Liberals Flashcards
What was poverty and distress like in the 1980s?
poor housing, low wages, unemployment, irregular work and little help for the sick and poor
In the 1890s over a third of over 60s are paupers and in 1906 over half over 65
What was the work and impact of the Social Reformers?
They produced undeniable proof of the scale of poverty
Charles Booth published ‘Life and Labour of the People in London’ from his research in London
Seebohm Rowntree studied York and published a report ‘Poverty: A Study of Town Life’
Both researchers found that 28 to 31% of the population lived around the poverty line (meaning unable to afford decent housing, food etc.)
What were the reasons for Liberal victory in the 1906 election?
All the reasons for reforms and tiredness of conservatives
What were the reasons for Liberal reforms - changing attitude?
The attitude to poverty was changed due to the revealed extent of poverty by social reformers, before poverty was blamed on the lazy individual, only help for work was at the workhouse which had horrible unwelcoming conditions, that people can work hard to achieve, very little charity, but after 1900 people realised it was caused by other factors and felt that the government should help
What were the reforms?
get it from notes
What were the reasons for Liberal reforms - poliical?
The Boer war (1899 RSA), half of the volunteers were unfit for services, worried government as they had a weak army
Dynamic individuals in Lloyd George and Churchill who believed strongly in reform to help the people and country, rivalry with Labour party in 1906 Labour gained 26 seats (Liberals wanted to win over those who would support Labour), copy Germanies growing power
