The unemployed

Question 1

Topic sentence

Answer 1

Finally, historians debate how successfully the Liberals improved the lives of the unemployed in Britain between 1906-12.

Question 2

Background

Answer 2

Before 1906 Britain’s unemployed were left suffering. The majority of people held strong beliefs in the laissez-faire notion and believed that the poor were to blame for their own poverty. Poor houses and work houses did exist but there was great stigma surrounding them.

Question 3

Evidence 1

Answer 3

The 1908 Labour exchange act set up labour exchanges which were similar to job centres and provided the unemployed with the opportunity to find available jobs in their area.

Question 4

Analysis 1

Answer 4

This successfully improved the lives of the unemployed because labour exchanges provided washing facilities, clothes mending facilities and refreshments to make the exchanges attractive to workers.

Question 5

Evidence 2

Answer 5

Additionally, the 1911 Insurance Act was passed which provided unemployment benefits theogony a mixture of state help and contributions from the worker.

Question 6

Analysis 2

Answer 6

This successfully improved the lives of Britains unemployed because the state was interfering with their lives to help them.

Question 7

Counter analysis

Answer 7

However , the 1908 labour exchange act was limited as workers were not required to register nor were employers compelled to notify the exchanges of vacancies.

Question 8

Evaluation

Answer 8

To evaluate, whilst the Liberals didn’t tackle long term unemployment the efforts to improve the lives of the unemployed were largely successful. This is evidenced by the fact that there was a surplus of £23 million in the National Insurance.