1918 Effects of War on Liberals Flashcards Preview

British History A Level > 1918 Effects of War on Liberals > Flashcards

Flashcards in 1918 Effects of War on Liberals Deck (16)
Loading flashcards...
1
Q

All Effects

A
  • Shell Scandal
  • Conscription
  • Maurice Debate
  • Nationalisation
  • Coupon Election
  • Small War Cabinet
  • Garden Suburb
2
Q

Shell Scandal

A

In 1915 it became apparent that the Front Line was short in its supply of munitions

Created an uproar in the House of Commons

Started suggestions that the major parties should form a war time coalition

David Lloyd George became munitions minister on the back of the crisis

Put Lloyd George in a powerful position form which he could overthrow Asquith

3
Q

Conscription (1916)

A

Conscription was introduced from 1916 onwards

It forced all men from ages 18 to 42 to serve in the armed forces

50 Liberals voted against the bill as it went against Liberal ideology

They believed it was a gross invasion of individual freedom

This was the first example of divisions within the Liberal Party

4
Q

Small War Cabinet

A

Lloyd George became war minister after the death of Lord Kitchener in June 1916

In December Lloyd George proposed a small war cabinet be formed containing 3 ministers and led by himself not Asquith

Lloyd George had the support of the Conservatives and 5 major newspapers

Asquith refused and Lloyd George offered his resignation and the Conservatives informed Asquith if Lloyd George left the coalition so would they

Asquith was forced to quit and Lloyd George took over

The Liberals were completely split between those who supported Asquith and those who supported Lloyd George

5
Q

Garden Suburb

A

Lloyd George created a inner war cabinet as PM with 8 members with him the only Liberal

He also set up a cabinet secretariat led by Maurice Hankey

The secretariat advised Lloyd George everyday and helped him make quick decisions

It was called the garden suburb as it was housed in the garden of number 10

The controversial part of this was that none of the members were MPs, they were actually outside advisers

Combine this with the rarity of Lloyd George attending the House of Commons some critics suggested he had become a dictator

Made a mockery of Liberal democratic values

6
Q

Maurice Debate

A

In May 1918 General Maurice accused LG of distorting British troop numbers in France to suggest the army was stronger than it actually was

Maurice aimed to show that the failures on the Western Front were dew to the government not army leaders

Asquith used the accusation to chair a vote of no confidence in LG as PM

LG lied saying Maurice provided the troop figures but did it so well Asquith appeared unconvincing

The Commons voted 293 to 106 in favour of LG

Asquith and his supporters were made to look like trouble makers in a time of national crisis

7
Q

Nationalisation

A

To ensure war time production was up to the necessary standard the government by nationalising key industries such as munitions, transport, food, shipping and coal

This scale of nationalisation brought resulted in a mass expansion of state bureaucracy something the Liberals had traditionally opposed

Many Liberals saw the growth of state control as threat to individual liberty

The profits from nationalised industries also went to the government something Liberals had always traditionally opposed

8
Q

DORA (1914)

A

DORA was the first act passed through parliament during the war in August 1914

The act granted the government emergency powers to intervene in the lives of ordinary citizens

Examples of acts brought in under DORA include rationing, conscription and nationalisation amongst other things

The act directly opposed freedom of the individuals a key principle which the Liberal party stood for

The Liberals had directly compromised their ideology only a month into the war

9
Q

Rationing

A

In 1918 rationing was introduced on food products such as Sugar, meat, flour, butter, margarine and milk.

This was to prevent a national shortage of food with German blockades still having some success against British convoy fleets

Rationing was a direct compromise of Liberal values as it imposed of the freedom of individuals

10
Q

Coupon Election

A

The Coupon Election was held in December 1918 and saw Lloyd George maintain his premiership

The Coalition won a huge majority with them winning 478 seats

Lloyd George was advertised as the man who had won the war which helped him gain the nationalist vote

In the coalition there were 335 Conservatives, 133 Liberals and 10 Labour MPs

This meant that the government was completely Conservative dominated and Lloyd George was totally reliant on them to remain in power

11
Q

Central Alliance

A

After the war had finished Lloyd George and Conservative leader Bonar-Law agreed to continue their war time coalition

This resulted in Lloyd George becoming a PM without a party as he had little Liberal support

Liberals were dependant on Conservative support and couldn’t remain in power without them

This maintained the spilt between the Lloyd George liberals and the Asquithian liberals which was fundamental to the parties decline

12
Q

Ages for conscription

A

18-42

13
Q

Voters in favour of LG in Maurice Debate

A

293-106 in favour

14
Q

Tory seats in the Coupon Election

A

335

15
Q

Year rationing was introduced

A

1918

16
Q

All factors that opposed Liberal ideology

A
  • Rationing
  • Conscription
  • DORA
  • Nationalisation
  • Garden Suburb