Grech: Extent of Social Change Flashcards
1
Q
What was the demographic change like in England and Wales between 1900-1914?
A
- The population of the UK expanded from 42 mil in 1901 to 45 mil in 1911, it was rapidly expanding
- in 1911 5-6 million people belonged to the middle and upper classes and earned 2/3rds of the national income, the working class took the rest.
- After 1900 there was a slow rise in prices but not wages. This meant that workers were worse off in 1914 than they had been in 1900. About 14% of the population lived below the poverty line.
- the infant mortality rate fell below 10% for the first time ever in 1916.
2
Q
How did Wales change demographically from the 1800s to 1914?
A
- Wales became a prime investment area for coal.
- in 1871 the population of Wales was 1.5mil, this rose to 2.5 mil by 1911.
- Wales experienced rural depopulation, people fled from the countryside to monmouthshire, and glamorgan, these two counties alone had 1.5 mil people by 1911.
- 90% of land in Wales was owned by small scale, backward tenant farmers.
- Wales experienced migration from England, this affected the language and culture.
3
Q
What were the living conditions in Wales like?
A
- Wales lagged behind the rest of the world in terms of sub standard working class housing, in urban overcrowding, in its health and hospital services, in the levels of industrial disease among workers, poverty and ill health among the old, and malnutrition among children.
- In 1911, the five major boroughs of South Wales showed a death rate of 380 per children 1000 children born. The average across England and Wales was 17.5.
- However substandard living conditions could also be found in the cities, such as Cardiff and Swansea. Splott and Butetown in Cardiff were as deprived as areas of merthyr, particularly the Irish communities of these areas.
4
Q
What was Industry like in Britain 1900 - 1914??
A
- For a few decades British manufactured goods dominated world trade. No other country was able to compete with Britain, and she became known as the workshop of the world. Britains power depended on the success of its industry and commerce (trade).
- Britain’s most important industries before 1914 were cotton and wool textiles, coalmining, iron and steel, heavy engineering and shipbuilding - all heavy industry.
- However Britain was not keeping up with the US or Germany because they were slow to adapt to new techniques and technology. the US overtook Britain as the leading coal producer in the world.
5
Q
Why was Britain’s growth slowing down?
A
- Britain’s industrial lead over her competitiors was being reduce; in some industries Britain had lost first place and was making a poor showing in some new industries.
- Investment in more ‘backward’ countries was resulting in the establishment of industries which would soon challenge Britain’s
- There was protest from trade unions in Britain because employers were forced to resist pressure to pay higher wages to workers in order to remain competitive.
6
Q
Why was Britain lagging behind in the electrical, power and motor car industries?
A
- Britain was still doing well in heavy industry and saw little reason to change.
- British companies were also smaller than American or German ones and so often could not afford the new, expensive machinery.
- There was a shortage of expertise. Germany produced about 3000 engineering graduates per year whilst it was only a fraction of this in Britain.
7
Q
What are some key points in Industry to note about Wales?
A
- Coal production in Uk soared from 16 mil in 1870s, to 56.8 mil by 1913
- Labour force of Welsh mines were 250 k men
- Wales supplied 1/5th of the worlds entire coal production
- by 1912, Welsh tinplate industry hit a peak production of 848,000 tonnes of plate
- 1889, welsh slate peaked with 16,000 men employed
8
Q
What was the 1913 Senghenyndd mining disaster?
A
- An explosion at Lancaster Pit caused 439 men to be killed
- The welsh speaking community were devastated by the tragedy as they had lost a generation of workers
- The coal owners had ignored warnings of the dangers in the mine only a short time before
9
Q
What were the main reforms by the Liberals from 1906 - 1914?
A
THE YOUNG: - School meals 1906 - Medical Inspections 1907 - Childrens charter 1908 THE OLD: - Pensions THE UNEMPLOYED: - unemployed workmens Act 1905 - Labour exchange 1909 - National Insurance Act (1911)
10
Q
What did the Liberals do for the young? How effective were they?
A
- School meals 1906, Medical Inspections 1907, Childrens Charter 1908
- By 1914, 14 million meals were provided in total (1906 = 3 million) however less than half of all local authorities provided meals in 1912.
- Detected a great deal of medical problems e.g. 30% of children were found to be ‘verminous’
- Although grants were being given to some local authorities by 1912, there was no compulsion to treat the health problems found.
11
Q
What did the Liberals do for the Old? How effective were they?
A
- Pensions for the elderly, Charles Booth supporting the idea, NZ, Denmark and Germany had already introduced it.
- Pensions becomes a right, collected at Post Office, and people avoided it being called pauper (poor law)
- Pension wasn’t enough
- 1900 the life expectancy of men was 47 and women 55, so only very few were able to live long enough to collect pension.
12
Q
What did the Liberals do for the Unemployed? Was it effective?
A
- Unemployed workmens Act 1905, Labour exchanges 1909, National Insurance Act (for sick and disabled, families not eligible to claim) 1911
- NIA; compulsory for all earning under 160 pounds a year
- Did not cover death of insured worker or hospital treatment
- workers families not eligible for treatment.
PART 2 (Workers) - only covered 2.3 million workers
- only compulsory in certain trades
- 1909 Labour exchanges set up
- 3000 people found work through this every day by 1914.
13
Q
What are some positive viewpoints of the Liberal Reforms?
A
- The Liberals tried to tackle the key cause of poverty and provide safeguards against old age, sickness, etc.
- Some historians - C Cross, G williams, EJ Evan argue they were the beginning of the modern welfare state
- By our standards the forms appear limited but they were radical for the time and the government was accepting responsibility for the welfare of its citizens.
14
Q
What are some negative viewpoints of the Liberal reforms?
A
- The liberals did nothing to tackle other important social issues, e.g. extending education provision, tackling slum housing or providing free medical treatment
- Some historians, EJ Evans, ME Rose argued the reforms were too limited e.g. only covered certain people, and benefits were only payable for a fixed amount of time.
15
Q
What were the social consequences of world war one?
A
- During the war, the working classes experienced full employment, higher wages and greater controls on rents, which left most better off
- stronger notions of class equality emerged and all men over 21 received the vote in 1918
- rises in income tax led to a reduction in living standards for many of the middle class, who felt under threat from labour’s egalitarian ideas about redistributing wealth through taxation.
