reasons for lib reforms Flashcards
intro
context- 1906, lib won landslide election, taking 401 seats after decades of tori governments
-new lib party promised to introduce social reforms from ‘cradle to grave’ moving towards idea of state help not self help
factors- booth and Rowntree, nat security, new liberalism, rise of lab
loa- ultimately booth and Rowntree most important factor
booth and Rowntree reports
k- booth found 30% of London in poverty due to circumstances out of individuals control
k-intensified by Rowntree finding 28% York in poverty in same extent
a- made people realise poverty more widespread than originally thought, likely statistics similar throughout uk, facts gov could not ignore
a+ - reports published at turn of the century and yet no commitment to reforms in lib 1906 manifesto, can’t have had that big of an impact on gov, not a priority
booth and Rowntree ev
most sig as highlighted initial problems and were turning point of laissez faire beliefs, revelation of social investigations shocked many and influenced those in power, Churchill said “we want to spread a net over the abyss’ in 1909
national security
k- falling behind when recruiting for Boer war, national average, over 40% men were not fit enough to fight due to malnourishment and other conditions caused by poverty
k- the boers were not well armed or trained and were seen as a small group of “farmers” and yet almost defeated the British army, worrying
a- increasingly alarmed that Britain may lose war/ empire if the nations fighting stock of young men were unhealthy and could be beaten by an unthreatening army
a+ - second reform introduced was pensions, showing they weren’t prioritising the young soldiers - more had to inspire these reforms than just soldiers
national security ev
nat security less sig than b and r reports as the Boer war not as humilating as had originally seemed. boers were equipped with German rifles and knew terrain well so reduced requirement for reform
rise of lab party
k- 1906 GE, 29 lab MP’s were elected to parliament which considerably increased competition for votes
k-1909, lab became more threat as unemployment grew. working class going to vote for party which improved their conditions
a- lib party worried that emerging working class men would switch to voting lab, allowing tories to win future elections
a+ - Lloyd George was politician passionate about welfare, he was committing to get 1909 budget past. to think reforms just to compete against labs too cynical, he was not encouraging reform purely due to political pragmatism
new liberalism
k- early 1900s lib party brought new politicians, Lloyd George, Asquith, Churchill these liberals had differing views and wanted to escape previous attitudes of laissez faire and self help
k- entered with aim to help those in poverty as they believed wider good of society not served as poverty prevented people from having personal freedom
a- politicians had to move away from their traditional thinking, the new wave of liberals allowed a change in ideology which prompted prioritisation of social reforms
a+ - liberal reform at 1905 manifesto had no indication of commitment or that they were abandoning the long standing beliefs of old liberalism which implies introduced due to other circumstances
