BRITAIN: REASONS FOR THE LIBERAL REFORMS Flashcards
(11 cards)
SOCIAL CAMPAIGNERS - background
Charles Booth was an influential London businessman, who did not believe extreme poverty existed in his city, his report found that 35% of Londoners lived in absolute poverty.
Partially inspired by Booth and his father’s dedication to fair working conditions, Seebohm Rowntree carried out his own report and found that 30% percent of York lived in extreme poverty.
REASONS FOR THE LIBERAL REFORMS introduction facts
By the time of his death in 1904, Samuel Smiles’ book ‘Self help’ sold 250,000 copies, becoming a hugely popular and influential text characterising the shame of poverty at the time. The 1906-1914 Liberal governments are remembered for introducing various social reforms, including free school meals changing the attitude of ‘laissez faire’ which had dominated government thinking before this
SOCIAL CAMPAIGNERS for and against
Primary poverty – no matter what a household spent their money on they could not afford basic needs - was finally recognised as an issue by rowntree, meaning that the influence of these reports changed public views
However, secondary poverty – a family/ individual having enough money to live on but spending it on luxuries like alcohol - was also discussed Rowntree reinforcing outdated beliefs
NATIONAL SECURITY background
Britain were at war in South Africa since 1899, 25% of volunteer soldiers were rejected due to poor health (9/10 in some areas)
Britain was in arms race with Germany, building things like Dreadnought battleships which strengthened our military power
NATIONAL SECURITY for and against
Real fear that of war with Germany was immanent we would be unable to defend ourselves if we could not defeat the Boers
Many reforms, including old age pensions, were not aimed at young potential soldiers, suggesting it was not a priority
NEW LIBERALISM - background
A new generation of liberal politicians rose after the death of PM Henry Campbell-Bannerman in 1908, they steered the party away from laissez faire orthodoxy
These were Churchill, Asquith and Lloyd George, who believed that the state needed to be more active in their action against poverty
NEW LIBERALISM for and against
Liberal philosophers like Leonard Hobhouse argued that the true individual happiness and freedom could only be achieved if the state freed people from poverty
The liberals had been out of power since 1886, and pursued policies that would potentially attract new working-class male voters
RISE OF LABOUR background
British voters in the 1800s only had two main parties to choose (tory and liberal) but the formation of the Labour Representation Committee in 1900 (partially in 1906) changed this
The Reform Acts of 1867 and 1884 gave a large proportion of working class men the vote, after the third act 60% of male householders had the vote
RISE OF LABOUR for and against
Liberals worried that labour could attract working class votes, so creating social reforms could help attract those votes
The 1906 election manifesto for liberals made almost no mention of social reforms. Implying this was not a key election issue for them.
MUNICIPAL SOCIALISM background
Socialism is the belief in economic equality, meaning the rich pay to support
Throughout the 1800s, local councils had began to action to relieve poverty, like clearing out slums and supplying clean water to cities, eg, from Loch Katrine to Glasgow
MUNICIPAL SOCIALISM for and against
Local successes undermined claims that government could not solve poverty
Municipal socialism may have delayed national action by giving small help in areas most needed
