Effectiveness of liberal reforms Flashcards
Introduction effectiveness liberals
Attitudes towards poverty in the 19ths century were laissez-faire. Although the liberals had not been elected in 1906 on a social reform manifesto, the overwhelming evidence regarding the scale of poverty, as well as developing concerns about the health of the nation (as an empire, britain could ill afford to let her economic lead slip), led to a series of limited social reforms that were introduced by the liberal party.
Factors
These reforms focused on the young, the old, the sick, the unemployed and the employed.
Line of argument.
This essay will argue that the reforms were only partially effective in meeting the needs of the British people.
The young effectiveness liberals
KU:
In 1906 the liberal government introduced the school meals act which authorised local councils to raise local taxes to fund providing free school meals to the poorest children. In 1907 the medical inspections act made medical inspection of children compulsory and a child was to receive 3 inspections in their school career
Analysis:
The school meals act in 1906 was good at helping children and tackling malnutrition because it guaranteed one nutritional meal a day. The medical inspection act was good at helping children and tackling ill health as it guaranteed children would have 3 formal inspections throughout their school career which would identify health issues.
Developed analysis:
However as it was a voluntary scheme very few local authorities actually provided these school meals and by 1914 only 25% were doing so. The medical inspections act did not offer treatment so it was not having a real impact.
The old effectiveness liberals
KU:
Under the pensions act of 1908, people over the age of 70 could get between 1 and 5 shilling a week depending on income. You could receive this if you earned under £160 a year and pensions were collected at the post office.
Analysis:
The old age pension act of 1908 was good at helping the elederly and gave them a guaranteed income in old age. The fact that pensions were issued in post offices was good because it removed the stigma associated with receiving a benefit.
Developed analysis:
However arguably many who were too old to work received no help as they were issued to those aged 70+. In the worst industrial slums the life expectancy of the poorest was around 45
The unemployed effectiveness liberals
KU:
Part 2 of the national insurance act provided 15 weeks of cover of 7 shilling a week for the unemployed. 2.25 million people used this and these benefits could be collected at the labour exchanges.the labour exchanges of 1909 helped people find jobs and by 1914, 1 million people had used these to find a job
Analysis:
The 1911 national insurance scheme part 2 did provide financial support to those who lost their jobs through the cyclical nature of employment that was associated with their industry and provided a safety net to help them avoid poverty when in between jobs. Labour exchanges from 1909 helped to find work for the unemployed and assisted up to 3000 people a day to escape joblessness.
Developed analysis:
However national insurance offered only a temporary measure as it only provided help for 15 weeks before payments were cut. Socialists criticised it as the compulsory payments associated with the national insurance scheme were a draw on the meagre wages of workers. A lot of work that was advertised in labour exchanges was low paid and people did not really escape from poverty.
Conclusion effectiveness liberals
In conclusion there were many reasons why the liberal social reforms might be described as being effective to a limited extent between 1906 and 1914. Even though the reforms to help the young could be said to be effective in meeting their needs because children would not be hungry at school and illnesses could be identified, the effectiveness of these reforms could be challenged because many local authorities were not providing free school meals and there was not treatment available. Even though the reforms to help the elderly could be said to be effective in meeting their needs because it provided cover to those who were too old to work, the effectiveness of these reforms could be challenged because people were often unable to work earlier than the age of 70. Even though the reforms to help the unemployed could be said to be effective because it made it easier for people to find jobs and provided cover, the effectiveness of these reforms could be challenged because some people could not afford to pay for the insurance and the jobs available were often low paid. Overall, the liberal social welfare reforms of 1906-14 were only effective to a limited extent in meeting the needs of the British people. This is because the reforms provided some help for the deserving poor in order that they could help themselves and laid the foundations for the later welfare state. Equally the reforms had serious
limitations in dealing with poverty and need, such as whether or not people could afford the insurance or were eligible for it.
