tariff reform

Question 1

who wanted to introduce tariff reform?

Answer 1

joseph chamberlain

Question 2

describe tariff reform

Answer 2

the best way to protectr domestically produced products is to introduce taxes on imported goods. this makes imported goods expensive and domestic goods more attractive- encourages people to buy british

Question 3

alternate to tariff reform

Answer 3

free trade - countries should be able to trade freely with each other - removal of all import and export taxes.

Question 4

why did chamberlain think tariff reform was necessary

Answer 4

• money raised from import taxes could be used to fund social reform- old age pensions
• help the modernisation of british industry
• resented the abolition of ‘corn’ duties
• britain was exporting less than importing
• deficit of ‘visible’ trade was £142 million by 1907

Question 5

negatives of tariff reform

Answer 5

• would raise food prices as britain consumed so much foreign produce
• was difficult to sell the idea of protectionism to the working classes- would be most heavily impacted by food prices
• would unite the liberals in opposition
• risked dividing the conservatives

Question 6

when did chamberlain propose this policy

Answer 6

*may 1903 in birmingham
* declared support for a system of imperial preference designed to bring about an economic integration of the empire.

Question 7

pm at the time

Answer 7

*balfour
* adopted a fence sitting strategy to preserve unity (intermediary stance) of retaliatory tariffs

Question 8

what was formed as a result of tariff reform

Answer 8

• july 1903
• Tariff Reform League
• chamberlain did not join
• fought a relatively modern and mass campaign

Question 9

what was set up as opposition to TRL

Answer 9

free trade unionists formed the unionist free food league in the same year.

Question 10

impact of the failure of tariff reform

Answer 10

• balfour intermediary stance, retaliatory tariffs
• fundamentally divided the conservatives- went into 1906 election divided
• unified the liberals- gave them a popular platform. liberals had spent the previous 20 years being divided over different issues, too many different factions, but when their core issue-tarrif reform which made them liberal, is attacked, tghey unify around this issue- can all agree that free trade is better- which unified the party leading into the 1906 election
• solidified LRC-liberal relations