Political developments c1886-1905 Flashcards
(26 cards)
Why were the Liberal party divided in this period?
Home Rule
Imperialism
Social Reform
Personal tensions
Liberals and Home Rule in this period
Split the party in 1886. Chamberlain formed a radical faction and joined the Whigs
Whigs did not support, Hartington’s brother murdered in 1882. Formed ‘Preservation of the Union in 1886.
Liberals and imperialism in this period
1899-1902 Boer War caused celebration. Roseberry Liberal imperialists vs Lloyd-George led younger, anti-imperial liberals
Liberals and social reform in this period
Gladstone favoured gradual reform but Chamberlain and Bright were interventionists; published ‘Radical Programme’ in 1885
Liberals v Gladstone in this period
Gladstone was seen as old, out of touch and obsessed with Ireland. Radical Chamberlain was his biggest opponent and Gladstone refused to give him any important positions
What were the reasons for Conservative dominance in this period?
Social reform
Middle class support
Imperialism and the Boer War
Party organisation
Conservatives and social reform in this period
Salisbury was under pressure from Churchill to win over WC votes. Churchill wanted housing and education reform - Chamberlain supported him
What reforms did the Conservatives pass in this period?
1890 - All new houses had to have running water
1890 - Sewage system in London
Children under 11 couldn’t work
Women can’t work more than 12 hours a day
1882 - public libraries set up to improve literacy rates
1888 - reforms to local government, local councils established
Conservatives and middle class support
Liberal Home Rule policies and their lack of intervention in the 1880s depression turned the MC away from Liberals
Salisbury refused the 1886 budget which suggested he would not increases taxes, appealed to MC interests
Salisbury and Chamberlain were very popular
‘Villa Tories’ (people with big houses in British towns) - by 1900, 67 of 75 of these seats were conservative
What happened in the Boer War?
Started in 1899. Transvaal were discontent with British rule in Bechuanaland and Rhodesia
Britain were initially outnumbered, General Buller and Kitchener were criticised for bad tactics
Salisbury sent 500,000 troops in 1900 and by June they had taken key cities in Transvaal, e.g. Pretoria
Successful - Salisbury called the Tories ‘protectors of the British Empire’
Conservatives and imperialism
Salisbury’s main goal was advancing the empire. Chamberlain was made colonial secretary in 1895
Claimed Home Rule threatened the Empire
Boer War victory - 1900 ‘khaki election’ won 402 seats (with Liberal unionists)
Conservatives and Party Organisation
Middleton was put in charge of party organisation, he studied trends and measured what the public wanted. It was his choice to call the election in October 1900 when the mood was high after the Boer war
Utilised Liberal failure, e.g. Home Rule, to ensure Tory victory
Understood need to engage with the media, had the support of the Daily Mail (had 2 million readers by 1902)
Who was most responsible for Conservative Dominance?
Liberals.
In 1865, London had 0 conservative MPs, but the lack of intervention in 1880s depression turned away the middle classes.
Home rule threatened imperialism and the radical Liberals were anti-Boer War
What was produced by a socialist group in 1884?
Fabian manifesto
What were the Reasons for Labour growth in the 1880s and 1890s?
WC enfranchised (1884 reform act)
Increased power of trade unions
Liberal neglect of effective social reform
Growth of socialism
American and French revolutions
1880s depression
When did the Independent Labour party form and who was the founder?
1893
Founded by Kier Hardie
How many seats did the ILP win in 1895?
0
When did the ILP win their first seat?
1900
Hardie in Merthyr Tydfil
What was held in 1899?
TUC Congress
What happened at the TUC Congress?
Wanted to increase representation in parliament, LRC formed in 1900
Craft unions withheld support, not convinced by socialism. Meant LRC was under-funded
What happened in 1901?
Taff Vale Case
What was the Taff Vale case?
Company sued a trade union for £23,000 after a strike which set a legal precedent and criminalised striking. Would have bankrupted the TUC and trade unions everywhere
Did the government do anything after Taff Vale?
No. The Tories did not pass any legislation to protect the unions
What happened in 1903?
Lib-Lab Pact
