political landscape c.1900

Question 1

what two houses were in parliament

Answer 1

• house of commons
• house of lords

Question 2

who were the dominant parties in britain

Answer 2

• conservatives
• liberals

Question 3

brief history of the conservatives

Answer 3

• often referred to as the unionists due to alliance with the liberal unionists who had split from other liberals over the issue of irish home rule in 1886.
• wanted to maintain traditions
• preservation of british empire waas central to guaranteeing britains position as a major power
• rooted in aristocracy
• key figure= lord salisbury- PM since 1885.

Question 4

brief history of the liberals

Answer 4

• emerged out of several groups
• whig party- since great reform act of 1832- wanted reform, still traditional
• peelites- supporters of robert peel, led reforming conservative gov which divided paert, supoorters maintained separate identity
• independent radicals- general set of radical ideas
• other gorups include non-conformists, and chartists.
• diversity meant the had to be careful not to offend different factions in the party over certain issues - irish home rule.

Question 5

1895 election results

Answer 5

• conservatives= 411 seats, 49.1%
• liberals= 177 seats, 45.7%
• ILP= 0 seats, 1%
• IN= 82 seats, 4%

Question 6

1900 election results

Answer 6

• conservatives= 402 seats, 50.3%
• liberals= 183 seats, 45%
• LP= 2 seats, 1.3%
• IN= 85 seats, 3.5%