The Liberal Crisis 1906-1914 Flashcards
Why did the Conservatives lose popularity before the 1906 election?
- Boer War 1900-02
- Education Act 1902
- Taff Vale Case 1902
- Chinese Labour issue 1902-04
- Lib-Lab Pact 1903
- Tariff Reform Campaign 1903
- Licencing Act 1904
- Neglect of social reforms
- United Liberals
What were some main reasons the Liberls won the 1906 election?
- Commitment to free trade
- People were voting anti-conservative due to opposition to Boer War and policies brought in
- United Liberals, split Conservatives
What was New Liberalism?
The idea that there were circumstances in which it was needed for state intervention in peoples lives.
New Liberal policies associated with DLG
- Old age pensions 1908
- Peoples Budget 1909
- Campaigning for poor relief
New Liberal policies associated with Campbell-Bannerman
- Free Trade
- Irish Home Rule
- Amendments to the endowned hospitals
New Liberal policies associated with Churchill
- Free Trade
- Trades Board Bill 1908- set up first minimum wages
- Labour exchanges 1909
- National Insurance Act 1911
- Peoples Budget 1909
New Liberal policies associated with Asquith
- Old age pensions 1908
- Parliment Act 1911
- National Insurance Act 1911
- Tried to introduce Home Rule 1912
Boer War and it impact on the Conservatives
- In the short term benefited but long term contributed to their defeat
- 1900 help to win impressive electoral victory due to patriotic support and the issue dividing the Liberals
- War was costly in lives and money
- Also revealed extent of poverty and need for social reform
- Lib claimed support by saying that Cons would neglect this
- War had effect of making Chamberlian push for tariff reform
1902 Education Act and effect on Conservatives
- Angered non-conformists who moved to support Liberals
- Before 1902 Anglican and Catholic schools were funded by the Church
- 02 Act provided for all schools to be funded by rates- non conformists outraged their taxes would be spent on schools they objected to
1904 Licencing Act an effect on conservatives
- Annoyed non-conformist voters
- Act aimed to reduce public houses, promised compensation to brewers and publicans
- Outraged temperance section of non-conformists
- Brewers support conservatives so non-conformists denounce Act
1902-04 Chinese Labour issue
- Chinese slavery issue caused scandal that damaged conservative gov in eyes of non-conformists+Trade Unions
- Chinese Labourers who worked for low wages imported to South Africa
- Moral outcry over their treatment and Trade Unionists feared they’d be brought back to Britain andpush wages at home down
What in 1905 also lost conservatives votes?
High unemployment and inadequate support of the unemployed
Taff Vale Case 1902
- Lost support due to failure to take Trade Unions side
- A disput in Wales between Taff Vale railway company and railway workers union= lead to stike action
- Company took Unions to court, wanting compensation for lost days
- 1902 House of Lords ruled that company was within rights to sue
- Unions couldn’t launch a successful strike
- Support Liberals
Neglect of social reforms by the Conservatives
- Boer war hadd exposed extent of malnutrition-Rickets
- Liberals were trying to make new reform measures
- Conservatives produced nothing but Education reform
Tariff Reform and its impact on the conservatives
- Launched in 1903 by Chamberlain
- Wanted Imperial Protectionism
- Working classes and middle classes feared it would mean more expensive food and falling living standards
