National Security

Question 1

Knowledge

Answer 1

1906- concerns about the threat from Germany
- Second Bore war 25% men signed up to fight were unfit for service ,attracting concern
- Manchester alone 8000 men refused entry to the armed forces and the British army took years to defeat a few thousand untrained Boer farmers, making them appear weak- did not want to allow this to happen again

Question 2

Analysis

Answer 2

Threat of future conflict reason for lifting potential recruits out of poverty by passing reforms
Professor De Groot agrees “pre-1899 poverty was a political inconvenience. However during the war the majority of recruits were rejected due to ill health politicians subsequently panicked. “ 

Question 3

Negative analysis

Answer 3

However it does not explain why old age pensions were introduced in 1908- therefore proving that it was only significant in passing reforms to a small extent

Question 4

Evaluation

Overall not as important as growth of the Labour Party

Answer 4

-Immediate pressure of political issues/threat of labour party not overlooked as 1908 liberals losing seats (in by elections)
-Lloyd George said “it was time to do something which appealed directly to the electorate”
-suggesting that immediate and new pressure of the labour party was responsible for the reforms -not national security that had been around for a long time