Causes of liberal reforms Flashcards
Introduction Liberal reforms cause
The view prior to 1906 was that people in poverty were responsible for their situation and therefore were responsible for getting themselves out of poverty. For example Samuel smiles said that self help was the “root of all genuine growth” Many also thought that poor people were genetically inferior for example Norman Pearson said that poor people are “made of inferior material and cannot be improved” (Background)
How this view changed between 1906-1914 toward the end of the 19ths century many people such as the new liberal Prime Minister Asquith began to realise that many of the poor were sent into poverty due to factors beyond their control; this change in view was partly due to the reports of Booth and Rowntree that showed the extent and causes of poverty. This led to increased support for the government to help those who are in poverty and cannot do anything about it, setting the stage for the liberal reforms. (Background)
There are various factors that led to this including
Booth and Rowntree' reports concerns about national security and national efficiency the New Liberals the rise of the Labour party (Factors)
It can be argued that the main reason for the introduction of Liberal social reforms during this period was the reports of Booth and Rowntree. (Line of argument).
Booth and Rowntree reports
KU:
Charles Booth had doubted claims made by socialists that 25% of the country was living in extreme poverty so he decided to investigate himself. He put together a team of researchers who worked day and night in London over a long period of time and found that 35% of the population of London was living in extreme poverty. He published his findings in 1889. He was the first to reveal the extent of poverty in britain. Later Seebohn Rowntree decided to do a similar study in York to see if other parts of the country had similar levels of poverty. He found 28% of the population of York to be living in extreme poverty. Rowntree distinguished between primary poverty which is when you do not have enough income and secondary poverty which is when you waste money on smoking gambling etcetera
Analysis: This could potentially have led to the liberal government introducing social reforms because Booth and Rowntree reports shocked the general public who had no idea of the extent of poverty in the UK. As the UK was a wealthy developed nation most did not expect so many to still be living in poverty. For the first time there is statistical evidence showing the big picture of poverty in britain. Rowntrees reports also proved that there were identifiable causes for poverty such as unemployment sickness and old age which were largely out of control of the individuals and needed government intervention because of the scale of the problem.
Developed analysis:
However some historians would disagree this led to the liberal government introducing reforms because the salvation army had been working since 1878, Booth’s report was published in 1889 and the report by Rowntree was completed by 1903 yet nothing was done until 1906. Additionally Booth and Rowntree were not politicians and had no power to legislate.
The New liberals
The New Liberals
Description and how this could have led the Liberal government to introduce social reforms
The new liberals was the second most important factor in causing the liberal government to introduce social reforms.
KU:
Younger new liberals had read the studies of Booth and Rowntree, were shocked by the extent of poverty and persuaded of the need for a state framework of intervention.
The ‘new liberal’ ideas were starting to take root. This is the idea that the state should help the poor escape from circumstances they cannot control while old liberals thought that those in poverty were responsible for themselves. In 1908 the ‘old liberal’ prime minister Campbell bannerman died leaving new liberals to implement their reforms.
Analysis:This could potentially have led to the liberal government introducing social reforms because the younger liberals saw that changes were needed and gained the power to implement them after the death of Cambell Bannerman.
Developed analysis: however some historians would disagree this was the cause of the liberal reforms because there was no mention of these reforms in the 1906 election manifesto. It was only when PM bannerman died in 1908 that the door opened to new interventionist ideas championed by the likes of lloyd-george and churchill.
Concerns about national security and efficiency
Concerns about national security and national efficiency
Description and how this could have led the Liberal government to introduce social reforms
Concerns about national security and national efficiency was a factor of tertiary importance in causing the liberal government to introduce social reforms.
KU:
During the boer war which started in 1899 almost 25% of volunteers to join the army were rejected due to being too physically unfit to serve in the armed forces this was largely caused by a poor diet such as bread, tea and margarine. . The interdepartmental committee on physical deterioration investigated and found in 1904 that many adult males were in poor health for poverty related reasons such as poor diet and overcrowding. By the end of the 19th century britain was a strong industrial power but faced fierce competition from Germany and the USA. with Germany already catching up in coal production. Churchill said that americans workers were stronger than britains and bismarck’s germany had health insurance and old age pensions that seemed to be successful.
Analysis:This could potentially have led to the liberal governments introducing reforms because there was concern whether Britain could survive a war or protect its empire against a far stronger enemy in the future if the nation’s fighting stock of young men was so unhealthy. Many thought that if the health and education standards of britain’s workforce got worse britain’s position as a strong industrial power would be threatened.
Developed analysis: However some would disagree that this was the cause of the liberal reforms because fears for the economy and the army had been raised in 1899 yet nothing was done until 1906. The school meals act did not come in until 1907.
Rise of the labour party
Rise of the labour party
Many historians would argue that the rise of the labour party was the fourth most important factor KU: In 1884 most working class men gained the right to vote and had usually voted for the liberal party however when the labour party was founded in 1900 they started competing for many working class votes by promising fairer wealth distribution and better working and living conditions. Reforms were implemented in the lead up to the 1910 election such as Churchills 1909 labour exchanges act.
Analysis: This could potentially have led to the liberal government introducing social reforms because retaining working class votes was politically important, not least because there were large numbers of workers packed into the cities. To prevent a further decline in liberal support before the election reforms were implemented such as Lloyd George's people's budget of 1909 that taxed the rich for the poor.
Developed analysis:
However some historians would disagree this was the most important reason for the reforms because The liberal party did not mention anything about social reforms in their party manifesto during the 1906 election campaign and the reforms only began 2 years later after the death of the prime minister. No political leader campaigned in 1906 for social reforms. This shows that political advantage wasn’t that important as it was not mentioned during the election when liberals were trying to get votes. Labour never had more than 42 seats up until the war compared to the Liberals 400.
Conclusion liberal reforms causes
In conclusion, the liberal reforms were the result of many influences. Political willingness to pass reforms was influenced by new ideas about state intervention and new liberalism and this flowed from the reports of Booth and rowntree. Fears of losing votes to the new labour party may have made the reforms a more pressing necessity meanwhile, concerns about britain’s national security and position in the world made politicians recognise that a healthier working class was necessary but also confirmed the truth of booth and rowntree reports. These reports made people realise that poverty was often beyond the individual’s ability to help themselves and the concept of the deserving poor requiring assistance was at the core of the liberal reforms.
