Liberal Crisis 1906 Election

Question 1

Who won the 1906 election and by how much

Answer 1

Landslide victory for the Liberals, 401 seats to 157 Conservatives

Question 2

Who lead the liberals

Answer 2

Ministers who were highly able, DLG and Churchill

Question 3

Why did the Boer war Impact the 1906 election

Answer 3

• war lasted 3 years against farmers
• cost £250 million
• 1/3 not fit to serve in the army

Question 4

How did the 1902 Ed act impact the 1906 election

Answer 4

• Anglican and Catholic schools funded by local taxes
• Nonconformists angry as the funded schools which they object
• Viewed to advantage Church of England

Question 5

How did the 1904 Licensing act impact the 1906 election

Answer 5

• Aimed to reduce the number of Pubs
• The act compensated brewers and pubs for loss of license
• Angered the Temperance groups

Question 6

How did Chinese Labour impact the 1906 election

Answer 6

• Damaged conservative reputation with TUs as they imported Chinese labourers into camps in South Africa
• Caused Moral outrage, TUs feared this would happen in Britain

Question 7

How did Taff Vale impact the 1906 election

Answer 7

• Taff Vale Railway took a TU to court, HOL said company could sue TUs
• Made strike action impossible
• Presented idea that Conservative were against workers
• Encouraged the support of a labour group (new liberalism)

Question 8

How did Neglect of social reform impact the 1906 election

Answer 8

• Poverty exposed by Boer war, Conservatives did very little

- Increased support for liberals who campaigned for reforms

Question 9

How did Tariff reform impact the 1906 election

Answer 9

• Biggest misjudgment by the conservatives
• wanted low tariffs on empire goods ‘Imperial preference’ and high tariffs on other imported goods
• feared by workers that it make food more expensive and living standards would fall
• United the liberal party through Free trade and the party which protected cheap food

Question 10

How did Conservative Leadership impact the 1906 election

Answer 10

• Balfour lacked political skill

- Not sensitive to public opinion

Question 11

How did the Lib-Lab pact impact the 1906 election

Answer 11

Liberals agreed they wouldn’t opposed Labour in 30 constituencies where they were likely to beat the conservatives