Impacts of WW1 on Lab Flashcards
why did the Lab nearly split in 1914?
over whether they should support the war effort or not
what did the party essentially believe that meant that they were opposed to war and militarism?
international cooperation of working class
which Lab leader refused to compromise and support the war, what did he receive from the press due to this?
- Ramsay MacDonald
- merciless criticism
what did most of the Lab movement support?
war
how was the Lab party rewarded for their support of war?
1916: Arthur Henderson became 1st ever Lab politician given place in cabinet
what combined with the backbone of the Lab Party was recognised as vital to the war effort?
cooperation of TU
how was Lab able to have influence on social policy?
they were part of the coalition
List Lab party influences (2)
- fixed wartime rents at prewar levels
- pushed for ‘fair play’; controls on profiteering, unrestricted market forces and for high taxation of war profits
in 1917, what was introduced which helped to stabilise food prices?
price controls
what was introduced in 1915?
excess profits duty
what did the Labs influence of legislation and policies do for them?
enhanced their credibility
what did Thorpe say how it made Lab ministers feel?
“…feel more confident of their party’s ability to use the machinery of state to bring about social change…”
when did Lab party end its wartime co-operation w/ DLG?
when Henderson was refused permission to attend a conference in Stockholm which all socialist parties of all the countries still fighting war were attending and which aimed to look at ways of bringing about a negotiated peace
when was the Stockholm Conference held?
1917
who initiated the Stockholm Conference?
new R gov
what did the R who held the Stockholm Conference propose?
all sides should abandon idea of war indemnities
what did F complain to DLG about?
Henderson’s planned attendance
what did DLG do about F’s complaint about Henderson’s planned attendance?
withdrew permission which he had originally given Henderson
As a result of being denied permission, what did Henderson do?
resigned from cabinet in Aug 1917
what did being freed from being part of gov allow Henderson to do? (2)
- reorganise the Lab party
- put together its policies for post-war B
what was the effects of Henderson’s aims of reorganising Lab party and putting together its policies for post-war B?
helped unite Lab party and put it in a strong position competing w/ other 2 main parties
what does WEC stand for?
War Emergency Committee
what did the WEC do?
- brought together delegates from every section of Lab movement, TUnionists, socialists, supporters and opponents of war
what was the WEC’S aim?
protect interests of w-c in war
who did the WEC work closely with?
gov
what sort of plans did WEC come up with? (2)
- how to run war more effectively
- campaigned for ‘conscription of riches’
what party adopted a new constitution in Feb 1918?
Lab
what was the aim of the new Labour Party constitution?
clearly state its aims and principles
list 5 aims and principles of the new Lab Party constitution (VECST)
- party was to be composed of various affiliated groups: TU, socialist societies, co-operative societies, trade councils, local Lab parties
- executive of 23 members would manage party — elected at annual party conference
- ‘means of production, distribution + exchange’ would be nationalised — Clause IV (4)
- surplus wealth redistributed eg by taxation
- TU would have more power — Lab Party would co-operate with them in formulation of policy
what did the Lab Party constitution bring?
more confidence
when did Lab Party ministers resign?
as soon as armistice had been announced in Nov 1918
