Chapter 5

Question 1

When did Britain declare war on Germany?

Answer 1

4th August 1914

Question 2

Why did the many Liberal crises seem to vanish?

Answer 2

Both Irish Nationalist and Unionist leaders urged men to join the army and suffragettes became part of the war effort

Question 3

What did the Defence of the Realm Act cover?

Answer 3

Control of information (censorhsip and spies), protection of important centres of communication, regulation of people’s lives, increased powers to detain

Question 4

Why was Asquith forced to accept a party coalition?

Answer 4

Military disaster at Gallipoli and a scandal over the lack of shells arriving at the Western front

Question 5

What roles did Conservatives hold in the wartime coalition?

Answer 5

The Colonial Office and the Treasury

Question 6

Who took over as Secretary of War in 1916?

Answer 6

Lloyd George

Question 7

What were some of the political setbacks the coalition experienced in 1916?

Answer 7

Easter Rising, the failure to defeat the Germans in the Battle of Jutland, the British casualties in the Battle of the Somme

Question 8

When did Asquith resign from the coalition and who replaced him?

Answer 8

3rd December - replaced by Lloyd George on 7th December

Question 9

How did Lloyd George’s coalition government change how Britain was governed?

Answer 9

A small war cabinet of five, top jobs held by Conservatives, new Cabinet Secretariat, new government ministries

Question 10

Why was Lloyd George in a turbulent political position?

Answer 10

Many Liberals viewed Lloyd George as a traitor and his support was reliant on Conservatives

Question 11

How was the Labour Party able to have influence in the coalition?

Answer 11

Arthur Henderson became the first Labour politician in cabinet, price controls were introduced and pre-war housing prices were fixed

Question 12

Why did Arthur Henderson resign from cabinet in August 1917?

Answer 12

Henderson was refused permission to attend a conference in Stockholm which socialist countries were attending

Question 13

What did the Labour Party’s 1918 Constitution aim for?

Answer 13

Labour Party was composed of various trade groups, an executive of 23 would manage the party, trade unions would have more power

Question 14

What was Clause IV?

Answer 14

The Labour Party’s idea that the ‘means of production’ would be nationalised and state-owned

Question 15

What did Baldwin call Lloyd George and Baldwin’s partnership?

Answer 15

‘The most perfect partnership in political history’

Question 16

How was Bonar Law an effective politician during the war?

Answer 16

As Chancellor, he raised funds to pay for the war, he set interest rates at 5%

Question 17

How was the war coalition viewed in the country?

Answer 17

It was regarded as both patriotic and effective

Question 18

How many seats and what percentage of the votes did the Conservatives win in the 1918 election?

Answer 18

344 seats and 38.5% seats

Question 19

How many seats did the Liberal party win in the 1918 election - and who lost theirs?

Answer 19

62 - Asquith lost his seat

Question 20

What factors influenced the Conservative’s electoral victory?

Answer 20

The nationalistic mood in the country, electoral reform, economic growth in the South of England

Question 21

How was Lloyd George in a weak political position following the 1918 election?

Answer 21

His power was fully reliant on his former political enemies (the Conservatives)

Question 22

What measures did the Lloyd George coalition introduce post-war?

Answer 22

The 1918 Education Act raised the school leaving age to 14 and increased teacher’s wages, the 1919 Housing Act built 170,000 subsidised houses, 1920 Unemployment Act covered 12 million workers

Question 23

What economic problems did Lloyd George’s post-war coalition face?

Answer 23

A period of economic depression, Addison left Ministry of Health, 86 million working days lost, Bonar Law resigned

Question 24

What two crises weakened Lloyd George’s political position?

Answer 24

The ‘Honours Scandal’ and the ‘Chanak Affair’

Question 25

Whose notable withdrawal of support from Lloyd George destroyed his political support?

Answer 25

Bonar Law