Reasons why the Liberals introduced reforms, 1906-1914

Question 1

Introduction - Context

Answer 1

• David Lloyd George described the passing of the Old Age Pensions Act of 1908 as an attempt to halt the ‘electoral rot’, the challenge the Liberals faced from the Labour Party in the political arena of the day.
• This statement points to the argument that the Liberals reformed out of political self-interest so that they could keep support from defecting to the Labour party.

Question 2

Introduction - LOA

Answer 2

• This essay will discuss that the reports of Booth and Rowntree were the most important reason as to why the Liberal Government passed welfare reforms to a great extent.

Question 3

Introduction - Factors

Answer 3

• However, other factors will also be explored such as National Security, New Liberalism, and the Rise of the Labour party.

Question 4

Reports of Booth and Rowntree - Explain + Evidence

Answer 4

• The reports of Booth and Rowntree were the most important reason as to why the Liberal Government passed welfare reforms to a great extent.
• This is because Booth undertook extensive studies in London into the state of poverty in the area, his statistical evidence published in 1889, proved that 30% of East London were living below the poverty line.

Question 5

Reports of Booth and Rowntree - Analysis

Answer 5

• Arguably this shows the reports of Booth and Rowntree were the most important reason as to why the Liberal Government passed welfare reforms to a great extent as the survey of Charles Booth gave the government the scientific proof that 30% of people in East London were living in poverty and therefore poverty was a rife problem in Britain which shocked the British public which led to the introduction of the Liberal reforms as it forced a change of public opinion.

Question 6

Reports of Booth and Rowntree - Reinforce

Answer 6

• Furthermore, Siobhan Rowntree also conducted a study similar to Booth which proved the reports of Booth and Rowntree were the most important reason as to why the Liberal Government passed welfare reforms to a great extent.
• This is because Rowntree found that 28% of those in York were living below the poverty line, and like Booth, he defined this as families earning less than 21 shillings per week.

Question 7

Reports of Booth and Rowntree - Analysis

Answer 7

• Arguably this shows the reports of Booth and Rowntree were the most important reason as to why the Liberal Government passed welfare reforms to a great extent as Rowntree’s studies were powerful as York, unlike London, was small and if even a third of people in a small town were struggling with poverty, then people soon realised poverty may be a bigger problem than they understood, which drove the Liberal Government to introduce reforms.

Question 8

Reports of Booth and Rowntree - Evaluation

Answer 8

• In Evaluation, the surveys of Booth and Rowntree were the most important reason as to why the Liberal Government passed welfare reforms to a great extent as whilst there were many people, MPs included, who challenged the surveys and still believed that poverty was not widespread so not everyone was convinced by these surveys to introduce social reform.
• Nevertheless, the surveys of Booth and Rowntree were the most important reason as to why the Liberal Government passed welfare reforms to a great extent as Booth proved that 30% of people in East London were living in poverty, likewise Rowntree proved 28% of those in York were living below the poverty line.
• Therefore, the surveys of Booth and Rowntree were the most important reason compared to New Liberalism as to why the Liberal Government passed welfare reforms to a great extent as Historian Powell stated that, “Poverty was not due to personal inadequacies but…ravages of sickness, infirmity and old age”.
• This quote shows poverty was not due to the fault of the person but rather due to the fact that people could not support themself through sickness and old age which proved the surveys of Booth and Rowntree were the most important as to why the Liberal Government passed welfare reforms to a great extent.

Question 9

National Security - Explain + Evidence

Answer 9

• National security was an important reason in explaining why the Liberal Government passed welfare reforms as with a lack of healthy soldiers the British Army had great difficulty in finding young men to recruit as soldiers, bringing issues of national security to the public this took form in the Boer war.
• For example, 25% of all volunteers were rejected due to poor health this was shown in Manchester where 8,000 out of the 11,000 volunteers were rejected and not considered fit to fight for the British army in the Boer war bringing concern for Britain’s abilities in future conflicts.

Question 10

National Security - Analysis

Answer 10

• Arguably this shows why National security was an important reason in explaining why the Liberal government passed welfare reforms as it caused major unrest as many thought that Britain could not compete in future wars due to the ill health of recruits and volunteers especially with the conflict with Germany looming, causing reform to be introduced.

Question 11

National Security - Counterargument

Answer 11

• However it can be argued that National security was not a significant factor in explaining why the Liberal Government passed welfare reforms to a certain extent as many historians have challenged this view that politicians had any genuine concern for the welfare of the poor and instead wanted to pass reforms for political advantage such as Churchill making a name for himself or the liberal party wanting to gain working class voters over Liberal.

Question 12

National Security - Analysis

Answer 12

• Arguably this suggests that national security was less important as historians believe that the condition of the poor was not of vast concern amongst politicians instead it was about torquing votes and political advantage.

Question 13

National Security - Evaluation

Answer 13

• In evaluation the Liberal Government chose to reform to a certain extent because of the Boer war as 25% of all volunteers were rejected and seen as not fit to fight furthermore it took 450,000 British soldiers 3 years to defeat 35,000 untrained farmers nevertheless the Surveys of Booth and Rowntree was a more important reason as to why the Liberal government passed welfare reforms as Rowntree discovered charitable aid alone was not enough to help fix poverty in Britain which shows if it were not for the surveys of Booth and Rowntree the government would not be aware that the current charitable aids in place were not good enough.

Question 14

New Liberalism - Explain + Evidence

Answer 14

• New liberalism was a reasonably important reason as to why the Liberal Government passed welfare reforms.
• New liberals such as Lloyd George and Winston Churchill argued that there were certain circumstances in which it was right for the state to intervene.
• Both Churchill and Lloyd George represented poorer areas as Churchill represented Dundee while Lloyd George represented Wales.

Question 15

New Liberalism - Analysis

Answer 15

• Arguably this shows New Liberalism was a reasonably important reason as to why the Liberal Government passed welfare reforms as this was a big step for politicians at the time to vocalise that there were ‘deserving poor’ and it was the beginning of removing the stigma of receiving government help.

Question 16

New Liberalism - Reinforce

Answer 16

• Furthermore, New Liberalism was a reasonably important reason as to why the Liberal government passed welfare reforms as Historian Laybourn stated, ‘The New Liberals had a great awareness of the social problems and the obvious failures of the poor law and philanthropy’.

Question 17

New Liberalism - Analysis

Answer 17

• Arguably this shows, Layborn clearly shows new liberalism was a reasonably important reason as to why the Liberal Government passed welfare reforms through saying that the liberals were able to identify an area in which the current government was failing in assisting with the poor and that they needed to reform.

Question 18

New Liberalism - Evaluation

Answer 18

• In evaluation, New Liberalism was a reasonably important reason as to why the Liberal Government passed welfare reforms as new liberals such as Churchill and Lloyd George represented places such as Dundee and Wales highlighted that there were certain circumstances in which the poor deserve help.
• Nevertheless, new Liberalism was not as important as the reports of Booth and Rowntree as to why the Liberal Government passed welfare reforms to a great extent as supported by Historian Hay saying ‘The social surveys did tend to undermine the view that personal character deficiencies were the primary cause of poverty’ this shows that the surveys proved to the British public that some people were in poverty and it wasn’t their fault.

Question 19

Rise of the Labour Party - Explain + Evidence

Answer 19

• The rise of the Labour party was another reason why the Liberals introduced reforms from 1906 to 1914.
• This is because the Labour party was garnering much support and attention from the public, as they were seen to be more interventionist than the Conservatives.
• Evidence of this in 1900 they had 2 seats in Westminster, then in 1910 had 40 seats. This was likely due to the 1884 Third Reform Act which gave 60% of men the vote.

Question 20

Rise of the Labour Party - Analysis

Answer 20

• Arguably, this shows the threat of Labour as a reason for the Liberals introducing reforms was true and obvious, the increasing support of Labour as a result of many more working-class men getting the vote proved that there was a real threat.

Question 21

Rise of the Labour Party - Reinforce

Answer 21

• Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that the rising popularity of the Labour party was even more increasingly important, as a reason why the Liberals introduced reforms.
• This is because in the manifestos of the Liberal and Labour party, only one mentioned help for the people.
• Evidence of this is a quote from the 1906 Labour manifesto, ‘Wars are fought to make the rich richer, and underfed schoolchildren are still neglected.’

Question 22

Rise of the Labour Party - Analysis

Answer 22

• Arguably, this shows that the Labour party were adaptive and knew as a result of more of the working class being represented in the electorate that the voters would vote for them if they promised help, or if they were on the side of the poor.

Question 23

Rise of the Labour Party - Evaluation

Answer 23

• In evaluation, the Rise of the Labour Party was a somewhat important reason why the Liberal government of 1906 to 1914 passed welfare reforms.
• The increasing popularity as seen in the increase in the number of seats from 1900 to 1910, as well as the Liberal manifesto which promised help for Britons in need.
• Nevertheless, it was the Booth and Rowntree reports of 1941 which proved as the most important reason as to why the Liberal government introduced reforms to meet the needs of the British people as Rowntree suggested that he recommended that a minimum wage of £1.08 a week was needed to keep a couple with three in “Spartan physical efficiency”.

Question 24

Conclusion

Answer 24

• In conclusion, the reports of Booth and Rowntree were the most important reason as to why the Liberal Government passed welfare reforms to a great extent.
• National Security was a somewhat important factor as 25% of all volunteers were rejected due to poor health this was shown in Manchester where 8,000 out of the 11,000 volunteers were rejected and not considered fit to fight for the British army.
• Nevertheless, the reports of Booth and Rowntree are the most important reason as Booth proved in his report that 30% of East London were living below the poverty line in 1889.
• A less important factor why the Liberal Government chose to reform was National Security as the Boer war as 25% of all volunteers were rejected and seen as not fit to fight furthermore it took 450,000 British soldiers 3 years to defeat 35,000 untrained farmers nevertheless the Surveys of Booth and Rowntree was a more important reason as to why the Liberal government passed welfare reforms as Rowntree discovered charitable aid alone was not enough to help fix poverty in Britain which shows if it were not for the surveys of Booth and Rowntree the government would not be aware that the current charitable aids in place were not good enough.
• New Liberalism was a reasonably important reason as to why the Liberal Government passed welfare reforms as new liberals such as Churchill and Lloyd George represented places such as Dundee and Wales highlighted that there were certain circumstances in which the poor deserve help.
• Nevertheless, new Liberalism was not as important as the reports of Booth and Rowntree as to why the Liberal Government passed welfare reforms to a great extent as supported by Historian Hay saying ‘The social surveys did tend to undermine the view that personal character deficiencies were the primary cause of poverty’ this shows that the surveys proved to the British public that some people were in poverty and it wasn’t their fault.
• The Rise of the Labour Party was a somewhat important reason why the Liberal government of 1906 to 1914 passed welfare reforms as the increasing popularity as seen in the increase in the number of seats from 1900 to 1910, as well as the Liberal manifesto which promised help for Britons in need.
• Nevertheless, it was the Booth and Rowntree reports of 1941 which proved as the most important reason as to why the Liberal government introduced reforms to meet the needs of the British people as Rowntree defined families earning less than 21 shillings per week as living in ‘primary poverty’.
• Overall, the reports of Booth and Rowntree were the most important reason as to why the Liberal Government passed welfare reforms to a great extent.

Question 25

Municipal Socialism

Answer 25

• Municipal Socialism was a partially important reason why the Liberal Government of 1906 to 1914 passed welfare reforms.
• In Birmingham in 1873 Liberal Mayor Joseph Chamberlain began undertaking social reforms for his municipality such as clearing the polluting in the water systems, and overall left Birmingham paved, parked, gas, watered and improved.
• Arguably this was an important reason as to why the liberal government passed welfare reforms as these social improvements in the community motivated and influenced them to implement more progressive acts in Britain 1906-1914.
• Furthermore, after the Cholera outbreaks in 1842-1853, Glasgow also saw progressive social improvements as those running Glasgow city began introducing taxation which funded reforms to improve the city for all, they were people who were known as Glasgow’s “Founding Fathers”.
• Arguably, this is important as to why the liberal government passed welfare reforms as it set an example for people in power to introduce reforms that benefit society and help everyday people.
• In evaluating Municipal Socialism as a reason why the Liberals introduced social welfare reforms, in 1873 Liberal Joseph Chamberlain was elected as mayor of Birmingham and used his position to bring about a series of reforms to improve the standard of living such,
• nevertheless it was a less important reason for Liberals reforming as it was largely ineffective because after their election in 1906 the Liberals found that much of this programme had been blocked or altered by the Conservative led House of Lords.
• Nevertheless, ‘Municipal Socialism,’ can be seen as a less important reason than the social surveys of Booth and Rowntree in explaining why the Liberals reformed as by Rowntree’s definition of primary poverty, which was endorsed by the government, local authorities were able to acknowledge that there were people living in such extreme destitution and thus Municipal Socialism spurred on and work was encouraged.