Impact on Politics

Question 1

What was the evidence to suggest there was growth of radicalisation in Scotland?

Answer 1

1. Weirs engineering strike = Objected to start shell production as many were anti-war
2. Response to the munitions act 1915 = CWC protested against MA 1915 AND gov thinks there is a hotbed of radical socialists.
3. CWC rent strikes = McLean and Kirkwood organise protests for introduction of rent restriction act
4. George Square Demonstrations 1919 = tanks called in to stop as gov concerned about possible revolution
5. Visit by Lloyd George = bad reception and a demand for ending of dilution and to repeal munitions act.
6. By 1922 40 out of 43 Labour candidates from radical wing of ILP

Question 2

What was the evidence to suggest that radicalisation in Scotland had been exaggerated?

Answer 2

1. Labour and trade unionists were popular and supported war= suggested little support for radicalisation from left wing
2. Strikers in Glasgow were concerned about high rents and dilution of jobs = they were not looking to start a revolution
3. By june 1915, over 20% of clyde workers had joined army and many more were involved in war effort = therefore didn’t suggest a massively popular revolution when many depended on the war.

Question 3

Describe the impact the war had on the political landscape.

Answer 3

LIBERAL PARTY:

1. Split due to some wanting war
2. DORA split party as people claimed it took away too many personal liberties (conscription and rationing)
3. SHELL SCANDAL = coalition gov 1915 as liberals deemed to be mismanaging war effort. ASQUITH REPLACED BY LLOYD GEORGE
4. 1924 only 8MP’s left in Scotland

LABOUR PARTY:

1. 1922 = 2nd biggest party
2. 1924 = 34 MP’s in Scotland

CONSERVATIVES:

1. gained votes from the decline of the liberals
2. usually the middle class and rural areas holding the majority of the vote.

Question 4

Describe the support for unionism and the decline in Scottish identity after the War.

Answer 4

1. Little support for SNP after being formed in 1928. = due to patriotic support for UK post-war
2. during 1920’s all major political parties supported the union
3. Slight revival in Scottish Literature (SUNSET SONG) = however made no real impact
4. Scottish Culture and identity eroded by the spread of ‘englishness’ = all accents no longer regionalised.