The Liberal Reforms - The Factors

Question 1

When did the Liberal Reforms take place?

Answer 1

1906-1914

Question 2

What factors do we study for the Liberal Reforms?

Answer 2

The findings of Booth and Rowntree, fear over national efficiency/security, New Liberalism, the rise of the Labour Party, the example of municipal socialism.

Question 3

Who were Booth and Rowntree?

Answer 3

Charles Booth and (Benjamin) Seebohm Rowntree were social investigators who analysed the levels of poverty in Britain.

Question 4

Why did Booth seek to investigate poverty, and where did he?

Answer 4

Booth sought to debunk the socialist claim that 25% of Londoners were in poverty, so he investigated poverty in London’s East End. As Booth became popular he was aided by researchers to analyse the rest of London.

Question 5

What did Booth’s findings indicate?

Answer 5

He found that 25% was infact incorrect, but also that it was worse than the socialist estimate. Booth found around 35% of those in East London were in abject poverty.

Question 6

What did Booth find when he expanded his query to the rest of London?

Answer 6

He found that poverty levels were consistent throughout London.

Question 7

How did Booth publish his findings?

Answer 7

He published ‘Labour and Life of the People’ in 1889, and over 12 more years (1891-1903) Booth would publish 17 volumes of ‘Life and Labour of the People of London’.

Question 8

What did Booth advocate for after his findings?

Answer 8

Further Government intervention was necessary, and that inaction may lead to socialist revolution.

Question 9

Who did Booth inspire to start their own investigation elsewhere in Britain?

Answer 9

(Benjamin) Seebohm Rowntree.

Question 10

Where did Rowntree investigate?

Answer 10

Rowntree investigated York.

Question 11

What did Rowntree find?

Answer 11

Rowntree found similar results in York (30% in extreme poverty), showing that poverty was a widespread problem in Britain.

Question 12

What else did Rowntree find in relation to poverty?

Answer 12

There were two types of poverty:

Primary Poverty: Those whose earnings were so low that they could not survive on it alone.

Secondary Poverty: Those who earnings were enough to survive, but squander it on wasteful items i.e. alcohol.

Question 13

What was the poverty line that Rowntree indentified?

Answer 13

The poverty line he identified was 21s 8d (£1.08) to maintain a family in a minimum standard of living.

Question 14

What key politician did Rowntree heavily influence?

Answer 14

David Lloyd George.

Question 15

What causes of poverty did Booth and Rowntree discover?

Answer 15

ILL health, large families, low pay, unemployment, and drinking.

Question 16

What lead to fear over national security?

Answer 16

The Second Boer War.

Question 17

What was the Second Boer War?

Answer 17

The Second Boer War was a conflict between the British Empire and The Boer republics, starting in 1899.

Question 18

Who were the Boer?

Answer 18

Dutch farmers who colonised South Africa.

Question 19

What did the Boer forces number compared to the British?

Answer 19

The Boer forces numbered 35,000 compared to the 400,000 British soldiers.

Question 20

Why were the Boers effective?

Answer 20

Boer forces were well-trained, well equiped, well led, and well fed.

Question 21

How many volunteers during the Second Boer War were rejected and why?

Answer 21

The vast majority of volunteers were rejected (9 out of 10 in some towns) due to ill health and poor physical condition.

Question 22

How many volunteered in Manchester to fight the Boer?

Answer 22

11,000 men volunteered, but 8,000 were found to be physically unfit to carry a rifle and to be disciplined. Of the 3,000 to be accepted, only 1,200 had attained the standard muscular power accepted by the empire.

Question 23

What did the second Boer War indicate to the government?

Answer 23

Unfit workforce = unfit military force. Britain was losing it’s military superiority, and was becoming to weak to support itself.

Question 24

What did the Boer War confirm?

Answer 24

Britons were in too poor condition due to being financially poor. They couldn’t be the big, strong, British soldier because many of them were starving.

Question 25

What was established after the Boer War?

Answer 25

The Committee on Physical Deterioration was set up in 1903 with the purpose of finding out why army recruits were so out of shape.

Question 26

What were the recommendations of the Committee on Physical Deterioration?

Answer 26

The committee recommended medical inspections of children in schools, free school meals for the ppor, and training in another craft.

Question 27

Why was the Boer war so important?

Answer 27

Because if the British Empire barely managed to take on farmers in South Africa, how could they manage to come out victorious against expanding militaries of the time, such as Germany?

Question 28

What did Britain suffer from in 1906?

Answer 28

Britain suffered from an economic decline in 1906, and her industrial superiority was threatened by Germany and the USA.

Question 29

Why was the British Economy struggling?

Answer 29

Employers often complained of workers being too unhealthy to complete their work, meaning that if left unchecked Britain would become more unhealthy and increasingly inefficient.

Question 30

How did Germany already approach welfare with it’s citizens?

Answer 30

Germany had a welfare benefits and old age pensions in the 1880s. This lead to many thinking that if Britain could afford to, that it should aswell.

Question 31

How was New Liberalism recieved at first?

Answer 31

Liberal politicians were moving towards a reforming programme, however the extent of the reforms were still disagreed on.

Question 32

Why did some Liberal politicians back the reforms?

Answer 32

The Liberals had been out of power since 1886, and the reforms were a way to garner more votes from the working class (in essence to keep their job).

Question 33

What can the Pre-1905 Liberal policy on poverty described as?

Answer 33

‘Laissez-faire’ - to leave alone.

Question 34

What did the New Liberals believe in?

Answer 34

It was the duty of the government to take action to help the poor, rather than the laissez-faire attitude of the past.

Question 35

Who were prominent New Liberals?

Answer 35

David Lloyd George and Winston Churchill.

Question 36

What was not mentioned during the Liberal’s election bid?

Answer 36

Social reforms, as they were not mentioned until the Liberals gained power in 1906.

Question 37

When did New Liberal policy begin to be realised?

Answer 37

Two years after, when ‘Old Liberal’ PM Henry Campbell Bannerman died when New Liberals gained significant influence.

Question 38

Why was the Labour party a threat to the Liberals?

Answer 38

The rise of the Labour Party and the growth of trade unions mean

Question 39

Why did the Labour party gain popularity?

Answer 39

Working men were enfranchised in 1867 and demanded social reform in 1884.