Parties Throughout The War Flashcards
When was the shell shortage?
May 1915.
Why did war produce tensions within the Liberal party?
It undermined many traditional Liberal beliefs, especially ones relating to freedom of the individual.
What was the shell shortage?
Crisis in production of ammunition which was being used and large quantities across the Western front.
Politicians blamed for letting this happen.
What did the shell shortage force the Liberal government to do?
Use much more State power to produce the level of munitions needed to win.
What did Asquith & Lloyd George think of the extension of state power?
Asquith found it difficult to give up principles like laissez-faire. Lloyd George (Minister of Munitions) realised the State needed to take extensive power over the economy to win.
When was Lloyd George appointed as Minister of Munitions?
1915.
When was the coalition formed?
1915.
What parties made up the coalition?
Liberals, Conservatives & Labour
When was Asquith replaced by Lloyd George as Prime Minister?
7 December 1916.
What setbacks did the government experience in 1916?
The Easter Rising of Irish Republicans in Dublin.
Failure to defeat German battle fleet in inconclusive Battle of Jutland.
Casualties in the Battle of the Somme.
What changes did Lloyd George demand of Asquith in 1916?
Conscription to be used more extensively.
Formation of inner war cabinet, from which Asquith would be excluded.
Why did Lloyd George become PM in December 1916?
Political negotiations about re-organising the war coalition broke down.
Legit happened to the Liberal party when Lloyd George became PM?
They split. About 100 gave support to Lloyd George whilst the rest (majority) followed Asquith into opposition.
How did Lloyd George reorganise the war cabinet as PM?
Formed second war coalition.
Conservatives held majority of cabinet posts, so gained more power.
Lloyd George now only supported by half parliamentary Liberal Party.
When did the Liberal Party officially split?
The Maurice Debate, February 1918.
What was the Maurice Debate?
General Maurice, former Director of Military Operations, claimed the government had lied about strength of army in France in early 1918.
Why was the war good for the conservatives?
Got them out of embarrassing position in seeming to support armed rebellion in Ulster.
Serving in Coalition revived Conservatives.
Found it easier to fit in during the war than the Liberals.
When did the Labour Party almost split? Why?
1914, over whether it should support the war or not.
Which Labour Politician refused to support the war?
Ramsay MacDonald.
Did the majority of the Labour Party support the war?
Yes, amongst which was Arthur Henderson.
Who was the first Labour politician to be given a place in the cabinet? When?
Arthur Henderson, 1916.
Why was the cooperation of trade unions in the war good for Labour?
They were the backbone of the Labour Party.
How was trade union membership affected over the war period?
Membership doubled, reaching 8 million.
What changed over the war period that was good for Labour?
All men would be given the vote at the next election, potentially giving Labour larger working class support.
Why was the war a disaster for the Irish Nationalist Party?
Put Home Rule ‘on hold’.
1916-18, overtaken in popularity in Ireland by extreme Sinn Fein party.
1918 defeated by Sinn Fein who won 73/108 seats.
What did the Sinn Fein stand for?
The complete separation of all of Ireland from Great Britain.
When was the ‘coupon election’?
1918.
How did Lloyd George choose to fight the ‘coupon election’?
In collaboration with the Conservatives.
What did Lloyd George promise he would do if elected?
Form peacetime coalition including Conservatives.
What caused the ‘coupon election’ to be named?
People fighting the election in support of formation of the coalition given certificate signed by Lloyd George & Bonar Law, which was named a ‘coupon’.
What were the two options for Liberal voters in the 1918 ‘coupon election’?
Two rival Liberal Parties, Lloyd George or Asquith.
What was the result of the ‘coupon election’ 1918?
Conservatives: 333 seats
Lloyd George Liberals: 133 seats
Asquith Liberals: 28 seats
Labour: 63 seats
Why did the Conservatives gain so many seats?
‘Coupon’ factor and nationalistic mood in country in 1918.
