Britain: Why liberal reforms were introduced

Question 1

introduction

background info 1

Answer 1

in the early 1900s, poverty was a widespread issue in britain.

many homes were overcrowded, and still involved paying high rents - this overcrowding helped spread diseases such as small pox, tuberculosis, and influenza,

Question 2

introduction

background info 2

Answer 2

in the early 20th century, the infant mortaility rate was one in five, 20% of british children didnt make it to their first birthday

Question 3

introduction

Line of argument

Answer 3

The most important factor in the liberals introducing reforms was concerns over national security

Question 4

introduction

List of factors

Answer 4

Rise of the Labour Party, social surveys, and municipal socialism

Question 5

concerns over national security

Topic sentence

Answer 5

The most important factor in the liberals introducing reforms was concerns over national security

Question 6

concerns over national security

KU 1

Answer 6

In 1899, Britain had began fighting the Boer war in South Africa. Britain still has a volunteer army but between 40 - 60% of men who tried to volunteer were selected as they were not fit enough.

In Manchester, 8000 out of 11000 volunteers were rejected.

Question 7

concerns over national security

KU 2

Answer 7

In 1904, the Fitzroy report showed that all across Britain, many adult males were not fit and healthy because of their poor living and working conditions.

To tackle these problems, the report recommended various actions including free school meals for poor children, child medical inspections, and age limits for smoking.

Question 8

concerns over national security

A

Answer 8

Ensured there would be enough fit and healthy soldiers for future wars, unlike the Boer war.

For example, preventing children from smoking from a young age would protect them from developing a variety of respiratory issues that would prevent them from serving.

Question 9

concerns over national security

A+

Answer 9

However, popular beliefs of the time saw an individuals health as their responsibility and the government wasn’t responsible for fixing people’s poor health.

Furthermore, many prone in power, such as MPs and high ranking commanders in the army, saw the soldiers as expendable; therefore spending money on reforms to fix their health would be a waste as they would for regardless.

Question 10

concerns over national security

EV1

Answer 10

Britain required healthy, strong workers to solidify its position as a a powerful economic world power. In 1870, 32% of the world’s industrial production came from Britain. By 1913, this had dropped to 14% which worried many British people.

This was important as many industries that benefited from the reforms were those that competed with companies around the world. Therefore, the liberal government was passionate about improving the industries to better compete with the U.S and Germany.

Question 11

rise of the Labour Party

Topic sentence

Answer 11

Another important factor in the liberals introducing reforms was the rise of the Labour Party

Question 12

rise of the Labour Party

KU 1

Answer 12

In 1900, the Labour representation committee was formed from various political groups centred around working class interests.

The Labour Party (as it became known in 1906) offered a variety of policies; hoping to attract working class support.

Over time, the Labour Party became a much more successful and important political party.

Question 13

rise of the Labour Party

KU 2

Answer 13

Labour had two MPs in 1900, rising to 29 MPs in 1906, and 42 MPs by 1910. This made Labour the third biggest party in Britain by 1910 - just 10 years accuser their formation.

In the 1910 election, although the liberals gained the most MPs, they won fewer votes than the conservatives despite the liberals winning the previous election of 1906 by a landslide.

This shows that many traditional liberal voters had left them to instead vote for Labour.

Question 14

rise of the Labour Party

A

Answer 14

The Labour Party stood as a threat to the security blanket of working class voters for the liberal party.

The Labour Party offer an alternative for poorer voters, Therefore, the liberals introduced reforms to generate more appeal for working class voters

Question 15

rise of the Labour Party

A+

Answer 15

In 1910, the Liberal party try win the majority of the working class supplier with 274 MPs.

Therefore, the liberals would be confident in having the support of the working class without having to improve themselves for gaining votes that they already had.

Question 16

rise of the labour party

EV2

Answer 16

Britain had seen the success of other countries reform policies. In the 1880s, Germany introduced benefits including pensions to lessen poverty. These were very successful and widely supported.

This meant that the Liberal party could confidently assume the reforms would be well received by the British public, rather than risking a loss of power.

However, the rise of Labour was also important as the 1906 Labour election manifesto made various promises to the working class, including an eight hour work day.

This was important as many liberal reforms were similar to this - for example, the 1908 coal mines act. Thus, the liberal government had to effectively compete with them by offering the same benefits.

However, in the 1906 general election, the liberal manifesto makes almost no mention of reforms - suggesting they were not brought in to compete with Labour

Question 17

social surveys

Topic sentence

Answer 17

Another important factor in the liberals introducing reforms was social surveys

Question 18

social surveys

KU 1

Answer 18

Charles Booth was a businessman who didn’t believe in the existence of extreme poverty in London. Between 1886 to 1903, he carried out an experiment to prove this, however, he found the extreme poverty did exist in London with just over a third of people (35%) suffering from it.

Question 19

social surveys

KU 2

Answer 19

Seebomn Rowntree was inspired by his father, Joseph and Charles both to conduct a similar study in his home town, York. He, similarly, found that 30% of people lived in poverty. Secondly, he determined the primary cause of poverty to be out with one’s control – such as age, unemployment and illness.

Question 20

social surveys

A

Answer 20

The social surveys compounded the revolutionary idea of the ‘deserving poor’ – a lack of wealth as a result of one’s external environment rather than their agency.

This proved that the government must intervene to help those struggling, as there was nothing they could personally do.

Question 21

social surveys

A+

Answer 21

However, Rowntree’s report also explained the idea of secondary poverty, a family’s poverty was as a result of their spending habits, for example, purchasing luxuries like cigarettes.

Therefore, many in power still held the belief that they weren’t deserving of government help as their problem was a result of their own behaviour.

Question 22

new liberalism

Topic sentence

Answer 22

Another important factor in the liberals introducing reforms was new liberalism

Question 23

new liberalism

KU 1

Answer 23

Prime minister Henry Campbell-Bannerman, an ‘old liberal, died in 1908 onwards replaced by Herbert Asquith.

He gave jobs to people such as David Lloyd, George and Winston Churchill. they prescribed to the philosophy of new liberalism, a rejection of laissez faire politics, and a belief in the duty of the state to intervene in peoples lives.

Question 24

new liberalism

KU 2

Answer 24

In 1909, Lloyd George introduced the peoples budget – it aimed to raise money from the wealthy to tackle poverty.

It included taxes on the land owned by wealthy people in Britain, such as the profits made when selling land.

The budget caused outrage in British politics, the House of Lords refused to agree to it

Question 25

new liberalism

A

Answer 25

The philosophy was growing within the party, in turn many in power believed the reforms would strengthen the country – therefore, believing it was the government responsibility to improve the nation.

Question 26

new liberalism

A+

Answer 26

However, throughout the early 1900s, the new liberals were severely outnumbered by the old liberals - but various reforms are introduced, including free school meals 1906 and school medical inspections 1907.

Therefore new liberalism and couldn’t have been the reason behind the introduction of these as there was minuscule support for new liberalism before Asquith’s appointment as p.m.

Question 27

municipal socialism

Topic sentence

Answer 27

Another important factor in the liberals introducing reforms was municipal socialism

Question 28

municipal socialism

KU 1

Answer 28

Socialism was the belief in economic equality, meaning the rich should pay to help the poor.

Although most help for the poor came from charities, from the 1850s, changes were made by local (municipal) governments.

The local governments began to spend more taxpayers money on social reforms.

Question 29

municipal socialism

KU 2

Answer 29

In Glasgow, the council controlled the city’s lighting and water supply by the 1860s. A new pipeline from Loch Katrine brought clean water to parts of the city that had never enjoyed it before.

In addition, the cities tram system was extended – including a night service – making it easier to travel.

In 1858, the city also pointed its first medical officer of health, William Tennant Gairdner.

Question 30

municipal socialism

A

Answer 30

The success of local reforms proved that national government could and should do the same.

For example, the average life expectancy rose in Glasgow from the mid 1800s to the early 1900s, partly due to the falls in typhus and Cholera, partly because of better access to clean water in the city.

Question 31

municipal socialism

A+

Answer 31

However, by locally fixing the worst types of poverty in Britain, this may have delayed the need for national action – discouraging the liberals from introducing reforms.

Question 32

conclusion

Important factor

Answer 32

Rise of the Labour Party as many smaller or optional reforms were introduced after Labour’s success in 1906 to prevent loss of support for the party.

Question 33

conclusion

Less important factor

Answer 33

Social surveys as many still debated the existence of poverty in Britain, especially in rural areas that were entirely ignored by the social surveys.

Therefore, some MPs wouldn’t support the reforms as they saw poverty as a consequence of choosing to live in the city rather than a widespread issue.

Question 34

conclusion

Most important factor

Answer 34

Concerns over national security as the initial reforms of 1906 and 1907 were direct result of the malnourishment, exposed by the lack of healthy volunteers for the Boer war.

Therefore, the liberals realised the success of these initial reforms went onto expand existing ones or introduce new ones .