Liberal Reforms Flashcards
(45 cards)
a. When was the School Meals Act introduced?
b. What was it
a. 1906
b. Local authorities providing free school meals for poorer children
If you were over 70 with an income of less than £21 a year, how much was your pension?
5 shillings a week (a shilling is 5p)
When did Germany introduce social reforms?
1880’s
What was introduced to help the elderly who were out of work?
The Old Age Pension
When was the Old Age Pension Act passed?
1908
How much of Britain’s population made up the working classes?
Over 50%
What is the meaning of ‘reforms’?
A change for the better
Which two main political parties were in government before the Labour Party was formed?
- The Conservative Party
- The Liberal Party
Where was the Boer War fought?
South Africa
Briefly sum up the Boer War?
Two wars fought during 1880-1881 & 1899-1902 by the British Empire and South Africa.
The latter of the two wars was more important.
What was a ‘sweated industry’?
A very hard working job for very little money.
What was a social reform?
A good change for society
What was there little of from the rich to the poor?
Redistribution
What was there a huge production of in Britain’s industries?(5)
- Textiles
- Coal
- Machinery
- Ships
- Railway engines
Who was David Lloyd-George at this time?
Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Not Prime Minister… yet.
What were the three options for those unable to work?
Relying on family
Relying on charities and churches
Entering the workhouse
What were 2 thing that opponents of the Old Age Pension Act said?
Discouraging people from saving.
Robbing them of their independence
What did David Lloyd-George introduce that increased taxation to pay for the social reform?
The People’s Budget
When did Lloyd-George introduce the People’s Budget?
1909
What did the upper classes think about the People’s Budget?
They thought it would make the working classes less independent and more dependent on the state.
As Chancellor of the Exchequer, what did Lloyd-George do in 1909?
- Introduced People’s Budget to pay for the Liberal Reform
- Raised taxes on tobacco and spirits (due to high alcohol level in Britain)
- Increase tax as raised by 16% (from 1 shilling to 1 shilling 2d)
- A new tax of 20% on the sale of land was introduced.
a. What was set up for those in ‘sweated industries’?
b. What did this do?
a. The Trades Board Act
b. It set up minimum wages and conditions in industries like dress/nail making.
What did all the poverty mean there was an urgent need for?
Direct government action, to introduce measures to help alleviate poverty
What did people say were the causes of poverty?
Laziness, Old age (unable to earn a living), Unemployment (loss of job meant loss of income), Sickness (unable to work meant loss of income), Low wages, Large families (people had to support their elderly relatives who didn’t receive pension, no child benefits, no contraception
