Political issues 1900-1914 Flashcards
Booklet 1
When did Arthur Balfour become Prime Minister?
1902 following the stepping down of Lord Salisbury after end of Boer War and coronation of King Edward VII.
Why did Balfour become Prime Minister?
He was the only adequate option compared to Joseph Chamberlain.
Who is Joseph Chamberlain?
A Conservative MP who was unsatisfied with the state of affairs in Unionist Government and believed it was necessary to protect the industry from cheap imports so introduced Tariff Reform.
What is Tariff Reform?
To introduced taxes on imported goods = more + expensive + domestic products = more attractive.
Whereas Free Trade meant countries imported / exported with no taxes.
What would Tariff Reform benefit?
It would help to fund social reforms and help the modernisation of industry.
What would Tariff Reform affect?
It would create problems:
Difficult to sell the idea to the working class as food prices would rise.
Would unite Liberals in opposition.
Risked dividing cinservatives - which Chamberlains speech in Birmingham did yet Balfour tried to preserve unity.
When did Joseph Chamberlain resign?
1903 - continued to campaign for tariff reform.
What is the Education Act of 1902?
Allowing for the reorganisation of education and allowing state provision for secondary schools. Controversial.
What is the Licensing Act of 1904?
Allowing brewers and pub owners compensation if licence’s were taken away and not renewed. Non conformists didn’t pay compensation to an immoral trade.
What is the Taff Vale Judgement 1901?
House of Lords gave a rule that trade unions could be sued by employers for loss of where there’d been unlawful picketing. Made it hard for unions to strike - would have to pay a lot. Went against 1871 act - making unions legal and 1876 act - making peaceful picketing legal.
How many seats did the Liberals win in the 1906 election?
400 seats.
How many seats did the Conservatives have in the 1906 election?
156 seats - Balfour lost his own seat.
How many seats did Labour have in the 1906 election?
30 seats.
What were the 5 long term factors of why the Liberals won the 1906 election?
Boer war and concentration camps were associated with the conservatives.
Chinese slavery scandal.
Had younger politicians representing ‘new liberal’ ideas.
Trade union legislations.
1904 Licensing act meant more middle class voters.
What are the 5 short term/election campaign factors of why the Liberals won the 1906 election?
Had dynamic figures (Campbell-Bannerman, Lloyd George, Asquith).
Trade unions wanted a say in parliament.
Lib/Lab pact with Labour.
Chinese slavery affected Conservative votes.
Liberals became more radical and appealing.
What are the 3 weaknesses of divisions that helped the Liberals win the 1906 election?
Balfour’s resignation the year before election.
Conservatives divided over Tariff Reform.
Conservatives were associated with the mistreatment of Chinese slaves, women, and children during Boer War.
What is the 1903 Lib/Lab pact?
A pact between the political parties agreeing to avoid running candidates against each other in areas where a tied vote may lead to the election of a Conservative candidate.
Why was the Labour Party needed and created?
Socialist Revival renewed interest in socialist principals.
1867 Reform Act allowed more working class men to vote.
The gap between conditions for the working class and upper class were increasing.
1867 Marx’s Das Capital advanced idea that society is run by social laws.
What are the 4 groups within the Labour Party?
SDF - Social Democratic Federation - Marxist group = promote class hostility and revolution for political power.
Fabians - Middle class group = favoured working to socialism through Parliament.
Socialist League - Marxist tone = wanted socialist society and revolution.
ILP - Independent Labour Party - Kier Hardie’s group = Radical liberalism, Trade unionism, Non conformity
What is the Trade Disputes Act of 1906?
Reversed the Taff Vale 1901 Judgement and ensured trade unions involved in strike action would be protected from legal damage. Labour wanted full protection, Liberals only offered partial.
What is the Education (Provision of Meals) Act of 1906?
Labour MP brought Private Members Bill proposing Local Education Authorities used taxes to provide free meals for parents on a low income and needy children. Liberals seized policy and added it to own government policy.
How did Labour succeed in Parliament 1900-1914?
Influenced Liberal government reforms.
Increased representation of working class.
Lib/Lab pact gained Labour more seats and representatives.
Kerr Hardie = forward thinker and women’s advocate - more popularity.
What is the Osbourne Judgement of 1909?
Made it illegal for financial contributions from Trade Union subscriptions to be paid to a political party. Impacted Labour and their parliamentary influence.
What is the Payment of MP’s Act 1909?
Gave Members of Parliament a salary.
What highlighted Labour’s lack of commitment to socialism?
Trade Unions felt Labour was too tied to the Liberals and not achieving enough reform in Parliament, so turned to strike action throughout 1910 - 1914.
What is a large failure of Labour from 1900-1914?
The main amount of working class couldn’t vote, and the relationship with the liberals was not representative enough, meaning that Labour was not socialist or left-wing enough.
How much did Trade Union membership grow between 1910 and 1914?
Grew from 2.5 million to 4 million, with 10% being made up of women.
What is the 1913 Trade Union Act?
Reversed the Osbourne 1909 Judgement and gave power back to the trade unions who could now fund Labour and have a successful socialist party.
What is the impact of the 1901 Taff Vale Judgement?
Workers couldn’t strike without being sued = lack of rights. Forced them to support Labour who were against this judgement.
What is the impact of the 1906 Trade Disputes Act?
Positive impact, giving trade unions power through ability to strike with protection.
What is the impact of 1909 Osbourne Judgement?
Cut funding for MP’s so trade unions couldn’t pay subscriptions to political parties, so Labour lost influence.