1906-1914 industrial unrest and home rule Flashcards
(24 cards)
What was the primary goal of the 84 Irish Nationalist MPs after the December 1910 general election?
To achieve Irish Home Rule
Led by John Redmond, these MPs believed that the 1911 Parliament Act had made Home Rule possible.
What did the Third Home Rule Bill propose for Ireland?
Ireland would have its own parliament with powers over purely Irish matters, while the British Parliament would retain control over foreign policy, defence, trade, pensions, and national insurance
Ireland would still send MPs to Westminster.
Who opposed Home Rule and supported the Ulster Unionists?
The Conservatives
They argued that Home Rule would undermine Britain’s power and break up the UK.
What economic concerns did Ulster Unionists have regarding Home Rule?
They feared losing control over their industrial wealth and did not want heavy taxes on their industries to support poorer rural areas
Ulster was the only industrialized part of Ireland with significant industries.
What was the Ulster Covenant and when was it drawn up?
A protest against the introduction of the Third Home Rule Bill, drawn up in 1912
Edward Carson was instrumental in its creation.
What organization did Edward Carson form in 1913 to resist Home Rule?
The Ulster Volunteer Force
This was formed to oppose the imposition of an all-Irish parliament.
What significant event occurred in 1914 involving Carson’s supporters?
They smuggled 30,000 rifles and 3 million rounds of ammunition into Larne
This action was part of their resistance efforts against Home Rule.
What was the ‘Curragh Mutiny’?
A situation in March 1914 where British officers threatened to resign rather than fight against Ulster Unionist resistance
This highlighted the tensions within the British Army regarding Home Rule.
What counteraction did the Irish Nationalists take against the Ulster Unionists?
They formed a militia called the Irish Volunteers
This group aimed to enforce Home Rule.
What was the outcome of the last-minute talks at Buckingham Palace regarding Home Rule?
The talks failed to reach an agreement
However, civil war was averted due to the outbreak of war against Germany.
What happened to the Home Rule Bill due to the outbreak of war in 1914?
Home Rule was suspended for the duration of the war
The Irish problem was temporarily set aside but not resolved.
What was the total union membership in millions in 1906?
2.2 million
This figure marks the beginning of the period analyzed for trade union membership.
How many stoppages occurred in 1911?
872 stoppages
This year saw a significant number of stoppages, reflecting industrial unrest.
What was the total number of working days lost in millions in 1908?
10.8 million
This year had an unusually high number of lost working days compared to others.
What was the total working days lost in millions in 1912?
40.9 million
This dramatic increase can be attributed to heightened industrial unrest.
What percentage increase did the cost of living experience by 1912 compared to 1906?
14%
This rise in cost contributed to the growing discontent among workers.
What change occurred in unemployment levels starting in 1910?
A fall in the levels of unemployment
This made workers more willing to confront employers.
What did the 1906 Trade Disputes Act accomplish?
Removed the restriction that unions were legally liable for costs incurred by employers due to strikes
This act empowered unions in their negotiations.
What was the role of federations like the miners federation?
They gave unions more power
The consolidation of unions into federations strengthened their collective bargaining abilities.
What was the Labour Party’s impact on industrial workers by 1912?
It had not fulfilled the hopes of industrial workers for legislative support
This led workers to seek more direct action through strikes.
What is syndicalism?
A revolutionary movement calling for violence to destroy the existing capitalist system
It proposed that workers own and manage factories, linking it closely to socialism.
True or False: The wave of strikes that began in 1910 was characterized by unprecedented violence.
True
The strikes during this period were marked by significant unrest and hostility.
Fill in the blank: By 1912, the improved education of the workforce led to an increasing awareness of _______.
inequalities
This awareness was influenced by reports from social researchers like Booth and Rowntree.
