Details of KU Why liberal reforms Flashcards
What does Laissez-fare mean?
Laissez-fare means ‘Leave Alone’
When did the Liberals introduce the social welfare reforms?
The liberals introduced social welfare reforms in 1906
Where did Booth and Rowntree investigate poverty in the UK?
Booth investigated in London and Rowntree investigated in York
What fraction of people lived in poverty in London? Revealed by Booths investigations
How many people in York?
1/3 of people were living in poverty in London
And it was a similar fraction in York.
When were Booths works published?
1886, about 20 years before liberal reforms.
Who was Rowntree friends with and what did he do?
Lloyd George - the Chancellor of Exchequer
What was the new Liberals philosophy? Who’s work was it built on?
The New Liberals drew on the work of Hobhouse and Green who argued the old Liberal tradition of Laissez Fare couldn’t keep up with modern Britain and argued for government intervention.
What roles did Asquith, Churchill and Lloyd George take up during the reforms?
Asquith became prime minister, Churchill became President of the Board of Trades and Lloyd George became Chancellor.
What indicates a lack of action from New Liberals?
Their amount of action is arguable as the liberals had no planned programme for Social welfare reforms which could indicate a lack of action.
What percentage of volunteers were unfit for service after the Boer war?
Where was this problem worse?
What impact did this have?
25% of volunteers were unfit for service after the Boer war.
This problem was worst in urban areas as one General claimed that 2/3 of volunteers from Manchester were virtual invalids.
This initiated the government to commission reports into the problem of ill findings which reinforced the reports of Booth and Rowntree.
Who studied the German system and why?
Germany had a long established welfare programme from 1880s onward. Lloyd George studied the German system and used it as a blueprint as reforms such as National insurance and Old age pensions.
What is political pragmatism?
A flexible approach to society with decisions made on the basis of what works.
By the early 20th century how many men had the vote?
2/3 of all men had the vote. The electorate was overwhelmingly working class - those most affected by poverty.
What party did the liberals most fear and why?
The liberals most feared the Labour party. It was most feared as by the 1906 election it had won 29 seats, all from urban areas with a significant working class population.
What did Lloyd George say in response to fear of other political parties?
“It is time we did something to appeal to the people, it will help to stop this electoral rot”
