National efficiency

Question 1

Topic sentence

Answer 1

Other historians argue that national efficiency was the most important factor to the passing of Liberal Reforms

Question 2

Evidence 1

Answer 2

In the 1880s, former German Chancellor, Otto Van Bismarck introduced a series of social welfare reforms which provided German workers with a system of welfare benefits and old age pensions.

Question 3

Analysis

Answer 3

This led to the passing of Liberal reforms because many Brits questioned why such reforms were affordable in Germany and not Britain. Many also believed if the health and educational standards of Britains workers deteriorated then Britains position ad a strong industrial power would be threatened.

Question 4

Evidence 2

Answer 4

Additionally, Britain was no longer the strongest industrial nation and was facing serious competition from the new industrial nations such as Germany.

Question 5

Analysis 2

Answer 5

This led to the passing of Liberal reforms because the scale of poverty was perceived to be weakening Britains place in the world at the time of increasing foreign challenges to Britain’s economic power, heightening calls for reform.

Question 6

Counter analysis

Answer 6

However, it could be argued that national efficiency wasn’t the main reason for the passing of Liberal reforms because most
working conditions remains difficult with long hours and often unsafe conditions.

Question 7

Evaluation

Answer 7

Clearly, such fears over national security and national efficiency reinforced the concerns that had already been generated by Booth and Rowntree’s surveys and put even more pressure on the Liberals to pass reform. Therefore, historian Sydney Wood is correct when he argues, “Those who believed it was morally wrong to allow widespread poverty to exist in Britain were therefore joined by others who saw the scale of poverty as weakening Britain’s place in the
world.”