THEME 1 - a changing politcal and economic enviroment 1918-79 - Britain 1918-45 Flashcards
when were Asquith and Lloyd priminister
Asquith: 1908-16
Lloyd: 1916-22
1918 - what was the political situation like for the Liberals
- Poor leadership - david lloyd seen as traitor as outed Asquith
- Lloyd had to rely on conservative party for support ( needed support as many liberals stayed loya to asquith -> liberal party divided
what did the 1918 representation of the people act mean
14 million more voters
what was the political situation for labour
- emerged united at end of WW1 unlike Liberals
what are the reasons for the growth of the labour party
- working class can vote
- trade unions (grew during war) supported labour partty - funded by member fees
- supported the war
- had people with experience
- labour represented working class identities as opposed to regional or reigious
- appealed to the people
Elections - 1924 - what happened to labour ?
left the vote and torys won
this was because a letter called (Zinoviev) was shown hoping to ruin labours chances
the letter was FAKE but had claims of giving russia gold
elections - 1929 - what happeneded?
- Labour first majority ever
- MacDonald return
- Progressive approach - first woman MP - following 1928 representation of people act which allowed all women/men 21 or over to vote
the general strike 1926 - what were the causes (long term and short term)
Long term causes (1918-25):
- Coal mining dangerous - 600,000 injured between 1922-24
- 1919 Sankey Commission
- gov subsidies to miners only served owners
Short term causes (1926):
- Samuel commission - recommended rejected nationalisation and pay cut for miners
the general strike 1926- why did it fail?
- Commitment issues - not all workers committed
- Gov preparing since 1925 - created ORGANISATION FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF SUPPLIES
- Churchill power over newspaper - hostile propaganda to strikes
the general strike 1926 - what were the consequences?
- Baldwin pleased conservatives by passing the TRADES DISPUTE ACT 1927 - civil servants banned from unions + banned general strikes - AS A RESULT working class men looked for political change by Labour party INSTEAD OF DIRECT ACTION
- TUC abandoned general strikes
- UNION STRENGTH DEPLETED
- TUC accepted Samuel memorandum ( payment to workers by state)
Labour government 1929-31 - the rise of the labour party - what were the social reforms
MacDonald return
What were labours social reforms?
- Labour dependent on liberls to pass legislation
- 1930 housing act - cleared 750,000 slum housing (modern home by 1939
- 1930- Local mines act - attempted to improve pay but lacked strength in legislation so owners could ignore it
- MacDonald - ammended Unemployment insurance act - gov created public schemes to lesson effects of unemployment
labour government 1929-31 - the rise of the labour party- what were the economic problems + failures (economic blizzard)
- romoured 2 years of unblance - borrowing increased
- pound slump in value
- 10% in unemployment assistance ( to keep pound stable) this made the labour party split
- USA did not want Britain to spend £ on welfare even tho unemployment rising - USA had power: large currency reserves due to borrowing during war
- Labour leading ministers MACDONALD + SNOWDEN joined conervative led coalition = national government = split of labour party - macdonald formed national government - traitor to labour
Dominance of the conservative party - 1922 - 31
why were the the dominant inter war party ?
Baldwin was well organised
Identifided with patriotism
Supported by ALL CLASSES
secured the majority of the female vote - via Franchise act 1929 and widows+ orphans act
Dominance of the conservative party - 1922 - 31
why was baldwin in power for so long?
high political skillls
Appealed to masses
Didnt face any major challenges
passed significant acts which
Dominance of the conservative party - 1922 - 31
Baldwin - what 3 significant acts did he pass and what were his succeses ?
1924-29 handled strikes well
passed significant acts:
1. Widows + Orphans act 1925 - state pensions introduced which attracted women workers
2. local gov act 1929 - layed foundations of health service
3. franchise act 1929 - extended voting to all women
welfare support - in 1918 what was it like
based on victorian poor laws + liberal welfare reforms
1911 liberal reforms -> unemployment benefit through insurance scheme
- self funding and had to pay in
- only compulsary for traditional industries
welfare support - post ww1 3 acts
1. Unemployment Insurance Act 1920
2. national economy act 1931
3.unemployment act 1934
desribe
descirbe unemployment insurance act 1920
- covered 12 million people - men and women
the externsion for state spending was justified by: - need to fix high unemployment
- fears of revolution (as seen in russia) due to extreme poverty
describe national economy act 1931
means test introduced to limit benefits bill as concerns to welfare budget
- disqualification of ‘short time’ workers - which meant unemployment meant more sense than work
- benefits could only be claimed for 6 months then required reapplying - following that transitional payments inroduced but required means testing
ALSO some children forced to leave home as unemployed parents couldnt claim benefits if children worked
describe unemployment act 1934
reversed cut in benefits for short time unemployed
means testing continued
- cut in long term benefits = protests = gov introduced standstill regulations - suspended cut which shows pressure protected welfare system
