Liberal success and Conservative failure

Question 1

Outline the key events in a timeline

Answer 1

1899 - Boer war
1900 - General election - victory for unionist gov
1901 - Taff Vale case
1902 - GB victory in Boer war 
           Salisbury resigns + Balfour replaces him 
           Education act
           Chinese slavery (1901-4)
1903 - Chamberlain's Tariff reform
           Lib-Lab pact
1904-  Licensing Act
1905-  Balfour resigns + Bannerman -> primeminister
1906-  Liberal win general election

Question 2

Outline the events of the Boer war

Answer 2

• Chamberlain wanted to unite empire politically + develop econ
• Cecil Rhodes wanted to expand GB influence Africa
• states of Transvaal + Orange free state (Boers) in way
• settlement between B Gov + GB workers not reached
  Oct 1899 - President Kruger of Transvaal declared war on GB
  GB won 1902

Question 3

What were the consequences of the Boer War?

Answer 3

Political - Empire was secure + expanded
Public opinion of war for empire changed
National efficiency become a main concern
Economic - Cost 200-250 mill pounds -> increased national debt by 25%
Social - Huge loss of life - 26k women + children died in conc. camps 22k GB + 7k B soldiers died

Question 4

What was the Taff Vale judgement?

Answer 4

In 1901 -> strike on Taff Vale Railway in South Wales
company sued union + won so TU paid 23k pounds
- meant that no one could strike
- decision not reversed but “royal commission” set up
TU + WC upset by this