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A Level History > More Y13 Brits' content > Flashcards

More Y13 Brits' content Flashcards

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1
Q

Reactions to May Committee’s report/lead-up to National Government formation…

(Jul 1931)

A
  • Lab members + trade unionists wanted progressive taxation rather than govt. spending cuts.
  • Some thought this economic crisis was good as it was seen as paving the way for socialism.
  • However, MacDonald adhered to this report + MacDonald cut unemployment benefits, dividing cabinet!
  • (Aug 1931) BoE borrow from French + U.S banks! ‘Cabinet Economy Committee’ members such as MacDonald, Snowden and J.H Thomas agreed on £56m benefit cuts + other party leaders reject this, as they were seen as too small.
  • Then, MacDonald + Snowden consult TUC leaders, TUC reject all cuts and all May Committee’s reports, (putting high pressure on Lab).
  • (23rd Aug) Lab cabinet had just 11 to 9 votes for high unemployment benefit cuts, and this vote result split the Labour cabinet, with MacDonald not being able to lead it anymore.
  • (24 Aug) MacDonald hands in his resignation to the King.
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2
Q

Some factors affecting the Libs’ 1906 election victory/reasons for their 1906-1914 reforms…

(Libs win 49% of votes and Lab win 43.6% votes).

A
  • The Boer War
  • 1902 Education Act
  • 1904 Education Act
  • Chinese Labour issue
  • The Taff Vale Case
  • Neglect of social reform
  • Cons’ leadership
  • Lib-Lab Pact (1903)
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3
Q

Boer War and the 1906 election…

(How this caused Cons’ support to decline)

A
  • 80% of volunteers rejected due to malnutrition.
  • Cost the govt. a very high £210m, and high death toll.

- Libs gain support by saying the Cons’ neglected poverty.

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4
Q

1902 Education Act and the 1906 election…

This Act was set by the Cons

A
  • (Before 1902) Anglican and Catholic schools were church-funded.
  • 1902 Education Act meant all schools had to be funded by local rates, (by Cons).
  • This was good however, Nonconformists were unhappy with their taxes going towards funding CoE schools.
  • This saw Nonconformists go to the Liberal Party.

Nonconformists are Protestants who opposed CoE beliefs.

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5
Q

1904 Licensing Act and the 1906 election…

A
  • This aimed to reduce no. of pubs, displeasing Nonconformists, as pub owners had to be compensated due to licence cancellations.
  • Many Nonconformists voted Libs, then Cons after Home Rule, then back to Libs.
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6
Q

Chinese Labour issue and 1906 election…

A
  • During the Boer War, Chinese labourers were used by the British, and they were treated poorly.
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7
Q

1906 election and the Taff Vale case…

(In Wales) During Cons’ tenure in Jul 1901

A
  • (Jul 1901) Dispute between Taff Vale Railway Company and the railway workers’ trade union.
  • Railway company take railway workers’ trade union to court, to demand loss of profits due to strikes.
  • (1902) HoL ruled that a company was allowed to sue a trade union.
  • Trade unions were displeased with this, as this would prevent successful strikes.
  • This made Cons look like they were against workers, encouraging a Labour group in Parliament.
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8
Q

What entailed the Labour Party Constitution?

(Feb 1918)

A
  • Redistribution of surplus wealth.
  • Clause IV meant nationalisation of production, distribution and exchange.
  • More trade union power.
  • More different groups (trade unions, trade councils etc).
  • Executive of 23 members would manage the party.

- Trade union membership doubled to 8m during the war.

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9
Q

1906 election and neglect of social reform…

A
  • Boer War contributed heavily to poverty reasons, and the new LRC were campaigning for sweeping reforms.
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10
Q

1906 election and tariff reform campaign…

(During Cons’ tenure)

A
  • (1903) Chamberlain wanted to reinforce tariffs, (lower tariffs for imports from empire).

AKA ‘imperial preference’.

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11
Q

1906 election and Cons’ leadership

A
  • Cons’ leader Balfour lacked political skill, and perhaps didn’t understand social issues enough.
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12
Q

What’s laissez-faire?

New v old Liberalism

A
  • Translates to self-help
  • The belief that govts. should intervene as little as possible with people and businesses.
  • (1859) Samuel Smiles wrote about this.
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13
Q

1906 election and the Lib-Lab pact…

(Lib-Lab Pact of 1903)

A
  • The Lib-Lab pact meant that the Liberals and Labour would not oppose eachother in the next 30 constituencies.

Libs and Labour had a similar approach wtih free trade.

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14
Q

Some early Libs’ intellectuals and their ideas…

(Part of ‘New Liberalisim’)

A

T.H Green - Liberalism would give people a chance to be morale.
J.A Hobson - People should buy more to keep empire thriving.
J.T Hobhouse - Argued for ‘collectivism’ and even wealth distribution.
—> This may have somehwat rescued Libs’ from their internal rifts.

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15
Q

What entailed the Osbourne Judgement?

(Liberal MP Osbourne wanted his union to demand a political levy).

A

-> Disputes over MPs’ pay.
-> (1911) MPs paid salary of £400.
- (1913) Trade Union Act allowed trade unions to levy money on its members.

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16
Q

Problems for Labour after 1906…

LRC renamed to Labour, including Keir Hardie and Ramsey Macdonald.

A
  • 30 MPs did not form a strong, clear body, as it had other group members.
  • Despite being a good leader, Hardie coudln’t make a Labour a strong force within the HoC.
  • New MPs were inexperienced for HoC.
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17
Q

What did the People’s Budget entail?

(1909)

A
  • Chancellor of the Exchequer Lloyd George introduced some terms…
  • An inheritance tax on properities worth over £5k
  • Tax on cars according horsepower
  • Tax on land-selling profits.
  • Super tax for incomes over £5k.
  • 3d per gallon tax on petrol.

People’s Budget cost the Libs approx. £16m.

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18
Q

What was the constitutional crisis of (1909-1911)?

A
  • Cons HoL v Libs HoC.
  • The 1st one was over the People’s Budget and the 2nd one was over the Parliament Act.
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19
Q

Details of the 1st Constitutional Crisis…

(1909-1910)

A
  • Cons saw People’s Budget as an attack on the rich.
  • (Nov 1909) HoL vetoed the Budget, and a general election in (Jan 1910) would be called.
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20
Q

Details of Jan 1910 election…

A
  • (Libs) - 275 seats.
  • (Unionists) - 273 seats.
  • (Irish Nationalists) - 82 seats.
  • (Labour) - 40 seats.
  • LG dubbed this election ‘The Peers versus the People’.
  • Cons’ argued for import taxes for Budget costs.
  • Libs relied on Irish Nationalists for support, and the Irish wanted Cons HoL weakened in returnn to achieve Home Rule.

Libs’ win, with a HoC majority for the Budget, HoL pass the budget.

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21
Q

Details of the 2nd Constitutional Crisis…

(1910-1911) and the 1911 Parliament Act.

A

1910 Parliament Bill:
- HoL cannot amend/reject passed HoC money bills.
- Max. period between general elections reduced from 7 yrs to 5 yrs.
- However, this Bill itself had to be passed by the HoL.
——————————————–
-> So Asquith asked the King to get the Libs and Cons to agree on a solution without new peers.
-> Cons’ agreed to reform HoL, but still wanted to veto constitution chance, (to block Home Rule).
-> So due to the Irish pressuring Asquith to reject this, the king created enough Libs’ peers, leading to the Dec 1910 election.

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22
Q

Details of the Dec 1910 election…

(Parliament Act)

A
  • (Libs) 272 seats
  • (Unionists) 272 seats
  • (Irish Nationalists) 84 seats
  • (Labour) 42 seats.
  • The Libs relied on Irish and Labour for support.
  • (1911) HoC passed Parliament Bill, and then eventually in the HoL.
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23
Q

Impacts of the Constitutional Crisises…

A
  • Divided Cons, with BL replacing Balfour as leader.
  • Brits’ constitution made democratic.
24
Q

Details/reasons for industrial unrest…

(1906-1914)

A
  • (1906-1914) Cost of living by 14%.
  • Gap between rich and poor was widening.
  • (1913) 2 killed in Dublin transport strike (Home Rule link?)
  • Labour may have not given enough support to workers, leading to strikes.
    -> (Nov 1910-Jun 1911) Miners strike in Sotuh Wales.
    -> National coal miners’ strike.
    (1914) Triple Alliance of doctors, miners and railways workers formed.
25
Q

Events/details of suffrage movement

(1906-1914)

A
  • (1911) National League for opposing Suffrage movement is founded
  • (1909) NUWSS tactics entail arson attacks.
  • (1907) NUWSS hold open-air rally in Hyde Park.
  • (1913) ‘Cat and Mouse’ Act. - This meant imprisoned women were force fed.
  • (1909-1914) NUWSS rises from 12k to 50k.
26
Q

Some details about Home Rule…

Addtionally, Edward Carson and the Ulster Unionists.

A
  • Opposed by the Cons, and they supported the Ulster Unionists.
  • (Before 1911) Unionists relied on HoL to veto Home Rule Bill, so Unionists took action.
    -> (1912) Unionist leader Carson drew up Ulster Covenant,
    -> Ulster Covenant passed in HoC but not in HoC, and the Ulster Volunteer Force was made.
    -> (Mar 1914) Curragh Mutiny saw British officers threatening to resign rather than fight Ulster resistance, (consisted of General Gough and 157 cavalry officers).
27
Q

What was the Orthodox view held by Chancellor of the Exchequer Snowden following the Wall Street Crash?

A
  • Govt. should keep free trade, balanced budgets and gold standard.
  • Keep confidence of investors and bankers by cutting govt. spending to prevent it exceeding income.
  • Perhaps lowering interest rates to boost investors’ confidence.
28
Q

What were the 1929 election Party messages?

A
  • Cons’ were ‘Safety First’, with Baldwin not introducing unemployment with no radical ideas.
  • Labour’s were a ‘Socialist Commonwealth, with MacDonald wanting to reorganise industry for everyone’s interests, (after 1927) union leaders started to follow Labour to change via Parliament rather than strikes.
  • Libs’ were ‘we can conquer unemployment’. + They came up with radical but not non-socialist ways to reduce unemployment.
    —> LG had £40k to spend for this election, and worked with Keynes for an economic strategy.

(Cons with Baldwin)

29
Q

1929 election results/details…

A

Cons - 260 seats
Lab - 288 seats
Libs - 59 seats
-> Lab have HoC seats majority for the first time, (Labour replace Libs as Cons’ main rival!).
- Labour successes due to:
-> MacDonald moderate policies aided him to gain trust.
-> Baldwin’s ‘Safety First’ appeal unconvincing as not many saw any direct threat.
-> Unemployment main issue, and Cons were seen as not able to combat this with their policies.
-> Libs gain 5m votes, however, just 59 seats, (first past the post), some say ‘economic conservatism’ victorious over ‘economic radicalism’.
-> ‘Flapper vote’ due to more moderate young women voting.

Lab victory meant Balwin resigned and MacDonald PM for second time.

30
Q

Brits’ situation by 1929:

A
  • Wall Street Crash saw decline in staples, high unemployment (varied with regions).
  • (By 1929) Lab on the rise, Cons had heavy press support and faced challenges by Lab.
  • Social changes, e.g. radios rise, new inventions, e.g. cars and kitchen applainces, more range of entertainment etc.
  • U.S social and economic influence rampant in Britain e.g. cinemas, Wall Street Crash, etc.
  • (1928) Women have same voting rights as men.

(Unemployment never under 1m during 1920s!)

31
Q

Domestic policies under Labour govt.

(MacDonald appoints Bondfield as first woman cabinet minister).

A
  • (1930) Housing Act increased house buliding subsidies and new slum clearances + Coal Mines Act reduced miners’ working hours from 8 hrs to 7 1/2 hrs’ shifts.
  • (1931) Land Utilisation Act and Agricultural Marketing Act est. marketing boards to aid producers, by allowing them to fix prices and arrange supplies more efficiently.
  • (1931) London Transport Bill saw Herbert Morrisson est. a public corporation for cheap and efficient transport to London.
  • Despite unemployment benefits, there were plans to repeal 1927 Trade Disputes Act.

London Transport Bill becomes law in 1933.

32
Q

Stats on Wall Street Crash for Brits’:

A
  • (1929-1931) Brits’ exports fell by half.
  • (1931-1932) Unemployment rose from 2.5m to 3m.
33
Q

Response to Wall Street Crash/Great Depression (Economic Advisory Council till ‘Mosley Memorandum’).

A
  • (1930) MacDonald set up Economic Advisory Council for industrialists and economists to advise economic prosperity, with MacDonald wary of ‘new ideas’.
  • Rise in unemployment meant more benefits, straining govt. finances.
  • Labs divided, with Snowden wanting ‘balanced budget’ and Mosley wanting public sector spending, (Mosley advocated prioritising working men’s needs).
  • MacDonald unconvinced of Mosley, despite him having same views as Keynes.
  • (May 1930) ‘Mosley Memorandum’ being rejected saw Mosley resign as junior minister.

(Snowden was Chancellor of the Exchequer).

34
Q

Response to Wall Street Crash/Great Depression (banking crisis and May Committee)

A
  • (May 1930) Banking crisis saw Libs want a committee to see govt. can curb spending + MacDonald appoints May Committee to make suggestions.
  • (Jul 1931) May Committee report published with negative reports such as:
    -> Forecasted a now known £120m budget deficit unless severe cuts in govt. spending were made (by 1932).
    -> £96.5m cuts in public sector recommented, including oay cuts for these employees.
    -> 20% cut in unemployment benefits + more taxation.
  • This report drew furhter attention to Brits’ problems.

(George May chairman of May Committee).

35
Q

Reasons behind National Government formation…

(1931)

A
  • After RM handed in his resignation, the King consulted other party leaders such as LG and SB, it was agreed that RM would resume as PM with support from all main political parties.
  • Libs + Cons saw certain pros of RM resuming as PM, especially as around this time, unpopular measures were needed.
36
Q

Details behind National Governemnt…

(1931)

A
  • Just three Labour members followed RM into new govt. (Snowden, Thomas and Sankey).
  • RM relied heavily on Cons’ support + Libs support.
  • (Post 1931 events) Labour MP and trade unionists accused RM of treachery due to seemingly abandoning working-class principles.
37
Q

Things RM accused of in regards to treachery…

(1931 - National Government)

A
  • Needlessly drawing up May Comittee and not relying on his Economic Advisory Committee.
  • Afraid of considering new ideas and dismissed Mosley’s proposals.
  • Aligned himself with Cons and not resigning at time of Labour’s initial clear split.
  • May have not consulted his Lab party properly before this new govt.
  • (1931 election) RM promised to NOT call another election, and the timing of this election caused turmoil for Lab.
  • Followed May recommendations, entailing policies opposing socialist principles e.g. retrenchment.
38
Q

Keynes’ view following the Wall Street Crash…

(Economic policy)

A

Govt. should…
- Borrow money to spend on projects
- ‘Multiplier effect’

39
Q

1931 and 1935 elections…

(Cons wanted election under ‘doctor’s mandate’).

A

Oct 1931 general election results:
National Government: 554 seats
Cons: 473 seats
Lab: 52 seats
Libs National: 35 seats
Libs: 33 seats
Takes from this…
-> High National Government support, with other parties potentially declining in support!

1935 election seats:
National Government (Cons, Lab and Libs): 432 seats
Lab: 154 seats
Libs: 20 seats
Takes from this…
-> National Government still had support, despite not being properly able to deal with unemployment
-> Libs had not recovered from Asquith + LG split
-> Lab still suffering from 1931 occurances.

40
Q

National Government policies…

A

Financial:
- Off the gold standard
- Balanced budget made a priority
- 10% cut in unemployment benefits
- Keep GBP stable + (1932) Interest rates reduced to 2% to reduce cost of borrowing.

Trade policies:
- ‘Sterling area’ meant gbp used rather than gold.
- Import Duties Act 1932 imposed tariffs on non-empire goods.
- Quota on imports for similar quota for exports.

Industry:
- (Special Areas Act 1934) provided govt. aid to most areas.
- (Cotton Industry Reorganisation Act 1936) closed down non-profitable mills + reduce surplus capacity in the economy (more people redundant!)
- (British Shipping (Assistance) Act 1935) peovided govt. loans for shipping firms to scrap older ships for new ones.
- (North Atlantic Shipping Act 1934) provided loans to aid reconstruction of transatlanitc liner Queen Mary.
- Guaranteed prices for farmers, entailing marketing boards for foods.
- Govt. subsidies for livestock farmers + sugar beet growers.

41
Q

Neville Chamberlain’s social reforms…

A

(1937 Factory Act) extended safety regulations under the Factory Code from 7-11m workers.
(1938 Holidays with Pay Act) gave workers right to a week’s paid holiday.
(1938 Coal Mines Act) transferred ‘royalties’ for coal mined underground from landowners to govt.

42
Q

What was the Orthodox view held by Chancellor of the Exchequer (Snowden)?

(Economic policy following the Wall Street Crash?)

A

Govt. should…
- keep free trade, balanced budgets and gold standard.
- Keep confidence of investors and bankers by cutting govt. spending to prevent it exceeding income.
- Perhaps lowering interest rates to boost investors’ confidence.

43
Q

Keynes’ view…

(Economic policy following the Wall Street Crash?)

A
  • Govt. should borrrow money to spend on infrastructure, creating job opportunities.
  • Employees would have higher wages, leading to more profit for employers, (as-well as other chains of analysis).
  • ‘Multiplier effect’.
44
Q

Mosley’s view (similar to Keynes)

(Economic policy following the Wall Street Crash?)

A
  • Borrow money and spend on public sector, increasing job opportunities
  • Introduce tariffs to protect job losses
  • Boost consumption by increasing pensions + benefits.
45
Q

Details about the National Government coming off the gold standard…

(Sep 1931)

A
  • Investors heard a mutiny among naval troops in Scotland, protesting against pay cuts.
  • This depleted gold reserves to the point where BoE decided to discontinue gold standard.
  • GBP value fell drastically from $4.86 to $3.40.
  • Despite Brits’ exports made cheaper, other nations discontinued gold standard, neutralising the potential higher consumption from cheaper Brits’ exports.
  • Additionally, many nations introduced protective tariffs, which would have limited Brits’ exports, and more Brits’ exports were to the ‘sterling area.’
46
Q

Some details/results on ‘cheap money’…

(1931-1932)

A
  • ‘Cheap money’ entails reducing interest rates from 6% to 2% and some of the results from this were…
  • Lower costs of borrowing for firms meant easier capital investment.
  • Lower costs of borrowing for consumers meant mortgages easier to get hold of.
  • (1930s) 2m homes built and (1931-1940) 700k council houses built.
47
Q

Details on industry:

(1930s)

A
  • (1931) Govt. spending cuts (especially in public sector) maintained global confidence and halted banking crisis.- Contrary to Keynes + Mosley’s ideas.
  • However, this retrenchment lowered goods and services’ demand, causing a sharp rise in unemployment (1932-1933).
  • Areas in the north heavily suffered from unemployment, with places like Jarrow experiencing 70% unemployment.
  • New industries still intact during the Depression.
48
Q

Reasons for industry’s economic recovery…

(1930s)

A
  • (1929-1939) Brits’ were 2nd largest car market worldwide
  • (1939) Motor industry employed 400k workers.
  • Steel + coal industry returning to same or more output prior to the Depression.
  • Low prices of goods + services meant people’s wages could buy more.
  • Despite high unemployment, always more people in work than out of work.
  • Social trends such as smaller family sizes meant more money available for spending.
  • RIsing consumer demand led to an expansion of the home market, offsetting govt. spending cuts and offset falling demand from abroad, this opened up job opportunities such as retailing, transport + banking.
49
Q

Details on housing…

(1930s)

A
  • Rising consumer demand -> expansion in housing market -> offsetting fall in demand from abroad + cuts in govt. spending.
  • Stopped the Depression worsening, (similar reasons to industry recovery).
50
Q

Details on trade…

(1930s)

A
  • (Jan 1933) Global trade level 1/3 of its level in (1929).
  • Brits still exported more manufactured goods than other countries, however, they were still suffering a lot.
  • The quotas, tariffs + trade acts had limited effects.
  • (After 1933) World trade began to recover.
51
Q

Details on agriculture…

(1930s)

A
  • Low wheat price fell by 50%.
  • Arable land declines as farmers abandon work to grow other products.
  • Brits’ more dependant on food imports, + farmers influential in governing Cons party. to protect farmers from significant decline.
  • This lead to quotas and tariffs enforced.
  • Many Cons knew other nations would enforce tariffs, which would aggravate agriculture decline.
  • So, govt. regulate farming resources e.g. marketing boards, better credit facilities and capital.
  • (By 1939) 17 boards from milk to potatoes.
52
Q

Details on pay for agricultural workers…

A
  • Rural wages just 1/3 of urban labourer’s pay.
  • (1936) Agricultural workers eligible for National Insurance + they had to rely on the Poor Law prior to this.

Poor Law dates back to (1834)!

53
Q

National Government policies…

(Financial)

A
  • Off the gold standard
  • Balanced budget made a priority
  • 10% cut in unemployment benefits
  • Keep GBP stable + (1932) Interest rates reduced to 2% to reduce cost of borrowing.
54
Q

National Government policies…

(Trade policies)

A

Trade policies:
- ‘Sterling area’ meant gbp used rather than gold.
- Import Duties Act 1932 imposed tariffs on non-empire goods.
- Quota on imports for similar quota for exports.

55
Q

National Government policies…

(Industry)

A
  • (Special Areas Act 1934) provided govt. aid to most areas.
  • (Cotton Industry Reorganisation Act 1936) closed down non-profitable mills + reduce surplus capacity in the economy (more people redundant!)
  • (British Shipping (Assistance) Act 1935) peovided govt. loans for shipping firms to scrap older ships for new ones.
  • (North Atlantic Shipping Act 1934) provided loans to aid reconstruction of transatlanitc liner Queen Mary.
  • Guaranteed prices for farmers, entailing marketing boards for foods.
  • Govt. subsidies for livestock farmers + sugar beet growers.
56
Q
A

A Level History (23 decks)

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