Effects of the Liberal Reforms

Question 1

What did Lloyd-George want to do in 1909?

Answer 1

• He wanted to raise taxes to pay for the reforms
• It was designed to tax the rich more heavily than the poor
• Income tax would go from 5 to 6 pence
• Tax on alcohol and spirits would go up
• Called the People’s Budget

Question 2

Why did the Liberals have to call for a general election?

Answer 2

• The People’s Budget was passed through the House of Commons
• It was rejected at the House of Lords where the Conservatives held the majority
• Liberals had to call for a general election to show they ha the support of the public
• The Liberals won the election and reintroduced the Budget where it was eventually accepted

Question 3

What did the gov. do to make sure this crisis wouldn’t happen again?

Answer 3

• Parliament Act of 1911 : Lords were no longer allowed to reject financial bills, but could reject other bills twice

Question 4

What problems were left unsolved by the Reforms?

Answer 4

• None of the schemes were designed to help the entire population
• The National Insurance Act part 1 didn’t cover the worker’s family
• The Reforms didn’t replace the Poor Law: workhouses weren’t abolished until 1930.

Question 5

How had attitudes changed towards helping the poor?

Answer 5

• This was the first time that taxes and responsibility were put into helping the poor
• The schemes were all cross country
• Large numbers of people benefited so less had to rely on the old Poor Law