5. Politics In Wartime WW1 BRT Flashcards by rhiannon Pearce

How did the liberal crisis seem to ‘vanish’ when Britain declared war on Germany

redmond and Carson urged their men to join Army
home rule act suspended
suffragettes give up campaigning
trade union members generally patriotic

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1915 coalition: why did the Liberal gov initially try ‘business as usual’ when war broke out

Initially believed it would be over by Christmas

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1915 coalition: what was the only change that the liberal government implemented when war broke out

Brought in Lord Kitchener as Secretary for War

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1915 coalition: when was DORA passed

8 August 1914

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1915 coalition: what did DORA give the state

An unprecedented level of control over people’s lives

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1915 coalition: who were Asquith and his government losing the support of April-May 1915

Confidence of their early supporters

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1915 coalition: what was clear about the war by 1915

war would last a long time

- home front as important as front line

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1915 coalition: what eventually forced Asquith to accept an all party coalition

Military disaster st Gallipoli and apart shell shortage on western front lowered govs prestige further

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1915 coalition: what was Bonar Law given in war coalition

Colonial office

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1915 coalition: who replaced Churchill at the treasury

Balfour

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1915 coalition: what was LG put in charge of

Ministry of muntjions

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1915 coalition: how were liberals unhappy with interventionist position of gov

uncomfortable with conscription

- some believed state was threatening civil liberties with intro of DORA

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1915 coalition: when did liberal party split

During Maurice debate of 1918

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LG and lib division: why did LG support coalition

He had a clear understanding of demands on home front of total war

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LG and lib division: who took over as Secretary for War when Kitchener died in 1916

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LG and lib division: how was the war coalition cabinet unsatisfactory

23 cabinet ministers- too many to effectively carry out business of conducting a war

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LG and lib division: why was there tension within coalition

All key positions held by liberals and conservatives distrusted Asquith

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LG and lib division: what effect did tensions within War cabinet have

Direction of war hesitant and piecemeal

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LG and lib division: by when had the conservatives completely withdrawn their support for Asquith

1916

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LG and lib division: what did LG propose after discussions with Bonar Law

Creation of a small war cabinet consisting of himself, Bonar Law, Carson

Asquith remain PM but wouldn’t take part in War cabinet

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LG and lib division: 5 ways in which LGs new coalition gov changed way Britain was governed

smaller War cabinet of 5
most top jobs conservative
cabinet secretariat- more efficient
PM developed own PMs secretariat
more gov ministries set up for wartime needs

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LG: how did liberal MPs react to LG replacing Asquith as PM

Continued to recognise Asquith as party leader but pledged to support gov in conduct of war

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LG: why did LGs support now depend on conservatives

Many liberals viewed LG as a traitor for dividing liberal party

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LG: how can conservatives support for LG be described

Toleration not trust

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Influence of lab and 1918 constitution: why did lab party almost split in 1914

Whether it should support the war

Influence of lab and 1918 constitution: why was party opposed to war and militarism

Essentially believed in international cooperation of working class

Influence of lab and 1918 constitution: why was MacDonald mercilessly criticised in press

Refused to compromise and support the war

Influence of lab and 1918 constitution: when did reward for most of labour movement supporting war come

When I’m 1916, Arthur Henderson became first ever lab politician to be given a place in cabinet

Influence of lab and 1918 constitution: what did Labour Party force gov to do with rising wartime prices pushing rents up

Gov to pass legislation which fixed wartime rents at prewar levels

Influence of lab and 1918 constitution: what was ‘fair play’ that labour party pushed for

Controls on profiteering and unrestricted market forces and for high taxation of war profits

Influence of lab and 1918 constitution: why were price controls introduced in 1917

To help stabilise food prices

Influence of lab and 1918 constitution: what impact did introduction of price controls and excess profits duty have on labours credibility

Increased it

Influence of lab and 1918 constitution: when did the Labour Party end it’s wartime cooperation with LG

When Henderson was refused permission to attend a conference in Stockholm which aimed to look at ways to bring about peace

Influence of lab and 1918 constitution: what did freedom from gov allow Henderson to work on

Reorganising Labour Party and putting together its policies for post war Britain

Influence of lab and 1918 constitution: what effect did Henderson’s Work after leaving gov have on Labour Party

United lab party and put it in strong position for competing with other 2 main parties

Influence of lab and 1918 constitution: how did Law benefit labour

- TU membership doubled to 8 million | - widening of franchise- bigger electoral support from working class

The Labour Party constitution: when did lab adopt new constitution

Feb 1918

The Labour Party constitution: what was Party to be composed of

Various affiliated groups: trade unions, socialist societies, cooperative societies, trade councils, local labour parties

The Labour Party constitution: who would manage the party

An executive of 23 members- this executive would be elected at annual party conference

The Labour Party constitution: what was means of production, distribution and exchange to be taken over by

Gov or community (nationalised) Became known as clause IV

The Labour Party constitution: what would happen to surplus wealth

It would be redistributed

The Labour Party constitution: what would happen to TUs power

They’d have more

The Labour Party constitution: effect of consitiuon

Gave lab party more confidence

The Labour Party constitution: how did lab party reassert it’s independence from liberals

Labour Party ministers resigned as soon as armistice singed

coupon election 1918, LG coalition and Bonar Law: how did Baldwin judge LG and Bonar Law together

‘Most perfect partnership in political history

coupon election 1918, LG coalition and Bonar Law: why did LG discuss his ideas and policies every morning with Bonar Law

Once he had Bonar laws approval he would be able to get them through cabinet and commons

coupon election 1918, LG coalition and Bonar Law: how did Bonar Law act as a mediator between LG and back benchers

Kept PM informed of opinions of backbenchers and kept backbenchers informed of what LG was thinking

coupon election 1918, LG coalition and Bonar Law: Bonar laws successes of chancellor of exchequer 1916-1918

-1917 raises £600 million via War loan campaign and by setting interest rates at 5 rather than 6%

coupon election 1918, LG coalition and Bonar Law: which rivalry still dominated British politics by the end of the war

Asquith V LG

coupon election 1918, LG coalition and Bonar Law: where was LG popular

In country but most of liberal parties funds and organisation in constituencies under Asquith control

coupon election 1918, LG coalition and Bonar Law: what did LG persuade Bonar Law and conservative leaders to do

Call an election before end of 1918

coupon election 1918, LG coalition and Bonar Law: why was Bonar Law happy to call an election before end of 1918

Realised LGs popularity and believed coalition gov would help preserve unity in country

coupon election 1918, LG coalition and Bonar Law: why was it known as a coupon election in 1918

Those who fought election in support of coalition were given a certificate signed by LG and Bonar Law

coupon election 1918, LG coalition and Bonar Law: what had been passed by the time of the coupon election

representation of the people act feb 1918- extended vote to wider section of society than before

coupon election 1918, LG coalition and Bonar Law: what was success of conservatives in gaining 332 down to

- coupon factor - nationalistic mood of country - electoral reform- reshaping of constituencies

New coalition gov of 1918: why was LG in a weak position as PM

- his power rested less on his own party supporters than on his former political enemies - leader of one wing of a divided party in decline

Policies and problems of LG coalition: what non war related issues did LG coalition have to deal with

- competition from Germany and USA - growth of TU movement - divisions over home rule for Ireland

Policies and problems of LG coalition: issues stemming directly from war

- gov debt - dislocation of trade and industry - problem of demobilising over 5 million men

Policies and problems of LG coalition: 1918 education act

- raised school leaving age to 14 - larger grants given to local authorities to improve teachers salaries - secondary schools remained fee paying but gov increased number of scholarships available

Policies and problems of LG coalition: Addison’s housing act 1919

- all local authorities obliged to ensure people had decent housing - 170000 subsidised houses built

Policies and problems of LG coalition: extension of unemployment act 1920

Covered an additional 12 million workers

Policies and problems of LG coalition: agricultural act 1920

Mainted wartime guarantee of prices for wheat and oats Guaranteed minimum wages for farm labourers

Policies and problems of LG coalition: what did meansures show

Gov intervention had now become the norm

Policies and problems of LG coalition: what did coalition face by 1922

Wide range of problems

Policies and problems of LG coalition: what did economic depression mean

Cuts in gov spending which severely limited reconstruction plans

Policies and problems of LG coalition: why and when did Addison leave ministry of health

March 1921 when subsidies for housing were ended

Policies and problems of LG coalition: how many working days were lost in 1921 due to increased TU Actitigty and industrial disruption

86 million

Policies and problems of LG coalition: what effect did Bonar laws resignation have on LGs position

Weakened it as coalition depended on his good working relationship with LG

Policies and problems of LG coalition: whinreplaced Bomar Law

Austen chamberlain- a critic of LG

The fall of LG: honours scandal 1922

LG accuses of selling peerages to finance his own political party through Lg fund

The fall of LG: what was honours scandal followed by

A foreign policy crisis- Chanak affair

The fall of LG: chanak affair

PM accused of acting high handedky, ordering British troops into action without consulting coalition partners

The fall of LG: what happened in October 1922 that convinced conservatives they had enough electoral support to break away from coalition

Victory at a by- election at Newport

The fall of LG: how had Bonar laws opinion on LG changed

He was critical of policies of gov and disapproved of LGS actions at chanak

The fall of LG: what happened at Carlton club

- meeting of conservative MPS - speeches made by Baldwin and BONAR LAW - conservatives voted overwhelmingly to vote next election alone

The fall of LG: when did post war coalition end

LG resigned a few hours after conservatives voted to fight next election alone

The fall of LG: election relsults 1922

- conservatives 330 seats - liberals 116 seats combined - labour 142

The fall of LG: what did 1922 election reveal

Extent of liberal party decline

5. Politics In Wartime WW1 BRT Flashcards

(78 cards)