political parties in wartime Flashcards
how did the war change the character of british political parties? (31 cards)
what were the major extensions of state authority that occurred during the war
- large areas of british industry brought under central control
- all public transport brought under government control
- military conscription imposed
- food rationing imposed
- controls imposed on profits, wages & working hours
which six new ministries were introduced in 1917
- blockade
- food
- labour
- national service
- pensions
- shipping
what did the growth in government power during the war lead to
major extension of state bureaucracy
what underwent a rapid extension during the war
civil service (in terms of personnel & premises)
how did the war effect the liberal party
traditional liberal suspicion of bureaucracy swept aside in rush to adapt britian’s institutions to demands of war
define bureaucracy
a system of government in which most of the important decisions are taken by state officials rather than by elected representatives
how did the war challenge liberal values
- measures justified by struggle for national survival/war but some liberals protested it
- saw growth in state control as challenge to principle of individual liberty (not influential as commotion of war/reorganisation of society was demanded)
- even liberals who supported war were unhappy with changes brought about by war effort (british government became illiberal during war eg. DORA, conscription, restrictions of free trade)
- liberal state at war very different to liberal state at peace
how did the war contribute to the liberal decline
- if 1914-18 war had not intervened, asquith may not have resigned & liberal social reform programme would’ve continuedd with lloyd george as main promoter
- challenge to traditional liberal values would not have become as demanding without war
- liberals lost irrecoverable political ground
- existence of union of democratic control (represent liberals anti-war tradition) was constant disapproval to government
- irish nationalists felt betrayed by policy towards ireland
- asquith heavily criticised for handling of easter rising & lloyd george was for his use of irregular paramilitary police
- irish catholic vote moved mainly to labour & irish nationalists to sinn fein
potential fate of conservatives without the war 1914-18
- would not have been able to oust liberals in foreseeable future
- still wounded after ‘peoples budget’ & house of lords
impact of lloyd george’s leadership during the war
- diverted him & liberals from progressive policies followed before war
- his success in persuading many colleagues to accept increasing state intervention diluted own liberals & detached him from radical element of party
- he was conscious of this so made many important moves towards reconstruction in last year of war
- hoped to prevent radicals becoming too dissatisfied over slowing down of social reform
- promised in 1918 election to make britain ‘a land fit for heroes to live in’
where was Lloyd George’s promise in 1918 election to make britain ‘a land fit for heroes to live in’ seen
creation of ministry of reconstruction
- drew together various committees which had come into being during war
- main task to plan improvement of social conditions
- one of most notable products = education act 1918
describe the education act 1918
- raised school leaving age to 14
- abolition of fees for elementary education
- introduction of compulsory medical inspections of secondary school pupils
- authorising of local education authorities to set up nursery schools
- creation of day-release colleges where young people in work could continue formal education 1 day per week
- restricting of employment of children of school age
liberal reaction to growth of state
by 1918, the principal causes which defined pre-war liberalism had been severely compromised:
- britian’s entry into war destroyed image of liberals as peace party
- economic regulation of state by wartime governments effectively marked abandonment of free trade
- conscription undermined concept of freedom of choice of individual
what was the main problems for liberals
- couldn’t accommodate war within the liberal programme developed since 1906 = diverted from social reform by demands of war
- after overcoming reactionary opposition from conservatives/unionists on many issues before 1914, now had to witness leaders sharing government with conservatives
importance of personality within the liberal party
- roles of asquith/LG were critical
- continuing resentment from asquith due to LGs disloyalty in 1916 = reapproachment was impossible
- fracturing of liberal party meant LG was dependent on bonar law & conservatives (‘prisoner of the conservatives’?)
- many conservatives believed their party was veng dragged along behind dangerous ex-liberal leader
what was the reward for mainline support for the war from labour
inclusion of labour ministers in coalition governments formed under asquith (1915) & LG (1916)
when was the stockholm conference
1917
describe the stockholm conference 1917
- meeting called in stockholm (sweden) by socialist parties of all countries fighting in war
- aim = consider ways of bringing negotiated peace
- regarded by governments (of combatant countries) as undermining war effort
where did the cue for the stockholm conference come from
- new russian government set up after february revolution
- proposed a peace settlement should be considered on basis of all sides abandoning demand for war indemnities
how did the stockholm conference (1917) end labours wartime cooperation with LG
- LG first agreed arthur henderson (earlier gone to russia on official government visit) could attend
- french (wanted heavy post-war penalties imposed on germany) complained = LG backtracked & withdrew permission
- henderson resigned from cabinet
how did the stockholm conference (1917) work to labours advantage
- henderson no longer a minister
- able to put energies into improving party’s organisation & shaping proposals for peace settlement/domestic policies britain should follow after war
- helped lessen differences within labour party & gave more responsible image in the country
- contrasted with divided liberals & conservatives who seemed willing to subordinate itself to LG to be in the government
- labour party came out war much less damaged politically than conservatives/liberals
what was a critical result of henderson’s efforts at restructuring the labour party
= adoption of labour party constitution in february 1918
- attempt to redefine party for 20th century
- largely work of henderson & mcdonald
- drew heavily on fabian ideas
key features of labour party’s constitution 1918
- party to be composed of affiliated trade unions, socialist societies, co-operative societies, trade councils & local labour parties
- party managed by party executive of 23 members elected at annual party conference
- annual conference would votee on policies to be followed
- means of production, distribution & exchange were to be taken into common ownership, that is nationalised (clause IV)
- committimet to taxing/redistribution of surplus wealth
- co-operation of trade unions in formation of policy
- block voting allowed
strengths of the labour party constitution in 1918
- helped give labour party sense of permanence & stability
- emboldened labour members in LGs coalition to break free of him (after armistice in 1918, all leading labour ministers resigned = reclaimed political independence)
- remarkable move for relatively new parliamentary party & displayed confidence that labour’s brief experience of government had brought it
