Chapter 1 Flashcards
The Liberal governments
How many seats did the Liberal hold following the 1906 election?
401
How many seats did the Conservatives hold following the 1906 election?
157
Why did the Boer War help the Conservatives win the election in 1900?
Patriotic support for the government and the issue split the Liberal Party
Why did the Boer War contribute to the Conservatives electoral defeat in 1906?
The war lasted longer and cost far more lives and money. Civilians in concentration camps and malnutrition of British citizens caused a scandal
Why was the 1902 Education Act controversial?
Non-conformists were outraged that their taxes may be spent on schools they objected such as CofE schools
Why was the 1904 Licensing Act controversial?
Non-conformists were infuriated as it proposed to compensate brewers and publicans for the cancellations of licenses
What was the Chinese labour issue?
Chinese labourers, who would work for very low wages, were being imported into South Africa and kept in overcrowded camps
What groups were outraged by the Chinese labour issue?
Non-conformists and trade unions
What was the Taff Vale case?
In 1902, the House of Lords ruled that a company was within its rights to sue a trade union, meaning that it was impossible for trade unions to successfully strike
What did Joseph Chamberlain argue tariffs would achieve?
Protect British industry (create more jobs), provide revenue to fund social reform, strengthen the British Empire
Why did Conservative leadership not help the Conservative cause?
A.J Balfour was not sensitive to public opinion and did not understand the deep social issues of the time
What was the Lib-Lab Pact, 1903?
Liberals agreed that they would not oppose Labour candidates - Labour put up 50 candidates and won 29 seats in the 1906 election
Why was New Liberalism so different to Old Liberalism?
It stressed freedom from evils such as poverty and low wages and put emphasis on ‘safety nets’
What did T.H Green believe?
Liberalism should also give people the opportunity to be moral
What did J.A Hobson?
He believed that the British economy faced a problem of ‘under-consumption’
What did J.T Hobhouse?
He argued for ‘collectivism’ - governments should take action to spread wealth more fairly
What were the political factors for this reformist ideology?
Could rescue the Liberal party from its recent divisions, stopped concerns about the Labour movement, programme of social reform would block Conservatives
Why were there concerns about ‘national efficiency’?
Boer War had highlighted military and administrative problems and poor state of health, other countries were expanding economically?
Why was Henry Campbell-Bannerman influential to the Liberal Party?
He set Liberals on the path towards carrying out social reform and helped the vulnerable with early policies
Why was H. H Asquith influential to the Liberal Party?
He appointed both Lloyd George and Churchill which both began implementing radical changes
Why was David Lloyd George influential to the Liberal Party?
He wanted to improve the standard of living for the poor (Old Age Pensions Bill 1908)
Who was the Labour Party’s first chairman in Parliament?
Keir Hardie
What were some of the Labour Party’s biggest political problems?
New MPs were working men with limited formal education and experience, did not form a strong cohesive body, Keir Hardie could not hold them together
How did the Labour movement grow at a grassroots level?
Trade union membership grew from 900,000 to 1.5 million, local Labour societies grew from 83 to 158
What was the House of Lords termed due to its Conservative dominance?
‘Mr Balfour’s Poodle’
What bills did the Conservative House of Lords block?
1906 Education Bill, Scottish Land Bill, 1908 Licensing Bill
