BRITISH TOPIC Flashcards

Question

3. The effects of industrialisation and urbanisation - Spread of socialist ideas

Answer 1

Demands for a greater voice for the working class increased. Trade Unions emerged to fight for better conditions and pay. 1900 saw the emergence of the Labour Party. Middle class businessmen, factory owners and entrepreneurs also made moves for more political power. They wanted more power and influence in the running of the country since they were the ones creating the wealth in Britain. Economic changes and changes to society = pressure for political change Pressure for change became more acute after changes were made in education and technology.

Answer 2

1870 Education Act (1872 Scotland) -Led to more people receiving basic education -Literacy rates improved 1850 Public Libraries Act -Helped increase literacy rates 1867 2nd Reform Act -Recognised the expanding skilled workforce 1885 Redistribution of Seats Act -Ensured growing towns were represented.

Answer 3

The invention of the locomotive and the rapid spread of the railway network from the 1840s meant that people, ideas and news could travel further and faster. National newspapers could now reach a larger proportion of Britain. The increasingly literate population could now consume news from all over the country. A national political identity developed. Britons became more interested in Britain was being run.

Answer 4

Pressure groups -The 1867 Reform Act was passed after large demonstrations were organised by the Reform League and Reform Union. -Later, but before 1914, the Suffragists and Suffragettes were influential in gaining the franchise for women. -Trade unions organised support for change and were important in creating the Labour Party which was originally founded to campaign for better conditions for working-class people.

Answer 5

23 July Tory Home Secretary, Spencer Horatio Walpole declared the demonstration illegal. He issued a police notice but the Reform League decided to attempt to enter the park anyway. Their procession started from the Reform League’s HQ on Adelphi Terrace and was headed by a cab with the President of the Reform League (Edmond Beales) along with his friend Colonel Dickson and a few others. When they reached the gates of the park 1600 constables on foot and mounted were guarding Marble Arch. The police attempted to use blockades to prevent the Reform League entering the park. Three days of rioting followed. IMPACT The Hyde Park riots can’t have failed to have gained the attention of politicians however it is difficult to assess the impact of these pressure groups as the 1867 Reform Act was passed a few months later.

Answer 6

Political reform was no longer seen as a threat. In the USA and in Europe struggles were taking place for liberty and a greater political say for “the people”. Britain tended to support these moves abroad, making it logical for this to happen in Britain too. The growing influence of the Liberal Party challenged old-fashioned landowning interests. The Liberal Party opposed the power of the old landowning aristocracy. For example, the Liberals supported the secret ballot to help working-class voters use their vote to force changes, unafraid of being victimised by their employers or landlords for not voting the way they were told to. Politicians knew that change was happening and could not be stopped so needed to work out how best to control that change and direct it in the way that would best suit their own interests.

Answer 7

The Northern States of America were fighting to end the slave trade. They wanted it abolished throughout the USA. This fight for liberty and equality struck a chord with people in Britain who shared similar ideals. Many of the working class supported the North and boycotted cotton produced in the South. This level of political awareness impressed the ruling classes. Middle and upper classes also increasingly supported the North. There grew a growing feeling that it was only right to support the growth of liberty and equality in Britain.

Answer 8

There was a series of revolutions in Europe that threatened France, Austria and the German States. Workers were beginning to demand more of a say in how their countries were run. The political classes in Britain can’t have failed to have noticed this. HOWEVER The fact that the Second Reform Act wasn’t passed until nearly 20 years later perhaps indicates that concerns about the 1848 revolutions were not acute enough to prompt any real changes in Britain at the time. Certainly, though attitudes towards the working classes were changed.

Answer 9

The death of former Prime Minister Palmerston (in 1865) represented the changing tone of politics as the old-fashioned ideas of the early nineteenth century gave way to new ideologies.

Answer 10

The Suffragists were successful in gaining some publicity for their cause – though not as much as they hoped. They did not gain headlines in newspapers. Many were successful in getting MPs to support their cause – in 1910, 1911 and 1912 Parliament heard arguments for and against a bill for limited female suffrage. Many MPs voted for it again and again and it could be argued that the Suffragist campaign caused this. 1918 – women given the vote by politicians that had been lobbied for 20 years by Suffragists.

Answer 11

Suffragettes would go on hunger strike as a protest at not being considered political prisoners. The government instructed the prisons to force-feed the women on hunger strike. News of force-feeding gained sympathy from the public as it was a terrifying experience. The government ended force-feeding and instead passed the Prisoners Act in 1913. it was basically a temporary discharge for Ill-Health Act The Act allowed prisoners to be released until they were well again and then re-arrested and returned to prison. The Act became known as the “Cat and Mouse Act”

Answer 12

Women's war work was important to Britain’s ability to fight and win and women stepped into the gaps where around 3million men went to fight Women worked as conductors on trams & trains, as typists and secretaries and 20,000 women worked in government departments Over 700,000 women worked in munitions where explosions were commonplace and TNT poisoning caused women to be nicknamed ‘canaries’ (around 400 women died from TNT poisoning during WWI) By 1917, 25,000 were working on farms with around 23,000 In the ‘Women's’ Land Army’ growing food for those at home and soldiers at war

Answer 13

- In the 20th Century the most notable pressure groups were those that campaigned for women’s suffrage. -The Suffragists and Suffragettes certainly had a significant role in women gaining the vote in 1918, as we shall see later, although other factors also played a part in this.

Answer 14

Politicians were becoming more aware of how the working class were becoming more skilled, literate and educated. They were also becoming more politically aware. It was felt that perhaps this group could be trusted to vote responsibly.

Answer 15

The House of Lords lost its veto in 1911 and that made the directly elected House of Commons the most important part of the British government.

Answer 16

The Conservatives and the Liberals competed with one another to win votes. This competition played a part in the passing of different Acts that made Britain more democratic. At the beginning of 1866 the Liberals were in power but were split on the issue of reform, and who the vote should be given to. The Liberal Prime Minister, Lord John Russell, wanted to extend the franchise but was forced to resign when his party didn’t back him.

Answer 17

In 1867 the Conservative Party became the government after twenty years out of power. Lord Derby (leader) and Disraeli (Chancellor) rushed to steal the ideas of the Liberal Party and hoped that by giving more men the vote they would be grateful to the Conservatives and vote for them in the future. Disraeli is often portrayed as a Fagan style character. Fagan was the master pickpocket of a gang of young thieves in London. The Dickens Classic Oliver Twist was published in the 1830s.

Answer 18

Disraeli reasoned that by giving working class men the vote in towns then these men would vote Conservative in the future. The Second Reform Act went further than even Lord John Russell had argued for. 1.5 million men living in urban areas could now vote. Disraeli and Derby had effectively stolen the ideas of the Liberals in the hope of gaining an advantage for their party. DID IT WORK ? In 1868 the Liberals were elected again. William Gladstone became the Prime Minister. In the 1874 election, Disraeli seized back control for the Conservatives, making it unclear as to whether political advantage was gained by the Tories when passing the 1867 Reform Act.

Answer 19

Conservatives could use their wealth to buy votes and dominate election campaigns. By placing the reforms of 1883 and 1884 close to the next election, the Liberals hoped to gain advantage from grateful new voters in towns more fairly represented after the redistribution of seats.

Answer 20

When the First World War began in 1914, women and many men could not vote in British elections. The war necessitated more political change. The Liberal Government passed the Representation of the People Act 1918 which gave the vote to all men over 21 and women over 30 who owned property.

Answer 21

In 1916, it was argued that the government could not order men to fight and kill on its behalf and then not allow them a chance to choose the government. In the 1919 election all men over 21 were given the chance to vote, with men in the armed forces being allowed to vote at 19.

Answer 22

As further reform for males was being considered, fears of a revival of the militant women’s campaign, combined with a realisation of the importance of women’s war work led to reform. When men had gone off to war in 1914, women took their jobs and in the process earned respect and admiration of men from all classes.

Answer 23

- The young - The old - The sick - The unemployed - The employed

Answer 24

Between 1900 and 1914 the Liberal government moved away from the policy of laissez-faire and passed several reforms aimed at helping people who were poor through no fault of their own. The young could not help being born into poverty whilst the old could not help becoming too old to work. Meanwhile, people made unemployed or who became ill had to face the loss of wages because of reasons they could do nothing about.

Answer 25

Children were considered the victims of poverty as they couldn’t escape poverty through their own efforts. They were seen as “the deserving poor” Child neglect and abuse were considered to be problems only associated with poverty. The Liberal Government set about passing a set of reforms aimed at improving the health of children, as well as the rights they enjoyed in society.

Answer 26

Recognised that children could go all day without a proper meal. There were concerns that the resulting hunger affected concentration in class. The Act allowed local governments to raise money by increasing local rates in order to provide one school meal a day during term time. School meals did make a difference to the children who received them.

Answer 27

It was pointed out by critics at the time that because it was down to local governments to pay for school meals many chose not to due to the cost. Even though they could increase rates. By 1911 less than 1/3 of all education authorities were providing school meals. Children in poor areas gained weight when at school but lost the weight again in the holidays because meals were only provided in term time.

Answer 28

Various reports had confirmed the poor health of young Britons. The Royal Commission report of 1904 stated: “Provision should be made for regular inspection of school children.” The Liberals looked at the poor performance in the Boer War.

Answer 29

Medical inspections at school were made compulsory Initially they could only diagnose and not treat any of the identified problems. There was no guarantee that parents could afford to treat their children.

Answer 30

Free medical treatment for school children brought in through school clinics. Medical inspections now served to highlight and address problems children had with their health.

Answer 31

The state has taken a big step towards looking after its citizens. “self-help” has been attacked. Small step towards greater healthcare for all in Britain.

Answer 32

Protect and shield children from abuse and neglect Protect against activities unsuitable for them Under 16s banned from smoking, drinking alcohol and begging Specialist juvenile courts and borstals to keep children away from adult criminals Children not cared for properly by parents should be cared for by the government. The children’s charter had come about because Rowntree had found that children were vulnerable and that there were very few laws to protect them. The Act was a massive step in the right direction and established what young children could and could not do.

Answer 33

Critics pointed out that those parts of the Charter concerning age limits were often hard to enforce. Some parents resented the government intervening in the parenting of their children. The Act only helped to improve the lives of some of the poorest and most neglected children.

Answer 34

Was just one of the influential people who belonged to a pressure group that demanded that pensions should be paid to the elderly, to help them to continue to live outside workhouses. Liberal ministers hesitated because the costs of the reform alarmed them. A series of by-elections in which Labour defeated the Liberals may have helped persuade Liberal ministers to act in 1908.

Answer 35

Single men and women over 70 given up to 5s a week. Married couples (over 70) were to be given 7s 6d Incomes over 12s a week were not entitled to a pension Had to have lived in Britain for at least 20 years Had to have been out of prison for at least 10 years No pensions for those who had avoided work, had criminal records or were habitually drunk.

Answer 36

Pensions were popular amongst the elderly working class. - They gave an income although it wasn’t enough to live on it did “top up” any income the elderly had. - No contributions were needed - Pensions were paid from the money collected in general taxation which annoyed richer tax payers - They were paid out at the Post Office which removed the stigma of the Poor Law Pensions were not generous yet they cost £8 million in the first year alone. Pensions were provided to 668 000 people By 1914 1 million people had claimed a pension The government had planned that pensions would cost £6.5 million in the first year.

Answer 37

Rowntree had identified that a person needed 7 shillings a week to stay out of poverty – pension paid less. 70 was a high age. In 1901 life expectancy was men 45 and women 48. Therefore people did not always live long enough to claim a pension. By their mid-50s many people were too old to continue hard physical work and therefore had to languish in extreme poverty until they were old enough to get a pension. Idea of self-help attacked again as no need to save for old age if they would get a pension.

Answer 38

In the 20th Century those that suffered ill health and could not afford treatment had little choice but to suffer their illness and hope to get through it. Often they would be laid off because they were unable to work. This meant that the working classes were vulnerable to falling into poverty and would be unable to get out of it. In 1911 a two part National Insurance Act was passed. We’ll look at the health part first.

Answer 39

The National Insurance Act: Part I: Sickness Benefit. - Employees contributed 4d a week if they earned under £160 a year. - Employers contributed 3d a week. - The state contributed 2d a week. - Contributions were recorded by placing stamps on cards. - Payments were made to workers when they were off sick.

Answer 40

The funding for insurance was different because the worker, employer and the government were all going to make a contribution to the insurance fund. This was unlike pensions which were non-contributory. It gave the worker “9d for 4d” in contributions according to Lloyd George. - Insured workers were entitled to 10 shillings a week for 13 weeks and 5 shillings for another 13 weeks if ill. - Got free medical treatment from a doctor chosen by the Insurance Commission. - Were entitled to 30 shillings maternity benefit for the birth of every child.

Answer 41

- Not many wanted to lick the stamps. - It only lasted the 26 weeks then workers had to rely on the poor law. - It only applied to wage earners. - Hospital treatments weren't covered - Self-employed, unemployed and those who use private health insurance weren't covered. - Weekly contributions were seen as a wage cut - Women and children weren't covered

Answer 42

There were many groups who opposed these acts simply because it didn't benefit them or didn't agree with their opinions. such as groups like; - Friendly societies - Trade Unions - Private Insurance companies - House of Lords - Doctors - Head of the British Medical Association

Answer 43

This was a good start to addressing the problems ill health caused workers. There were as we’ve seen significant limitations. Lloyd George recognised the limitations but said the government could not afford to do more at the time.

Answer 44

Unemployment had been identified as a cause of poverty. Politicians began to realise that workers had fewer rights in the workplace than other modern economies – eg Germany The Liberals passed reforms to help workers They hoped more could find work That those in work could be productive and happy.

Answer 45

Early form of job centre where workers could find work. They were an improvement on previous informal situation where people searched for a job themselves. By 1914, around 3,000 were finding a job each day.

Answer 46

Unemployed workers were not required to register with exchanges Employers did not have to notify exchanges of vacancies Exchanges didn’t address the real issue of how to get by if you were unemployed.

Answer 47

Would be funded in a similar way to part one by worker, employer and government contributions. Would be limited to those in jobs where unemployment was seasonal – ship building, building and construction. Contributions: - 2½d from workers - 2½d from employers - 3d from the government When a worker found themselves out of work they would receive 7 shillings per week for 15 weeks. The provisions worked on the assumption that after 15 weeks workers would be working again. If not they would have to fend for themselves. Some workers resented the money being taken out of their wages. Some were unhappy that they could only claim if they had been sacked. By 1913, 2.3 million were insured against unemployment By 1914 the scheme was so popular the Government was planning on extending to other trades.

Answer 48

The Liberals inherited this from the Conservatives. Workers could claim compensation for injury or disease resulting from working conditions.

Answer 49

Limited the working day to 8 hours.

Answer 50

Established minimum wage protection for workers in sweated trades.

Answer 51

Limited working hours Provided ½ day off every week

Answer 52

Slum housing was not addressed until the 1920s and 30s. Burns Housing Act, 1909 Was a hindrance rather than a help to planning. State education Remained inferior to German education Only £25,000 went to British universities in 1914. Despite the areas of neglect, social service spending had roughly doubled since 1906.

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