Reasons for the liberal reforms

Question 1

Booth’s findings

Answer 1

-1886 to 1903, Charles Booth carried out an investigation to prove extreme poverty did exist & in London alone 35% of people suffered from it

Question 1

Booth’s findings - positives

Answer 1

-Booth’s surveys provided evidence of the poverty problem, Booth warned that if people’s lives were not improved, a violent revolution might occur.

Question 2

Booth’s findings - negative

Answer 2

-People continued to live in poverty

-Maximum pension was below the amount needed to achieve a decent standard of living.

Question 3

National Security

Answer 3

-Britain struggled to win Boer war

-In 1904 the Fitzroy Report was released showing that adult males were not fit enough to fight because of their poor living and working conditions.

Question 4

National Security - Positive

Answer 4

-free school meals were introduced to ensure boys were fit enough to fight

-unemployment benefit meant grown men would also be ready to fight too even if they lost their job

Question 5

National Security - Negative

Answer 5

-One of the biggest costs of the Liberal Reforms was the Old Age Pensions act.
-Had to be 70 to claim pension, but people who were 70+ were clearly not fit to fight in a war

Question 6

Rise of Labour

Answer 6

-1910 election the Liberal still gained majority of working class votes but had fewer votes than the Conservatives as many working class voters voted labour instead

Question 7

Rise of Labour - Positive

Answer 7

-Many Liberal Reforms were only expanded and improved after Labour’s 1910 success as Liberals were loosing votes e.g free school meals were introduced in 1906 but not made compulsory until 1914

Question 8

Rise of Labour - Negative

Answer 8

-However in 1910 the Liberals were still the party that gained most working class support, winning 274 MPs in the general election. ​