Reasons For Liberal Reforms

Question 1

Intro background

Answer 1

1. Poverty was becoming an increasingly large problem in the 1900 and other countries around the world were beginning to introduce legislation to improve poverty levels
2. Beliefs that poverty was cause by gambling unemployment and alcoholism was overcome in the government’s beliefs leading to the reforms Britian needed

Question 2

Surveys of booth and rowntree

Answer 2

1. The survey/report also proved that poverty was caused by unemployment, low wages, old age and illness destroying the idea of “self help”
2. Their survey also showed that by 1900 30% of the population were living in poverty outwith their control
   Ev - most important d.fraser stated “ booth and rowntree gave to the growing public concern over poverty the statistical everone on which to build the case for state aid”

Question 3

New liberalism

Answer 3

1. Liberal politicians found a way to finance the reforms by taxing land that had risen in value
2. After Campbell bannerman reigned following a heart attack he was replaced by Herbert Asquith who appointed leading new liberals David Lyod George and Winston Churchill to positions in government both men were strongly committed to social reforms
   Ev - social change gave facts such as if you earned less than 21 shillings per week you were living below the poverty line

Question 4

National efficiency

Answer 4

1. By the end of the 19th century Britian was no longer the worlds strongest industrial nation - it had been taken over by USA and Germany
2. German chancellor otto von bismarck had introduced a series of social welfare reforms in the 1880s providing German workers with a system of welfare benefits and an old age pension
   Ev - surveys proves that age was a major factor and both the very young and very old were most at risk of poverty

Question 5

Rise of Labour ( political advantage )

Answer 5

1. In 1884 most working class men were given the vote. The liberals wanted to attract these votes and found that much of their support then came from the working class
2. In 1906 the newly formed Labour Party were not competing for the same votes
   Ev - booth and rowntree surveys proved only 3% of those in poverty were being helped by the poor law

Question 6

National security

Answer 6

1. In 1899, 25% of the urban male population had been rejected in medical grounds when volunteering to fight in the Boer War
2. Due to stats/reports from the boer war it stimulated concerns over “physical” deficiencies as it causes the royal commissions on physical training in Scotland (1905) to start research by comparing heights and weights of children the conclusion led to providing children with free school meals
   Ev - in 1906 only 2% of children were accessing help via the poor law

Question 7

Factors in this essay

Answer 7

1. Surveys of booth and town tree ( most important)
2. New liberalism
3. National efficiency
4. Rise of Labour ( political advantage )
5. National security