The Forward March of Labour: trade unionism, socialism and the foundation of the Labour Party

Question 1

what 4 factors determined the representation if the labour party

Answer 1

• political ideology
• trade unions
• socio economic problems at the end of the 19th century
• indifference or hostility of the conservative government

Question 2

Social Democratic Federation

Answer 2

• led by the ex- Eton educated ex-Tory Hyndman.
• based on a hatred of the Liberals and
• unable to effectively work with the bulk of the trade union movement who he saw as too politically conservative; they, in turn, disliked his illiberal ideas.
• significant because it promoted the ideas of Marx,

Question 3

Fabian Society

Answer 3

• 1884
• distinctly middle-class, intellectual and detached character
• opposed to capitalism on the grounds that it had produced an unjust and inefficient society
• they identified increased mass democracy, technology and state intervention as the factors that would inevitably, albeit gradually, achieve socialism.
• rejected revolution, argued for socio-economic evolution and promoted peaceful democratic methods to achieve socialism.
• their primary aim was to persuade men, especially men of influence, of the ‘truth’ of socialism
• This preference for intellectual persuasion and belief in inevitable progress meant that the Fabians had very little interest in working with unions or establishing a political party
• the Fabians had little significance for party-political development in this period.
• their work as effective propagandists influenced many in the labour movement and the Webbs influenced the design and direction of the Labour Party later on.

Question 4

Independent Labour Party

Answer 4

• 1893
• based in the industrial heartlands of the north
• led by kier Hardie
• Strikes in Lancashire against wage cuts had produced union militancy and working-class support for socialism.
• Hardie (West ham), Burns (Battersea) Wilson (Middlesborough) were elected to parliament in 1892 illustrating that it was possible for independent Labour candidates to beat the other parties.
• Hardie had already set up the Scottish Labour party in 1888.