Why Liberals

Question 1

INTRODUCTION

KNOWLEDGE

Answer 1

During the 19th century the majority of people believed that poverty was self inflicted and those affected by it were either an alcoholic, gambler or unwilling to work.
The government at the time believed domestic and economic policy would work best if they did not get involved in it. They thought providing assistance would only encourage people to stay out of work and live off the state.
They adopted a “laisezz-faire” approach which literally means “leave alone”.

Question 2

INTRODUCTION

FACTORS

Answer 2

Social surveys of Charles Booth and Seebohm Rowntree.
National Security + National Efficiency.
Political Advantage of Labour.
New Liberals.
Municipal Socialism.

Question 3

PARAGRAPH 1 - SOCIAL SURVEYS
CHARLES BOOTH
KNOWLEDGE

Answer 3

Charles Booth’s report “Survey of Life and Labour in London” was completed in 1903 and showed that nearly 1/3 of Londons population was in poverty and only 15% was through their own fault.

Question 4

PARAGRAPH 1 - SOCIAL SURVEYS
CHARLES BOOTH
ANALYSIS

Answer 4

Significant in motivating the introduction of the social reforms because it provided clear evidence to the government with regards to the extent of poverty in Britain which was previously unseen as t was thought only 25% of Britain’s entire population was in poverty when the % was in fact higher.

Question 5

PARAGRAPH 1 - SOCIAL SURVEYS
SEEBOHM ROWNTREE
KNOWLEDGE

Answer 5

Seebohm Rowntree’s study “Poverty: A Study of Town Life” was completed in York, showed that 30% of Yorks population were in poverty and he also drew up the idea of a ‘poverty line’ which was the minimum amount a family needed to live on, 35p per week.

Question 6

PARAGRAPH 1 - SOCIAL SURVEYS
SEEBOHM ROWNTREE
ANALYSIS

Answer 6

This study was influential in motivating the liberal reforms because Rowntree’s creation of a poverty line provided a clear, measurable target for the government which they did not have previously.

Question 7

PARAGRAPH 1 - SOCIAL SURVEYS
SEEBOHM ROWNTREE
KNOWLEDGE 2

Answer 7

He also coined the terms ‘primary’ poverty which mess lacking in sufficient funds to buy basic necessities and ‘secondary’ poverty which meant having audience funds but choosing to spend it on other things.

Question 8

PARAGRAPH 1 - SOCIAL SURVEYS
SEEBOHM ROWNTREE
ANALYSIS 2

Answer 8

This challenged the ‘laissez-faire’ approach of the government as the majority of people in poverty were poor through no fault of their own and it was often near impossible for people to get out of poverty on their own therefore government intervention was required.

Question 9

PARAGRAPH 1 - SOCIAL SURVEYS

EVALUATION

Answer 9

Upon evaluation, many historians have argued that the reports of booth and rowntree were an important factor in influencing the liberal reforms because these groundbreaking reports radically altered the debate around poverty and lead to emergence of new positions on government intervention as assistance was previously deemed unnecessary.

Question 10

PARAGRAPH 2 - NATIONAL SECURITY/EFFICIENCY

KNOWLEDGE

Answer 10

During 1899-1902 Britain was embroiled in the Boer War and therefore required men to defend the country. The recruitment of soldiers highlighted the issue of ill-health in Britain, almost 1/3 of all soldiers enlisting were turned away on medical grounds.
EXAMPLE : In Manchester only 1,200 men out of 11,000 volunteers had the minimum standard of muscle power and chest measurement.

Question 11

PARAGRAPH 2 - NATIONAL SEC/EFF

ANALYSIS

Answer 11

The widespread with regards to the physical deficiency of the country’s people concerned politicians greatly. Many began to wonder if Britain would be able to win a war or protect their borders therefore social reform targeting the poorer classes appeared to be the best solution to the problem.

Question 12

PARAGRAPH 2 - NATIONAL SEC/EFF

KNOWLEDGE 2

Answer 12

Britain was no longer seen as the worlds strongest industrial nation and was facing serious competition from new industrial nations such as Germany. The liberal reforms were viewed as a way to stop Britain’s industrial decline and keep up with Germany.

Question 13

PARAGRAPH 2 - NATIONAL SEC/EFF

ANALYSIS 2

Answer 13

National efficiency was important as a motivating factor as there was a need for improvement in the hope of stopping the industrial decline to keep up with British rivals and the social reforms were believed to be the way to do so.

Question 14

PARAGRAPH 2 - NATIONAL SEC/EFF

EVALUATION

Answer 14

Upon evaluation, many historians have argued that concerns over national efficiency and security weren’t important in motivating the social reforms because it was feared that if health and education did not improve then their power as a strong industrial nation would be threatened therefore this highlighted that there was a significant need for change within Britain in terms of health and education.

Question 15

PARAGRAPH 3 - NEW LIBERALS

KNOWLEDGE

Answer 15

The New liberal party was in transition from old Gladstonian, Laissez-Faire beliefs to new liberalism which advocated that one state should provide the framework within which everyone could live in security. Lloyd George, a new liberal politician, and Winston Churchill, who was once a member of the conservatives, noticed that Britain was not up to the same standard as Germany in the methods used to help those who were in poverty.

Question 16

PARAGRAPH 3 - NEW LIBERALS

ANALYSIS+

Answer 16

New liberal politicians wanted to make a name for themselves in the party and ensure that the liberals were not losing support to the conservatives. Therefore, they put forward ideas about reform for free school meals so they would gain attention from the public as well as support for the party.
However, it was clear that the liberals could not freely pursue the New working class votes if it was going to alienate their core voters which shows the importance of concerns over national security in ensuring that the broader population viewed the reforms as beneficial.

Question 17

PARAGRAPH 4 - RISE OF LABOUR

KNOWLEDGE

Answer 17

The franchise was extended and working men had the right to vote and it was feared by the liberals that these individuals would turn to the newly emerging Labour Party as they were the party for the working man therefore resulting in a large loss of votes for the liberals.

Question 18

PARAGRAPH 4 - RISE OF LABOUR

ANALYSIS

Answer 18

The liberal party would have been keen to capture the working class vote and that they viewed the rising ‘new labour’ party as a significant competitor. Older liberal mp’s who still followed the policy of Laissez Faire were willing to put their personal convictions aside by supporting the reforms for the good of the party.

Question 19

PARAGRAPH 4 - RISE OF LABOUR

EVALUATION

Answer 19

Upon evaluation, many historians have argued that the need to maintain their political position was more significant as a factor than the apparent change in public attitudes created by the social surveys as the survival of their party was key rather than genuine concern with regards to the issues that had been previously highlighted.

Question 20

PARAGRAPH 5 - MUNICIPAL SOCIALISM

KNOWLEDGE

Answer 20

Many local authorities were already on track with regards to improving the lives of citizens through the use of local taxation. As a result of this by the 1850’s Glasgow Town Council had gained control over the city’s water supply. Public parks were also opened to poor use access to fresh air and relaxation and libraries were opened to provide and access to education.

Question 21

PARAGRAPH 5 - MUNICIPAL SOCIALISM

ANALYSIS+

Answer 21

The idea of redistributing wealth between the rich and the poor through taxation could be seen in operation in cities such as Glasgow and it set an important precedent that national reforms could be funded by taxpayers and the whole of society would reap the benefits.
However, it must be noted that although it could be argued that this paved the way for national reform, the process of municipal socialism was not carried out by every local authority therefore it was not universal throughout Britain and hence this limits the importance of this factor as if it was not widely carried out then there may not have been such a significant national impact that some historians claim it had in motivating reforms.