The 1WW and the political parties 1914-1918

Question 1

3 consequences of WW1

Answer 1

• state intervention and collectivision dramatically increased
• political parties dramatically changed since the conservatives entered a coalition government, the liberals split, liberal replaced by a coalitions , labour began to find an identity separate government, coalition ruled between 1916-1918 and 1918- 1922
• economy was severely damaged by the war, the first parts of the IWY gre in the shadow id this damage

Question 2

what unprecedented measures did war call for

Answer 2

• freedom of expression was curtailed
• market forces were regulated
• labour market was transformed by the introduction of women
• state nationalised vital industries
• trade unions grew and were empowered
• conscription was introduced by the pressures of the war
• free trade curtailed
• came of the gold standard
• rent control introduced
• taxation and eligibility for national insurance increased
• war profit were taxed

Question 3

disagreements between parities

Answer 3

• Despite a political truce between the parties, the war and collectivist measures placed enormous strains on the Liberal party and government
• DORA and conscription was contrary to liberal values
• fighting the war was inconsistent with liberalism and a small minority joined groups seeking a truce
• war of illusions as many thought it would be over in a few months
• asquith passed war responsibility to kitchener wo was incompetent and an administrator
• illustrated by the shell crisis and the start of DLGs influences since he reversed the crisis

Question 4

creation of the coalition government

Answer 4

• demands for conscription due to casualties on western front created the coalition government
• participation of the conservatives ended liberal government and Asquith
• refusal of conscription and the stalemate on the western front led to the demand for a war cabinet without asquith
• he resigned thinking he could engineer DLGs resignation in exchange for his return
  – conservatives made it clear they would not serve a cabinet without DLG

Question 5

David Lloyd George

Answer 5

• ‘man who won the war’ because of his war polices and attempts to control the generals
• faced a strange situation as a liberal leading a mostly conservative party
• split in liberal party shown by the maurice debate when Asquith, leader of the opposition brought an unsuccessful resolution of no confidence in government

Question 6

consequences of the maurice debate for the coalition government

Answer 6

• DLG survived but in 1918 had little alternative but to keep the coalition alive in the coupon elections
• labour was ejected in 1917 over the stockholm conference
• coalition received a huge majority
• effects of the Geddes Axe, DLGs declining reputation, ireland and foreign policy differences ensured the coalition could only last until 1922
• brought to an end by Bonar law and baldwin at the Carlton club meeting

Question 7

conservatives benefit form war ?

Answer 7

• the conservatives benefited the most
• entered government without an election and remained in it with the coupon election

Question 8

liberal benefit from war ?

Answer 8

• lost support and position as opposition party

Question 9

labour benefit from war ?

Answer 9

• mixed success
• hardie and macdonald support for pacifism damaged labour as the country was blinded by patriarchy
• but henderson participation in the first coalition government restored some confidence in the party
• moderate increases in its 1918 seats
• 1917 party organised to have an identity independent of the liberals
• trade union membership doubled during the war giving the party greater funds
• 2928 set up a party constitution including clause 4