was LG a prisoner of the tories

Question 1

what were LGs intentions in 1918

Answer 1

-land fit for heroes
-recapture image as social reformer
-introduced education reforms, old age pensions and the Addison housing act in 1919

Question 2

what went wrong for LG

Answer 2

-depression 1921
-unemployment from 400k to 2m
-consevatives wanted cut backs on benefits and housing
-council housing almost stopped and education failed
-geddes axe: cutting spending

Question 3

ireland and LG

Answer 3

-Sinn Fein replaced home rule party in 1918 and did not support liberals
-civil disobedience erupted in ireland between british army and IRA
-Lloyd George appointed ‘Black and Tans’ to suppress violence
-truce in 1921, irish free state formed

Question 4

foreign policy under Lloyd George

Answer 4

-defended Europe against bolsheviks
-angered british Labour Party by attempting to arm poles
-conservatived outraged over Anglo-soviet trade agreement

Question 5

increasing unpopularity for LG

Answer 5

-once 1918 crisis averted, personal dislike of conservatives over LG surfaced
-sale of honours repulsed many
-privitization of Cole drew criticism from left
-with depression, mine owners protected profits by cutting wages leading to strike

Question 6

end of coalition

Answer 6

-meeting of parliamentary conservative MPS
-187-86 voted to fight next general election as independent party
-bonar law seemed suitable replacement
-bonar law called general election after LG resigned leading to conservative majority government

Question 7

arguments for LG being prisoner of tories

Answer 7

-conservatives did not acc need LG and they dominated commons
-organisational weakness
-liberals failed to reunite meaning LG had become PM without a party
-as depression set in 1921, LG did not have support of party
-LG found it much harder to get on with tory backebnchers
-seemed to be going against his own liberal principles. when dep set in he had to follow the demands of tory by reducing public spending
-coal industry and rejection of snaky report
-use of black and tans
-troops used in Glasgow to tackle strikes

Question 8

arguments against LG being prisoner of tories

Answer 8

-set out for a ‘land fit for heroes
-unlucky with economic downturn
-anglo-irish treaty, work of LG
-Addison housing act: council housing
-extension of national insurance helped protect workers against unemployment
-prevented general strike in 1921