Essay - Reasons Why Liberals Introduced Reforms Flashcards
Factor: social investigations
K - Before the Liberal government of 1906 –1914 most governments had followed a
policy of Laissez-faire as they believed poverty was very low (around 3%), and that most
poverty was the cause of the individual through alcohol, laziness and immorality. Charles Booth and Seebohm Rowntree published surveys at the end of the nineteenth century that both shocked and changed popular opinion on the causes of poverty. Booth conducted his research in London and found that 35% of the population was living in poverty, and Rowntree’s investigation discovered that the same was true for about 30% of the population in York.
A This proved that the government estimation of 3% of the population living in
poverty was completely inaccurate. Moreover, the reports dispelled the idea that most
poverty was self-inflicted, and that instead it was unemployment, sickness and low wages
that were primarily to blame. In addition, Rowntree’s report demonstrated that London
wasn’t a special case, and that it was likely that these levels of poverty existed right across
Britain.
There is no doubt that the investigations were crucial to the Liberal Reforms. They had a significant influence on the New Liberals, who were to take control after the 1906 election. They also had an effect on public opinion, which helped the Liberals to election victories in the first decade of the 20th Century. They provided the statistical evidence that the likes of Lloyd-George needed to justify the New Liberal agenda, and so could be seen as the most important factor in social reform.
E There is no doubt that the investigations were crucial to the Liberal Reforms. They had a significant influence on the New Liberals, who were to take control after the 1906 election. They also had an effect on public opinion, which helped the Liberals to election victories in the first decade of the 20th Century. They provided the statistical evidence that the likes of Lloyd-George needed to justify the New Liberal agenda, and so could be seen as the most important factor in social reform.
Factor: the threat of the Labour Party
K - labour gained lots of support from the working class as they promised policies to benefit them such as equal vote, better housing. This was a threat to liberals as labour took three seats in Parliament from them A - the liberals realised they had to make a move in an attempt to gain the working classes vote, which is why they introduce the reforms A+ - However some of the Liberal reforms were introduced at a time when the Labour Party were small before they gained much success so it is unfair to conclude that the reforms were a political tool against the Labour Party E - There is no doubt that the threat of the labour party had some influence on the social Liberal reforms but the driving force of liberals was to improve standards of living in Society as David Lloyd George wanted to go further than Parliament allowed.
Factor: new liberalism
K - The new Liberals emerged in 1906 such as David Lloyd George and Winston Churchill. They argued that they were circumstances in which it was right for the government to intervene in people’s lives. They represented poorer areas and so witnessed the first hand effects of poverty. Lloyd George in Wales and Churchill in Dundee
A - influential charming characters,and so were able to pass legislation despite the objections of many MPs, including many Liberals.
A+ couldn’t have argued without evidence (wouldn’t have been as convincing)
E Therefore, reports on poverty were vital for the Liberal Reforms, as their direct influence on ‘New Liberalism’ brought about fresh ideas and new attitudes towards poverty motivated by concern for the condition of the poor;
National security
K - During the 1899-1902 Boer War the British Army experienced great difficulty in finding fit young men to recruit as soldiers. One in three potential recruits were refused on medical grounds, which led to questions being asked about the physical condition of the working class male.Politicians worried that the poor condition of recruits would lead to the decline of Britain as a world power. A - important because the general poor health of the population made the Liberal Government realise that something had to be done to improve conditions in the country and so gave them an incentive to introduce the Liberal Reforms.]
K - It was also felt that some countries, especially Germany, were pulling ahead of Britain. Churchill and Lloyd George had visited Germany and were impressed by the effects of German welfare reforms, such as pensions and free school meals, on the nation’s health.
The Government realised that the reforms like free school meals or school medical inspections were needed to build up the national stock if Britain was going to remain as a strong world power.
A+ However, if it was only the quality of future soldiers that motivated the reforms, why then introduce pensions for the elderly, as was done through the 1908 Bill?
E The Boer War uncovered the true extent of the condition of the workers in industrial cities. The Royal Commission set up to investigate the health of children (future soldiers) recommended government intervention in school meals and medical inspections, and these were the first two major Liberal reforms enacted. Therefore, it can be argued that fears over national security were directly responsible for the initiation of the reform programme.
Factor:national efficiency
K Britain’s industrial dominance was in decline. Countries like the USA and especially Germany were pulling ahead of her.
Liberal politicians like Winston Churchill and Lloyd George had visited Germany (Britain’s main rival) and were impressed by the effects on the nation’s health by the range of welfare benefits introduced by the German Government – e.g. pensions and free school meals.
Germany had introduced reforms like pensions and school meals since the 1880s, and now had a fitter and better educated workforce.
A The concerns during the Boer War and over Germany were clear motives for reform because if Britain did not have a fit and healthy military then she would not be able to protect herself or her Empire.
A+ The reforms partly undermined Britain’s war preparations. Spending money on social policies took money from military spending, just as the arms race was increasing with the building of Dreadnoughts.
E National efficiency was similar in nature to national security. There was a fear that Britain’s preeminent status was being challenged – particularly by Germany – and that in order to compete, the government needs to intervene in peoples’ lives. It could be argued that national efficiency was vital to national security as without a strong industrial base, a country cannot build modern and powerful armed
forces with which to protect herself.
Factor: municipal socialism
K Socialism was the belief in economic equality, meaning the rich should pay to help the poor. Although most help for poor people came from charities, from the 1850s onwards other changes began to be made by the local (municipal) government.
This showed people a basic socialist idea in practice – redistributing wealth – and it worked!
It helped to pave the way for the Liberals to introduce reforms
A Long before the national government got involved in social reforms to improve the lives of citizens, local authorities were well on the way to doing so in many towns and cities. This established a precedent for government intervention at a national level.
A+ Long before the national government got involved in social reforms to improve the lives of citizens, local authorities were well on the way to doing so in many towns and cities. This established a precedent for government intervention at a national level.
E Municipal Socialism predated the investigations and New Liberalism, and had been successful in Glasgow since the 1860s, and Birmingham since the 1870s. It can therefore be argued to have been the origin of welfare reform.
