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Question 1

What political parties dominated the UK before WWI?

Answer 1

The Conservative (Unionist) Party and the Liberal Party.

Question 2

What new political party emerged in the early 20th century in the UK?

Answer 2

The Labour Party, representing the working class and labor issues.

Question 3

What were the two main elements of the Liberal Reforms (1905-1914)?

Answer 3

Welfare reforms and changes to the Constitution.

Question 4

Who was the Prime Minister of the UK in 1908 and a key figure in New Liberalism?

Answer 4

H.H. Asquith, leader of the Liberal Party.

Question 5

What movement advocated for women’s right to vote, beginning in 1903?

Answer 5

The Suffragette Movement.

Question 6

What year did British women gain the right to vote in national elections?

Answer 6

1918

Question 7

What is “New Liberalism”?

Answer 7

A reformed liberalism focusing on state intervention to address social inequalities, laying the groundwork for the welfare state.

Question 8

What were key principles of traditional 19th-century liberalism?

Answer 8

Individual liberty, property rights, and market freedom, with minimal state intervention (laissez-faire).

Question 9

What did New Liberalism advocate for that traditional liberalism did not?

Answer 9

Government intervention in social welfare, health care, and education.

Question 10

Who was Leonard Hobhouse, and what was his contribution?

Answer 10

An Oxford scholar and advocate of New Liberalism, theorizing the need for government responsibility in social welfare.

Question 11

What was the “People’s Budget” of 1909?

Answer 11

A budget proposed by the Liberals to increase taxes on the wealthy to fund social welfare programs.

Question 12

Why was the People’s Budget significant?

Answer 12

It was vetoed by the House of Lords, leading to the 1911 Parliament Act and a constitutional crisis.

Question 13

What was the purpose of the 1911 Parliament Act?

Answer 13

To limit the House of Lords’ power, particularly its ability to reject or delay bills.

Question 14

What restrictions did the 1911 Parliament Act impose on the House of Lords?

Answer 14

It could no longer veto money bills and could only delay other bills three times.

Question 15

What are two Houses of the British Parliament?

Answer 15

The House of Lords (hereditary, mostly conservative) and the House of Commons (elected, mainly liberal).

Question 16

What was the Victorian Poor Law (1834), and what issues did it have?

Answer 16

A law providing aid to the poor but enforcing harsh conditions in workhouses, stigmatizing poverty.

Question 17

How did the Victorian Poor Law relate to New Liberalism’s goals?

Answer 17

It highlighted the need for human social welfare reforms to replace punitive measures.

Question 18

What did economist Thomas Piketty note about British wealth distribution after Queen Victoria’s death in 1901?

Answer 18

The top 1% owned about 70% of all land, property, and financial assets, showing vast economic inequality.

Question 19

How did the British Empire’s expansion relate to UK politics before WWI?

Answer 19

The empire’s growth led to global influence, economic benefit, and naval supremacy, but also justified colonialism.

Question 20

What did Margaret Thatcher’s “Neoliberalism” entail, and how did it differ from New Liberalism?

Answer 20

Neoliberalism promoted market-led policies and individualism, in contrast to New Liberalism’s focus on social welfare.

Question 21

What are the direct effects of the Parliament Act, 1911?

Answer 21

• The Act significantly reduced the power of the House of Lords, allowing it to no longer veto money bills and limiting its ability to delay other bills to only three times.
• This shift fundamentally altered the legislative balance of power, transferring more authority to the House of Commons.

Question 22

What was the changing role of women in British society during WWI?

Answer 22

Women gained new responsibilities, replaced men in factories, became nurses, and achieved voting rights, leading to their emancipation.

Question 23

How did the war impact women’s employment?

Answer 23

The absence of men required women to take on traditionally male jobs, leading to new opportunities in various sectors, including factories and public services.

Question 24

What did David Lloyd George say about women’s contributions to the war?

Answer 24

He stated that it would have been impossible to wage a successful war without the skill, ardour, enthusiasm, and industry of women.

Question 25

What were traditional roles of women prior to WWI?

Answer 25

Women were primarily wives and mothers, confined to domestic duties, and many worked in textile industries or as domestic servants without the right to vote.

Question 26

Who was Emmeline Pankhurst and what did she advocate for?

Answer 26

Emmeline Pankhurst was a political activist and leader of the suffragette movement who founded the WSPU and advocated militant actions for women’s suffrage.

Question 27

What significant changes occurred for women in the post-WWI period?

Answer 27

Women gained the right to vote through the Representation of the People Act 1918, allowing women over 30 to vote, and they gained significant employment opportunities.

Question 28

What did Millicent Fawcett say about the impact of the war on women?

Answer 28

She stated that the war revolutionized the industrial position of women, transitioning them from being serfs to being free.

Question 29

What was the Irish Question in relation to WWI?

Answer 29

The Irish Question involved the struggle for Irish independence, with tensions between the Protestant minority and the Catholic majority, and the demand for Home Rule.

Question 30

What was the significance of the 1914 Third Irish Home Rule Bill?

Answer 30

It aimed to provide limited self-government to Ireland but sparked fears of civil war, particularly among the Protestant community in Ulster.

Question 31

What event marked the beginning of armed resistance against British rule in Ireland?

Answer 31

The 1916 Easter Rising, which was a rebellion against British control, leading to the emergence of Sinn Féin as a major political force.

Question 32

What was the outcome of the Irish War of Independence?

Answer 32

The 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty established the Irish Free State and partitioned Ireland into Northern Ireland and the rest of Ireland.

Question 33

What happened in 1948 concerning Ireland?

Answer 33

The Irish Free State became the Republic of Ireland, marking a further step away from British rule.

Question 34

What is the title and significance of Emmeline Pankhurst’s speech delivered in 1913?

Answer 34

The speech is titled “Freedom or Death” and argues for equal rights for women, seeking support for female suffrage.

Question 35

What event does the Irish proclamation relate to, and what was its main goal?

Answer 35

The proclamation relates to the 1916 Easter Rising, aiming to establish an independent Irish republic by breaking away from British rule.

Question 36

How do both Pankhurst’s speech and the Irish proclamation justify the use of violence?

Answer 36

Both texts present violence as necessary for achieving freedom and as a means of resistance against oppression, whether for women or the Irish people.

Question 37

What parallel does Pankhurst draw between women’s suffrage and Irish independence?

Answer 37

Pankhurst compares the struggle for women’s rights to the Irish struggle for independence, framing both as justified fights against an unjust government.

Question 38

How does Pankhurst challenge traditional gender roles in her speech?

Answer 38

Pankhurst describes herself using traditionally masculine terms, such as “soldier” and “revolutionary,” undermining the notion that these roles are reserved for men.

Question 39

What historical perspective does Pankhurst offer about liberalism?

Answer 39

She argues that liberalism has been exclusionary and primarily benefits men, highlighting the contradiction that women had obligations (like taxes) but no corresponding rights.

Question 40

How does the proclamation frame the Irish struggle for independence in historical context?

Answer 40

It portrays the violent resistance to British rule as a longstanding tradition, asserting the right to national freedom “in arms.”

Question 41

What mixed messages about gender does the Irish proclamation convey?

Answer 41

It addresses both “Irishmen and Irishwomen,” promising rights to all, yet depicts Ireland as a woman needing protection from men, reinforcing traditional gender stereotypes.

Question 42

What is Pankhurst’s self-identification and its significance?

Answer 42

Pankhurst identifies as a “dangerous” revolutionary and a convict, embodying the rejection of traditional feminine stereotypes and asserting women’s capability for political engagement.

Question 43

How do Pankhurst and the proclamation’s authors depict the concept of “sacrifice”?

Answer 43

Both emphasize the necessity of sacrifice for freedom, framing it as a potential path to either victory or destruction.

Question 44

What major global event marked the end of the 1910s and affected Britain in the early 1920s?

Answer 44

The end of World War I, leading to initial joy but followed by economic challenges.

Question 45

What financial crisis in the United States had a significant impact on the British economy in the late 1920s?

Answer 45

The Wall Street Crash of 1929, which led to a financial crisis that affected international trade and British industries.

Question 46

How did the Wall Street Crash contribute to the Great Depression in Britain?

Answer 46

The U.S. demanded repayment of loans, and British exports declined, resulting in economic downturn and increased unemployment.

Question 47

Define an economic depression.

Answer 47

A long-term downturn in economic activity characterized by sustained recession, high unemployment, and poverty.

Question 48

What was the duration of the Great Depression in the United Kingdom?

Answer 48

From 1929 to the late 1930s, it was the longest and most severe economic depression of the 20th century.

Question 49

What was the social climate in Britain during the 1920s following World War I?

Answer 49

There was a sense of joy and prosperity, but this was not experienced equally across social classes.

Question 50

What cultural phenomenon characterized the 1920s in Britain?

Answer 50

The “Roaring Twenties,” marked by social changes and the emergence of new cultural trends, such as the Tiller Girls’ dancing group.

Question 51

What role did communication technology play in British society during the 1920s?

Answer 51

The creation of the BBC in 1922 and the increasing availability of radios improved communication and access to information.

Question 51

How did advertising change during the 1920s in Britain?

Answer 51

Marketing became increasingly popular, with ads promoting various products, including cosmetics like wrinkle removers.

Question 52

How did the Labour Party fare during the 1920s and early 1930s?

Answer 52

The Labour Party struggled to gain support and establish itself as a significant political force amid economic difficulties.

Question 53

What marked the beginning of Britain’s decline in the early 20th century?

Answer 53

The Great Depression, which began after the Wall Street Crash of 1929.

Question 54

What traditional British industries were particularly affected during the 1920s?

Answer 54

Coal and cotton industries, which faced growing competition from other countries.

Question 55

What impact did international disarmament have on British industries?

Answer 55

It negatively affected British shipbuilding, contributing to industrial decline.

Question 56

What major labor event occurred in 1926, and what was its cause?

Answer 56

The General Strike of 1926, caused by wage reductions for coal miners and solidarity with their struggles.

Question 57

Who reintroduced the gold standard in Britain in 1925, and what was the result?

Answer 57

Winston Churchill reintroduced it, which made British exports more expensive and led to reduced profits and wages for workers.

Question 58

What were the unemployment statistics in Britain by 1933?

Answer 58

Unemployment peaked at 23%, with about 2 million unemployed by 1930.

Question 59

Describe the geographical economic divide in Britain during the Great Depression.

Answer 59

The North and North East, including industrial areas like Durham and South Wales, faced decline, while the South saw the emergence of new industries like car manufacturing.

Question 60

What was the response of the Labour government (1929-1931) to the economic crisis?

Answer 60

The Labour government won elections due to popularity but refrained from introducing radical socialist policies.

Question 61

What did the May Report (1931) advocate for in response to the economic crisis?

Answer 61

It suggested drastic spending cuts, including cuts to unemployment benefits, to save the economy.

Question 62

What economist’s ideas influenced the post-WWII welfare state in Britain?

Answer 62

John Maynard Keynes, who believed in government intervention and investment to address social problems and revive the economy.

Question 63

What actions did the National Government take in the mid-1930s to stimulate recovery?

Answer 63

They abandoned the gold standard to boost exports, focused on new industries, and saw a housing boom that helped reduce unemployment

Question 64

How did rearmament for World War II impact the British economy?

Answer 64

It led to full economic recovery and a boom in the armed industry.

Question 65

How did contemporary observers describe the economic conditions in England during the Great Depression?

Answer 65

J.B. Priestley and George Orwell depicted the struggles of the working class and the concept of “England of the dole,” referring to the reliance on unemployment benefits.

Question 66

What economic event in 1929 triggered the Great Depression in Britain?

Answer 66

The Wall Street Crash

Question 67

What impact did the Great Depression have on unemployment in the UK by 1933?

Answer 67

Unemployment peaked at 23%, with 2 million unemployed by 1930.

Question 68

Which British political party struggled to establish itself during the early 1930s?

Answer 68

The Labour Party.

Question 69

What was the General Strike of 1926 in response to?

Answer 69

Wage reductions for coal miners.

Question 70

How did the 1930s affect the economic landscape of Britain?

Answer 70

There was a division between the industrially declining North and the emerging new industries in the South.

Question 71

Who reintroduced the gold standard in 1925, and what was its economic effect?

Answer 71

Winston Churchill; it made British exports expensive, leading to lower profits and wages

Question 72

What was J.B. Priestley’s aim in his writings about England in the 1930s?

Answer 72

To illustrate how England was changing due to American consumerism.

Question 73

What does the phrase “to be on the dole” refer to?

Answer 73

Receiving unemployment benefits.

Question 73

What social issue did George Orwell focus on in his writings?

Answer 73

The plight of the working-class population and the inadequacies of the benefits system.

Question 74

What did the May Report of 1931 propose?

Answer 74

Drastic spending cuts to save the economy, including cuts in unemployment benefits.

Question 75

What were the two main features of Britain during the 1920s, following the end of WWI?

Answer 75

A period of joy and prosperity initially followed by economic decline due to the Great Depression.

Question 76

What was the main industrial focus in the North of England during the 1930s?

Answer 76

Traditional industries like coal and textiles, which were in decline.

Question 77

Which new industries emerged in the South of England during the 1930s?

Answer 77

Manufacturing of cars and electrical goods.

Question 78

How did the National Government respond to the economic crisis in the 1930s?

Answer 78

They took a “middle way” approach, balancing investment with cuts in public spending.

Question 79

What historical event caused the breakdown of traditional export industries in Britain?

Answer 79

The aftermath of WWI and subsequent global economic shifts.

Question 80

What event marked the beginning of the Great Depression in Britain?

Answer 80

The Wall Street Crash of 1929 triggered the Great Depression, impacting Britain’s economy.

Question 81

What were some consequences of the Great Depression in the UK?

Answer 81

High unemployment, particularly in the north; industrial decline; and geographical divisions between the prosperous south and the struggling north.

Question 81

What significant labor action occurred in 1926 in Britain?

Answer 81

The General Strike of 1926 was a major labor action in solidarity with coal miners whose wages were reduced.

Question 82

What economic policy did Winston Churchill reintroduce in 1925?

Answer 82

Churchill reintroduced the gold standard, which made British exports more expensive and contributed to lower profits and wages.

Question 83

How did George Orwell’s perspective differ from that of J.B. Priestley?

Answer 83

Orwell focused on raising awareness about the plight of the working class and criticized the ineffectiveness of the benefits system, adopting a socialist perspective.

Question 83

What social issues does Orwell highlight regarding unemployment in his writing?

Answer 83

Orwell criticizes the Means Test for unemployment benefits, stating it is difficult to qualify for aid and can separate families, leading to increased suffering among the working class.

Question 84

What characterizes the “third England” that Priestley describes?

Answer 84

The “third England” is characterized by consumerism, leisure activities, and increased mobility, which Priestley views as a less authentic, American-influenced lifestyle.

Question 84

What was the primary focus of J.B. Priestley’s writings in the 1930s?

Answer 84

Priestley aimed to illustrate how England was changing due to American consumerism and to critique the inequalities and struggles faced by different social classes.

Question 85

How does Priestley view the traditional, rural England of the past?

Answer 85

Priestley has a nostalgic attachment to traditional, rural England, but recognizes it was based on radical inequality and has become obsolete.

Question 86

What is the impact of American consumerism according to Priestley?

Answer 86

While he acknowledges its egalitarian aspects, he argues that American consumerism leads to mass conformity and a “depressing monotony.”

Question 87

What was a notable outcome of the National Government formed during the Great Depression?

Answer 87

The National Government adopted a cautious approach, leading to spending cuts that did not effectively address the economic crisis, as seen in the May Report of 1931.