Liberal Reforms

Question 1

Before the liberal reforms what did people think was the main cause of poverty.

Answer 1

People thought that poverty was caused by: idleness
〰 drunkenness
〰 and other such moral weaknesses on the part of the working class.

Question 2

Who made independent major investigations into the cause of poverty in British cities.

Answer 2

Charles Booth and Seebohm Rowntreee

Question 3

What were the two major points that Booth and Rowntree’s studies agreed on.

Answer 3

〰 Up to 30% of the population of the cities were living in or below poverty levels
〰 The conditions were such that people could not pull themselves out of poverty by their own actions alone.
〰 Booth and Rowntree both identified that the main causes if poverty were illness, unemployment and age. Both the very young and very old were at risk of poverty.
〰 it changed people’s views that the government had to play a role.

Question 4

What does laissez faire mean.

Answer 4

It means to leave. This was the response to poverty and welfare of British citizens under the liberal party.

Question 5

Identify various motives and factors for the reforms being passed.

Answer 5

〰 national  efficiency 
   〰 the boer war (1899-1902)
   〰 popular socialism 
   〰 a new liberalism 
   〰 the Germna model
   〰 gas and water socialism

Question 6

Explain why national efficiency contributed to the reforms being passed.

Answer 6

〰 Fears that Britain was in decline as a world power led to the idea that Britain had to improve its national efficiency by taking steps to improve the quality of its workforce.
〰 if Britain was to compete and maintain its position as a world power then it had to be run efficiently with a strong, healthy well educated workforce encouraging reforms to be passed in order to achieve this.

Question 7

Explain why the Boer war contributed to the liberal reforms.

Answer 7

〰 during the war the British sparky had great difficulty finding fit young men to recruit as soldiers. 1 in 3 potential recruits was refused in medical grounds.
   〰  This led to the questions being asked about the physical condition of the working class male.
   〰  The government would have to do something to ensure basic health levels u king the population leading to reforms being passed.

Question 8

Explain popular socialism in contribution to the liberal reforms.

Answer 8

〰 The Labour Party had just been established