reasons for the reforms Flashcards
Why were labour a threat?
-1900- 2 seats 1906-29 FAST
-1907 safe seats Jarrow and Colne
Libs worried
-Lab could replace as cons alternative
-6/10 working class men could now vote
-reforms are vote winners
Why can it be argued that labour were not that big a threat to libs
lab only have 40 seats in 1910
-Cons are bigger threat. 1910 libs only ahead by 2
Why can it be argued that the reforms were introduced due to fear for national security?
- probs highlighted due to Boer War which took 4 years to win even though we had 400,000 men vs only 35,000 and far better technology
- for the war we had a massive 34% reject rate
- caused worry for empire
- Germany only had 8% rate
BUT why can it be said that national efficiency was not the biggest concern leading to the liberal reforms?
- PENSION cost £7 million even though the elderly would not be fighting
- free school meals were not compulsory and by 1912 only 50% of schools had them- good army/workforce needs good food as children
Why can it be argued that the reforms were introduced due to fear for national workforce?
- complains about quality of workers from business such as Cadburys chocolate
- America and Germany were producing cheaper steel which meant they stole business opportunity’s from Britain
A continuation of state Intervention is known as?
what does it mean the govt did and how could it lead to reforms
MUNICIPAL SOCIALISM
- govt saw success on local leave and then copied it on a national scale
- for example Mr Joseph Chamberlin introduced gas, lighting, parks and clearing slums in Birmingham. this was then seen to be copied across Britain as he offered a blue print for it
- CATALISED reforms as it was easy for govt
BUT why can it be argued that municipal socialism was bad for the reforms?
SLOWED THEM DOWN
-As the govt saw no need for them to fix problems local councils would deal with on their own
ALLEVIATED PRESSURE
Who were the new liberals what made them different?
Churchill had seen poverty’s effects through travel
David Lloyd George- grown up near welsh poverty
Why can it be argued that the reforms were introduced due to new liberals?
- Only once they got into power was there any big change
- VALUED. They pushed for a new election showing they were listened to and libs were willing to risk everything for them
Why can it be argued that the reforms were introduced due to Booth and Rowntree?
THEY RAISED PUBLIC AND POLITICAL AWARNESS OF THE PROBLEMS
-put the govt under pressure
highlighted that the govt only helped 3% and a 1/3 of pop needed it
-did studies in London in York over 17 years 1 million surved HARD EVEDENCE
-showed lazes-fair didn’t work
Why were booth and Rowntree more important for the introduction of the reforms than concerns for national efficancy?
Because even though the likes of war highlighted problems booth and Rowntree highlighted the cause of them.
-A problem can only be tacked when its source is determined.
Causes- sickness/unemployment-oldage eg
Why may booth and Rowntree have been less important to the introduction of reform and who or what many have been more influential?
New libs
- as they had the power to change rather than just the mouth to say change is needed
- However, together they were most effective as booth and Rowntree’s studies could be referenced by the new libs leading to a stronger cause.
list the factors which could have led to the reforms
- new libs
- booth and Rowntree
- municipal socialism
- concerns for national security
