Development of the Labour Party 1893-1914

Question 1

Revolutionary American socialist and book

Answer 1

Henry George- Progress and Poverty [1879]

Question 2

First groups in the 1800s that were the predecessors to Labour- who was a famous person that was a member?

Answer 2

[1880s]
* Social Democratic Federation (SDF) → William Morris
* The Fabians → H.G. Wells, Beatrice Webb

Question 3

What and when was formed that united all the trade unions?

Answer 3

the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in 1868

Question 4

How many members were there in the TUC by 1900?

Answer 4

2 million

Question 5

Who were radical activists in the socialist movement at the turn of the 20th century?

Answer 5

• Ben Tillet
• Tom Mann
• Kier Hardy

Question 6

Why did the Labour party grow?

Answer 6

• 1890s saw a growth in employers federations that wanted to weaken unions’ powers
• Employers had brought in new machinery that reduced the demand for skilled labour
• Increasingly bitter industrial disputes → 1897-1898 over longer hours and wage reductions, employers united imposing a lock-out of workers
• Courts were sympathetic to employers - Lyon v Wilkins 1898
• Increasing number of ILP members were voted in to local councils in the 1890s
• More contact between socialists and trade unionists

Question 7

When was the Lib-Lab pact?

Answer 7

1903

Question 8

Successes of Labour 1906-1914

Answer 8

• Liberals pass the Trade Disputes Act that gives official power to the unions as a response to the Taff Vale case [1906]
• More trade unions affiliated to Labour e.g. the Miners’ Union in 1909
• 1912 Mines Act gave miners a minimum wage

Question 9

What happened that meant a decline in Labour representation in parliament?

Answer 9

1910- 47 seats → 1914- 36 seats
* Many disliked Lib-Lab pact
* Liberals hadn’t passed lots of Labour requests

Question 10

What challenges were trade unions facing in 1900?

Answer 10

• Developing technology meant that there was a decrease in demand for skilled tradesmen
• Encouragement of peice work- being pade for amount produced
• Growing strength of employers associations
• Legal challenges to unions’ rights- Taff Vale case
• Economic slump of 1908-09 caused unemployment and high cost of living

Question 11

Improvements for trade unions 1900-1914

Answer 11

• More new unions being formed
• New more radical leaders
• New ideas of using unions for political ends
• Increased number of trade union members → 2.5 million in 1910 to over 4 million in 1914

Question 12

Statistics of industrial unrest 1910-1912 in working days lost due to strike action

Answer 12

1910- 9.9 million
1911- 10.6 million
1912- 40 million

Question 13

Examples of strikes that led to violence or had larger impacts in the industrial unrest 1910-14

Answer 13

• Tonypandy riots 1910- South wales → coal strike with attacks on shops, 1 killed with 500 injured- 2000 soldiers sent
• Railway strikes in 1911 when Britain was on brink of war with Germany
• Dockers’ strikes affected food supplies
• 1913 had 1500 different strikes
• Children strikes → strikes ‘fashionable’

Question 14

What legislation was brought through in 1912 as a result of pressure from unions?

Answer 14

1912 Mines Act established a minimum wage for miners

Question 15

Why was the 1910-14 industrial unrest not really in support of Labour?

Answer 15

It was more discontent over the workers rights and conditions than after political change.