Liberal Reforms Flashcards
BK
The view prior to 1906 was that “self-help”, preached by Samuel Smiles, in addition to a laissez-faire attitude of previous governments.
However, this changed under Hugh Campbell-Bannerman and Herbert Asquith between 1906 and 1914 when the liberal government introduced a series of social reforms.
Booth and Rowntree’s Reports KU + ANALYSIS
Booth in 1886-1903 found nearly 30% of London’s population lived in extreme poverty, much worse than the socialist party had claimed.
Rowntree found in 1901, 28% of the York population lived in extreme poverty.
Analysis: This potentially could have led the Liberal government to introduce reforms because it is a widespread problem and the results were likely similar across Britain, Booth and Rowntree’s reports were both very credible.
Developed analysis: However some would disagree that this was the cause of the liberal reforms because the salvation army had been working since 1878 and the report by Rowntree was completed by 1903, yet nothing was done until 1906. Also, Booth and Rowntree were not politicians with the power to legislate.
Concerns about National Security and National Efficiency. KU + ANALYSIS
25% of volunteers were rejected because they were physically unfit to serve in the armed forces.
Churchill said “The American worker is stronger… I see little glory in an empire which rules the waves and is unable to flush its sewers’’.
Analysis: This potentially could have led the liberal Government to introduce reforms because there were concerns about whether Britain could survive a war or protect its empire against a far stronger enemy in the future if the nation’s fighting stock of young men was so unhealthy.
Developed analysis: However, some would disagree that this was the cause of the Liberal reforms because fears for the economy and the army had been raised in 1899 yet nothing was done until 1906. The School Meals Act did not come in until 1907.
Municipal Socialism KU + ANALYSIS
Some local authorities run by Liberals had taken on responsibility for providing clean piped water to houses, connecting houses to sewage systems, lighting, and cleaning the streets.
In Birmingham, Joseph Chamberlain used his influence as Mayor from 1873 to introduce social reforms such as bringing gas and water supplies under public ownership, clearing slums and developing of parks.
Analysis: This potentially could have led the Liberal government to introduce reform because in towns and cities, local authorities were showing to the national government what could be done to improve the lives of citizens. A trend towards social reforms and government intervention was in place as an example. The principle of using publicly raised taxes to help the poor work and benefit communities had been demonstrated.
Developed analysis: However, some would disagree that this was the cause of the Liberal reforms because despite the improvement social reforms did not figure in the 1906 election manifesto.
The New Liberals KU + ANALYSIS
Old Liberalism valued personal freedom and said that the government should have as little interference in the people’s lives as possible.
New Liberalism adapted to the idea that the key restriction of freedom was poverty, and that it was the duty of the government to prevent poverty through their intervention.
Analysis: This potentially could have led the liberal government to introduce reforms because younger liberals saw that change was needed.
Developed analysis: However, some would disagree that this was the cause of the liberal reforms because there was no mention of these reforms in the 1906 election manifesto. It was only when PM Bannerman died in 1908 that the door opened to new interventionist ideas championed by the likes of Lloyd-George and Churchill.
Conclusion
Political willingness to pass reforms was influenced by new ideas about state intervention and new Liberalism and this flowed from the reports of Booth and Rowntree. Fears of losing votes to the new Labour Party may have made the reforms a more pressing necessity. Meanwhile, concerns about Britain’s national security and position in the world made politicians recognize that a healthier working class was necessary but also confirmed the truth of Booth and Rowntree reports
Municipal socialism offered examples of what could be done to improve the lives of citizens.
However, without the reports of Booth and Rowntree making people aware of dire poverty in Britain perhaps the Liberals would not have responded with a program of reforms. These reports made people realize that poverty was often beyond an individual’s ability to help themselves and the concept of the deserving poor requiring assistance was at the core of the Liberal Reforms.
