?
| Parliament passes this in (Oct 1914)
## Footnote
Defence of the Realm Act
- Introduced many regulations for the war.
- e.g. pub regulations, information and communciation control, powers to detain people without trial etc...
36
Details behind split govt. and wartime govt. with politics
| (WW1)
## Footnote
Liberals' split
- (May 1915) Gallipoli failure led to Asquith forming an all-party coalition.
- (Jun 1915) -> LG, who supported 'total war,' held Ministry of Munitions.
- (1916) Kitchener dies and LG holds War Secretary.
(By 1916) Liberal division meant 23 cabinet members and Conservative members want Lloyd George to be PM, and LG would form a small war cabinet, with Bonar Law and Carson (a Unionist).
-> Asquith remained as PM but was not in coalition.
(Dec 1916) LG replaces Asquith as PM, but Asquith was viewed party leader, and LG relied on Cons for support.
| Gallipoli failure was partly due to ammunition shortage.
37
Details of the Easter Rising...
- (Apr 1916) Irish Republicans and British navy clash, and this coincided with the Battle of Jutland.
- Michael Collins, De Valera and others led this for the Irish, with many participants sentenced to death.
38
Details of the Stockholm Conference...
| (Feb 1917)
- Labour MP Henderson denied permission to attend this by LG, ending Labour's wartime co-operation with LG.
- All socialist parties were to attend, after Russian Tsar deposed.
39
Results of the 1918 coupon election...
Cons - 344 seats
Lab - 142 seats
Libs - 62
National Libs - 53 seats
| (Asquith lost his seat)
40
Background/details of the 1918 'coupon' election...
- (Feb 1918) Representation of the People Act extended the vote more widely to society
- LG + BL had an excellent political relationship
- By the end of the war, rivalry between Asquith and LG dominated Brits' politics. -> LG popular but Asquith in charge of party's funds.
- LG relied on Cons for support, and persuaded BL to call an election before the end of 1918, and BL complied.
- Coalition seen as patriotic + effective, and socialism may have not been wanted.
- A 'coupon' to those who supported the war coalition, signed by LG and BL. -> However, voters had to choose between two rival parties.
41
What was the Maurice Debate?
| (Feb 1918)
- General Maurice claimed the govt. lied about the Brits' army's strength.
- This divided the Liberal Party in the cabinet.
42
Some things Bonar Law done during WW1...
- (1917) Raised £600m for the war + set interest rates at 5% rather than 6%, despite the BoE governor being against this.
- (1916-1918) Chancellor of the Exchequer.
- An effective minister who forged a good relationship with LG
43
Economic measures by Cons and Lab to combat decline in Brits' trade and staple industries...
| (1922-1924)
Cons:
(Trade) - Tariff reform to protect Brits' industry from foreign competition | However, this led to losing power with 1923 election.
Lab:
(Trade) - Lab sign deal with Soviet Russia and MacDonald helped with Dawes Plan + Young Plan -> However, it was cancelled with the 1924 Cons govt.
(Unemployment) - Public works programme launched for things like public spending, HOWEVER, too small of a scale.
(Industry) - Subsidies extended to Imperial Airways -> This encouraged development of new industry.
| (1925) Return to Gold Standard
## Footnote
Gold Standard return welcomed by investors HOWEVER, rise in GBP value may have made Brits' exports less competitive.
44
Details on build up to General Strike from Sep 1925 to May 1926 (timeline style)
(Sep 1925) Royal Commission est.
(Mar 1926) Royal Commission reports + negotiations between unions and mine owners (Apr 1926)
(Apr 1926) Miners reject mine owners' final terms + owners declare lockout of miners
(May 1926) Govt. declares state of emergency + TUC and Baldwin's cabinet hold final talks + Daily Mail print 'unofficial strike'
(May 3rd 1926) General Strike starts
(May 12th 1926) General Strike ends after TUC discontinue support for miners.
45
Details of General Strike up to Jul 1925 (timeline style)...
(Jun 1925) - mine owners want wage cuts + longer hours
(Jul 1925) - miners call for railwaymen and dockers' support; threat of a general strike + Govt. offers to subsidise miners' wages
46
Additional details on the General Strike...
- After General Strike, Gold Standard returned to, leading to Coal industry losing £2.1m (1st half of 1925).
- Royal Commission reports rejected nationalisation + (Apr 1926) owners declare to lockout after miners reject their final terms (trade unions support miners)
47
Areas of concern for Brits' economy (1906-1914)
- Lack of research/new tech
- (By 1914) Just 8% coal mechanically cut, 25% for U.S (by 1900).
- Brits has labour intensive mines, (just 360 conveyors for thousands of miners)
- (Before WW1) Just 1/4 of wheat sold in Britain came from Brits' farms.
48
Shortcomings in education and training (1906-1914)
- Brits' introduced primary education for all children from (1870-1881), with U.S and northern Germany introducing this in early 19th century.
- Avg. 1k German graduate engineers, with Brits having just 400.
- (By 1908) Fewer than 300 students taking applied sciences in English unis, with Germany having 400 chemistry graduates yearly.
49
Reactions to Royal Commission report + Baldwin's failures with General Strike...
- Miners and mine owners accepted some parts of report + (May 1st 1926) Miners appeal to TUC for support and Baldwin used 1920 Emergency Powers Act to declare state of emergency.
- Baldwin could have prevented the strike by putting pressure on mine owners to reach a compromise
50
Baldwin and the Daily Mail during the 1926 General Strike...
- Daily Mail refused to print articles to portray trade unions as being unfair.
- Baldwin stated to the TUC that no action could take place until printers backed down from NOT printing 'pro-trade union' articles.
- Consequently, TUC persuade workers to print articles however, Baldwin had gone to bed, with no negotiation time -. Strike went ahead!
51
General Strike failures...
Reasons/factors explaining General Strike failures...
- With Emergency Powers Act, Baldwin est. Organisation for the Maintenance of Supplies, with 100k volunteer workers supplying armed forces for moving essential supplies.
- Baldwin won public sympathy with arguing that the General Strike threatened the British constitution. -> Baldwin turned attention from miners' grieving to whether the govt. TUC ruled Brits.
- TUC not organised for nationwide strike, and their own newspaper 'the British worker' came out too late.
- TUC distanced themselves from miners after their refusal to compromise for mine owners.
- (May 12th 1926) TUC call off General Strike, and miners eventually accept wage cuts with longer hrs from mine owners.
52
General Strike results...
| (Mining/coal industry)
- When miners returned to work, they many faced penalties + job losses and some demoted
- Mining industry did not see needed re-organisation
53
General Strike results
| (Trade union movement)
- Strike cost NUR and TGWU £1m each
- (1927 Trade Disputes Act) made sympathetic strikes illegal + Trade union members required to pay to be authorised for paying levy to Labour. + During disputes, party/trade unions funds be could sequestered
- Bevin's moderate approach may have allowed trade unions to maintain a powerful image in Brits' politics -> This aided Labour's election victory in 1929!
54
General Strike results...
| (Cons govt.)
- Handling of strike praised by upper/middle classes HOWEVER, many workers felt embittered at harsh measures used by govt. -> Led to 1927 Trade Disputes Act.
- Unions turned against Baldwin + Cons party, wich may have aided Labour 1929 electiion victory.
55
General Strike results..
| (Labour cabinet)
- MacDonald refused to support strike + MacDonald and Labour project image of firmness and moderation throughout this strike.
56
What was the 1906 Trade Disputes Act...
- This meant that unions were NOT legally viable for costs that employers incurred from a strike.
57
Legislative changes...
| (Post WW1 roles of women)
- (1923) Matrimonial Causes Act meant that a woman no longer had tp prove cruelty, desertion or any other 'cause' for grounds for divorce.
- (1924) Guardianship of Infants Act gave guardianship of infant children to both parents jointly.
- (1926) New English Law of Property allowed married + single women to hold and dispose of their property on same terms as men.
- (1928) Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Act gave women over 21 the vote.
58
Work opportunities...
| (Post WW1 roles of women)
- Many women returned to domestic services after WW1, (1.6m by 1931).
- (By 1921) 1.6m Over 1m women employed as typists or clerks.
- (1919 sex disqualification act) Women could no longer be barred from a career in law of civil service based on their gender.
- Development of new industries gave women more job opportunities.
- (1920s) Many women stuck in jobs with low pay + long hrs
- (1921-1931) No. of women teachers fell from 187k to 181k.
- (1911-1931) Female earnings went from 44% of males to 48% of males.
59
Women in politics...
| (Post WW1 roles of women)
- High no. of women accepted in parliamentary roles (1922-1929) 33 to 69 women in parliament.
- (1924) Junior women ministers + (By 1929) Margaret Bondfield made first female cabinet minister (2nd Labour government).
- Women never made up over 5% of MPs.
-
60
Details of the NUSEC...
| (Post WW1 roles of women)
- Led by Eleanor Rathbone, National Union for the Societies of Equal Citizenship lobbied more equality in Parliament e.g. benefits for married women.
- Inspired other movements e.g. 'Women's Institutes' which allowed women to mmet eachother and organise charity events + (local level) 'Guilds and Labour Women's' groups helped to educate working class women.
61
Newspapers and magazines...
| (Post WW1)
- (1920) Just 2 papers with 1m circulation and (1930) 5 papers with 1m circulation.
- Women's magazines popular e.g. Vogue and Harper's Bazaar.
- Boys read about patriotic heroes and comics e.g. 'The Beano' and 'The Dandy.'
- Women writers such Vera Brittain were proliferating.
62
Cinema/films...
| (Post WW1)
- Many new cinemas opened
- Brits' perhaps unappreciative of U.S influence
- Londoner Charlie Chaplin was popular in Britain and even U.S.
- (1927) Cinematograph Act ensured 7.5% of films were British, despite being successful, films reduced in quality
- Cinemas + films may have may have distracted people from heavy drinking + violence.
63
Radio
| (Post WW1)
- (1922) British Broadcasting Company began regular radio broadcasting.
- (1926) Then became the British Boradcasting corporation (BBC) 1st major public corporation in 20th century Britain + independent from govt. BUT responsible to the Paymaster-General.
- With General manager Reith, BBC did not broadcast on Sundays before 12:30pm.
- (1922-1926) Radio licences rose from 36k to 2m.
- Key national events could be broadcasted.
- Reith may have prevented BBC from being a propaganda tool in General Strike, however, for left-wing, seemed that BBC took govt.'s side.
64
Public reaction to war...
| (Post WW1)
- Montague refered to WW1 as 'the lost years', echoing the attitude to war on the Brits' public's behalf.
- The idea that art should emphasise beauty was rejected.
- War challenged by writers e.g. Montague, Maddox Ford etc.
- (By 1922) Remembrance poppy had been adopted as the official emblem of remembrance by the American Legion and Royal British Legion.
- Brits' voiced their anti-war sentiment with the League of Nations.
| (Charles Montague was an English writer who served in WW1)
65
1929 election and the 'flapper vote'
- (1918 Representation of the People Act) led to minimal changes for womens' position in politics + society.
- Newspapers such as the Daily Mail + Daily Telegraph labelled modern young women that voted in this election as 'flappers'.
- More women voted Cons than Lab + Won Balfour over to the cause of equal voting.
- NUSEC kept pressuring govt, to widen vote
- Equal vote bill pushed by Bladwin, after Home Secretary Joynson-Hicks public commitment to the equal franchise, (equal vote done to retain Cons' support). -> This boosted electorate to 2.2m.
-
| (Unknown how women voted in this election)
## Footnote
(No way of differentiated between men and women votes).
66
Housing after WW1
| (not very good)
- (1919) Housing and Town Planning Act built 200k homes (by 1922) | However, cost was too high + Addison paid houses at the rate of £910 when real building cost was £385. + LG apologised for this in Parliament.
- Shortage of 800k homes for lower classes.
- (1921) 'Geddes Axe' suggested cuts of £86m, reduced to £64m + £18.2m cuts in education |housing subsidies withdrawn
| (1921) 86m working days lost + recession occured.
## Footnote
1920 Unemployment Act altered 1920 Agricultural Act which maintained min. wages for farmers + guaranteed prices for farmers.
67
Trade unions + industrial issues
| (Post WW1)
- Trade unions supportive of LG and WW1.
- (1914) 'Treasury Agreement' stated that uniond involved in vital war work wouldn't strike. + 1915 Munitions of War Act banned strikes for munitions workers. + Job switching in key production posts illegal.
- 'Dilution agreements' were an issue.
- (1920s) Bevin est. TGWU.
- (Feb 1919) LG appointed Sankey Commission to investigate pay and conditions, averting strike rail strike action.
68
Results/effects of national govt. policies
Industry:
- Cuts in govt. spending stopped banking crisis HOWEVER, unemployment rose sharply in (1932-1933).
- Some places had very high unemployment e.g. Jarrow with above 70%. ---
- Brits' economy recovered more in Midlands and South East from Wall St crash.
- Brits' economy recovered due to lower prices of goods... + More people in work than out +++
- Smaller family sizes meant more money to spend. +++
- Rising consumer demand meant markets expanded, perhaps offset govt. spending cuts. + more job opportunites in service industry.
Housing:
- Housing market expanded from more jobs, which perhaps offset govt. spending cuts + enocuraged retailing, transport + banking.
Trade:
- (Jan 1933) Value of global trade worldwide 1/3 of levels at (start of 1929).
- 1935 British Shipping (Assistance) Act had limited impacts.
- (After 1933) Brits' trade + world trade improved
Agriculture:
- Already low wheat price fell by 50%.
- Arable land continued to decline.
## Footnote
Successes and failures
69
Sinn Fein details...
| (Led by MP Eamon de Valera)
- (Apr 1916) Easter Rising
- (Jul 1917) After this election, De Valera elected as Sinn Fein president.
- (By 1917) 1.2k Sinn Fein clubs in Ireland + 250k members. + (End of 1917) Brits' release Easter Rising rebels as a goodwill gesture HOWEVER, done little to improve image of Brits' govt.
- Irish Nationalist Party collaborate with Sinn Fein + Irish Nationalist Party protest in Westminster against things like Ireland conscription (from 1918).
- (1918 general election) marked end of INP, as they won 7 seats compared to SF'S 73, (SF win this election).
- Sinn Fein MPs refuse to take Westminster spaces -> They set up 'Dail Eireann', the Assembly of Ireland.
-> They declared Ireland as a republic.
-> Dail Eireann's military wing the Irish volunteers, reformed to IRA, led by Michael Collins.
- They may have had U.S support for independence in Treaty of Versailles.
| INP = Irish Nationalist Party AND SF = Sinn Fein
70
Irish election results before and after 1918...
Before 1918:
Irish Nationalists - 68 seats
Unionists - 18 seats
Independent - 10 seats
Sinn Fein - 7 seats
After 1918:
Sinn Fein - 73 seats
Unionist - 26 seats
Irish Nationalists - 6 seats
Independent - 0 seats
- Sinn Fein + Irish Nationalists rapidly gained support! + Unionists gained some support.
71
War of independence (1919-1921)
- (Aug 1919 + Sep 1919) Brits' govt declare Sinn Fein illegal + Dail declared illegal
- LG sanctioned recruitment of 'Black and Tans' to combat IRA. -> Causing terror and counter terror + (Nov 1920) IRA drag 11 English civs out of there homes and were shot + (Nov 1920) Black and Tand kill 12 at Croke Park in a Irish football game.
- (Jan 1919-Jul 1921) Death toll perhaps reaches 1k.
- U.S + League of Nations and the Dominions condemn Brits' actions, embarassing Brits'. + - U.S + League of Nations and the Dominions want change in policy.
- Brits' press critical of 'Black and Tans'. + Brits' govt. not ready for all-out war with IRA.
- After the King and others wanting a truce -> (Jul 1921) IRA + Black and Tans agree to a truce.
72
Details of Anglo-Irish Treaty...
- (Dec 1920) Government of Ireland Act passed in Belfast parliament + Allowed Irish governance of six Ulster counties.
- (Summer 1921) Northern Ireland parliament opened near Belfast.
LG proposed...
- Ireland have self governance with monarch being head of state.
- Six Northern Ireland counties would remain part of UK, with their own parliament and organisation.
- (Dec 1921) Anglo-Irish treaty signed -> Caued divisions with Nationalsits and Sinn Fein factions battle. + Northern and Southern Ireland had their own parliaments.
- Hostility between sides would continue...
73
General election results...
| (Nov 1922)
Cons - 330 seats
Lab - 142 seats
LG Libs - 47 seats
Asquith Libs - 41 seats
- Cons most popular, alongside Lab,.
- (1922-1923) Cons govt. introduce Housing Act which awarded a yearly £6 subsidy for every house built within the next 20 yrs.
- War debts to the U.S was dealt with.
- Replaced the Treaty of Lausanne (hated by the Turks), with the Treaty of Sevres.
| (Also the achievemnts of the Cons govt. from 1922-1923.
74
General Election results...
| (1923)
Cons - 258 seats
Lab - 191 seats
Libs - 159 seats
- BL resinged just 8 mnths after winning + King chose Baldwin to tackle unemployment and for a return to protectionism.
- (Jan 1924) Baldwin forced to resign after a 'vote of no confidence' after he called for an election on tariff reform to get a mandate.
-> Then, the 1st Lab govt. formed, somewhat dependent on Libs.
Reasons for Lab high no, of seats:
- Lab polciies more relevant for post-war needs. + More organised and well-funded.
- Lab gained govt. experience during war, e.g. Arthur Henderson.
| (Cons and Lab still most popular after Nov 1922 election).
## Footnote
BL = Bonar Law
75
General election results...
| (Oct 1924)
Cons - 419 seats
Lab - 151 seats
Lib - 40 seats
| (Libs in heavy decline)
## Footnote
1st Lab govt. done due to Zinoviev Letter, Campbell Case etc.
76
Details on decline of the Libs...
| (1922-1924)
- Unlike Cons + Lab, Libs did not have enough, meaning that their elction campaigns were not good enough.
- 'First past the post' disadvantaged the Libs (constituency votes, majority etc)
- Libs could no longer rely on Irish Nationalist for support as Sinn Fein boycotted HoC (1918).
- Loss of traditional support.
77
Details on 1st Lab govt...
| (1923 - Baldwin having 'vote of no confidence' led to 1st Lab govt.)
## Footnote
(1924 - 1st Lab govt)
Aims and reforms involved...
- Avoiding radical policies
- Unemployment benefits raised + state scholorships to unis
- Housing Act introduced which increased housing subsidy that local authorities built from £6 to £9 -> (By 1933) 500k homes built from this Act.
- MacDonald helped negotiate Dawes Plan.
Collapse of the first Lab govt...
- (Sep 1924) Campbell Case -> Govt. accused of interfering in justice system when Attorney General of withdrawing a prosecution from a left-wing journalist
- (Oct 1924) Zinoviev Letter -> USSR perhaps semt British Communist Party a letter to promote subversive acts in Britain.
78
Reasons for Cons resurgence...
| (1924-1929) and perhaps their Oct 1924 electoral victory...
- Cons played key role in WW1 coalitions (after Libs split) + (WW1) Cons show their patriotism and tradiotnal values, etc
- (Feb 1918) Representation of the People Act kept 'plural voting', meaning that people like business owners could vote twice...
- Anglo-Irish Treaty meant Irish Nationalsit had their own party in Dublin + Irish Ulster MPs in Parliament were pro-Conservative.
- Wider range of support from not just upper classes, but middle + lower classes.
- Support from upper classes meant high funding, aiding Cons election campaigns.
- Press support
- Cons 1st party to employ advertising agency for 1929 election + (By 1930) 1m Cons' women branches.
| (Many women voted for them)
79
Reforms/positive actions of Cons govt. (1924-1929)
| (Baldwin's govt.)
- Neville Chamberlain's Contributory Old Age Pension meant that 65 yr olds who had a pensions received 10s weekly.
- (1925) Pensions for widows introduced + Global relations improved with Austen Chamberlain signing Locarno Treaty, which Germany guaranteed to respect other nations' borders. + National Insurance Act provided indefinite benefits to those seeking 'genuinely seeking work'.
- (1926) Central Electricity Board est.
- (Local Government Act of 1929) gave local authorities extra duties concerning roads, public health, maternity, child care etc (more responsibilty that anywhere in Europe. + 1/4 of factories exempt from local rates to aid this Act. + This Act ended the very outdated Poor Law.
- Financial aid given to local councils who had extra responsibilities.
80
Reforms of Cons govt. (1924-1929)
| (From 1926)
## Footnote
(1924-1929) Baldwin's govt.
- (1926) Electricity Act set up CEB, which gave the nation an effective power grid + improved efficiency + British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) est. which made a national radio broadcasting system.
- (1928) Representation of the People Act increased electorate from 22m to 29m (2m more women voters than men).
| (CEB = Central Electricity Board)
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Roles of Baldwin, Churchill and Chamberlain...
| (1924-1929)
- Expected that the King would appoint Curzon + Baldwin lucky to have leadership after election loss in (Jan 1924).
- Chamberlain's social reforms was viewed as being very effective with his social reforms.
- Churchill worked well in this govt, (despite not having trust of many Cons members + perhaps handled General Strike effectively.
| (Churchill was Chancellor of the Exchequer in this Cons govt.)
## Footnote
(1925) Churchill reintroduces Gold Standard which may have reduced Brits' global competitiveness, as this perhaps boosted currency value.
82
Issues LG faced after the war...
| (After WW1)
- Cuts in govt. spending limited reconstruction plans + period of economic depression
- (1921) Boost in trade union activity and industrial disruption + 86m working days lost
- Ireland and Home Rule issues
83
LG's downfall...
| (After WW1)
- (1922) Honours' Scandal -> (1916-1922) During LG's tenure as PM, he sold 1.5k knighthoods and nearly 100 peerages.
- (1922) Chanak affair saw LG send Brits' forces to Chanak to aid Greeks against Turks however, no fighting and the crisis passed over.
- (Oct 1922) Cons by-election victory in Newport convinced Cons that they had enough support to split from LG's coalition, including BL. -> Eventually, they would oppose eachother in the Nov 1922 general election
84
Attempts at reconstruction and other things...
| (Post WW1)
- (1918) Education Act rose school-leaving age to 14 + Larger grants given to local authroities to improve teachers' salaries.
- (1919) Addison's Housing Act obliged all local authorities to ensure that people had decent housing + This govt. built 170k subsidised houses.
85
What were COs in WW1?
| (2.5m men volunteered to fight)
## Footnote
(Approx 300k children were fatherless from WW1)
- People who refused to fight in WW1 due to deeply held beliefs.
- (1915) The pacifist No-Conscription Fellowship members secured the 'no conscience clause' in the 1916 Conscription Act.
- Quakers believed in pacifism + NCF believed it was wrong to kill. + 10k COs out of 16k COs refused to do govt. work apart from fighting
- 6312 COs arrested + 5970 court-martialled and imprisoned, in harsh conditions
- COs were viewed by the public as cowards + unpatriotic.
86
WW1 conditions and some results...
- Of the 6m men in the armed forces, 750k killed + 2m wounded.
- Re-adjusting to civilian life was very difficult + Many suffereed from harsh trench conditions, etc.
87
WW1 economy...
- State took control in 1914 due to rising prices + Material shortages
- Govt. encouraged factories to switch to war effort
- (1915) LG extended Defence of the Realm Act by persuading Parliament to allow my State powers overindustry
- Ministry of Munitions set up a central purchasing system
- In Leeds -> A factory employed 16k workers and produced 25m shells yearly by end of WW1
- (By 1918) Ministry of Munitions 250 State factories + Supervised 20k factories + Controlled 4m workers
- (1914-1918) Govt. spending rose from £200m to £2600m + Govt. tax revenue rose from £250m to £750m
- (1914-1918) Machine gun supply rose from 270 to 120,780 + (1915-1918) Shell production rose from 2m to 187m.
