THEME 1 - a changing politcal and economic enviroment 1918-79 - Britain 1918-45

Question 1

when were Asquith and Lloyd priminister

Answer 1

Asquith: 1908-16
Lloyd: 1916-22

Question 2

1918 - what was the political situation like for the Liberals

Answer 2

• Poor leadership - david lloyd seen as traitor as outed Asquith
• Lloyd had to rely on conservative party for support ( needed support as many liberals stayed loya to asquith -> liberal party divided

Question 3

what did the 1918 representation of the people act mean

Answer 3

14 million more voters

Question 4

what was the political situation for labour

Answer 4

• emerged united at end of WW1 unlike Liberals

Question 5

what are the reasons for the growth of the labour party

Answer 5

• working class can vote
• trade unions (grew during war) supported labour partty - funded by member fees
• supported the war
• had people with experience
• labour represented working class identities as opposed to regional or reigious
• appealed to the people

Question 6

Elections - 1924 - what happened to labour ?

Answer 6

left the vote and torys won
this was because a letter called (Zinoviev) was shown hoping to ruin labours chances
the letter was FAKE but had claims of giving russia gold

Question 7

elections - 1929 - what happeneded?

Answer 7

• Labour first majority ever
• MacDonald return
• Progressive approach - first woman MP

Question 8

the general strike 1926 - what were the causes (long term and short term)

Answer 8

Long term causes (1918-25):
- Coal mining dangerous - 600,000 injured between 1922-24
- 1919 Sankey Commission recommended the mining sector stay nationalised
- miner days longer by one hour
- gov subsidies to miners only served owners

Short term causes (1926):
- Samuel commission - radical restructuring of coal industry - pay cut for miners

Question 9

the general strike 1926- why did it fail?

Answer 9

• Commitment issues - not all workers committed
• Gov preparing since 1925 - created ORGANISATION FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF SUPPLIES
• Churchill power over newspaper - hostile propaganda to strikes

Question 10

the general strike 1926 - what were the consequences?

Answer 10

• Baldwin pleased conservatives by passing the TRADES DISPUTE ACT 1927 - civil servants banned from unions + banned general strikes - AS A RESULT working class men looked for political change by Labour party INSTEAD OF DIRECT ACTION
• TUC abandoned general strikes
• TUC accepted Samuel memorandum ( payment to workers by state)
• MFGB formed

Question 11

Labour government 1929-31 - the rise of the labour party - what were the social reforms

Answer 11

MacDonald return
What were labours social reforms?
- Labour dependent on liberls to pass legislation
- 1930 housing act - cleared 750,000 slum housing (modern home by 1939
- 1930- Local mines act - attempted to improve pay but lacked strength in legislation so owners could ignore it
- MacDonald - ammended Unemployment insurance act - gov created public schemes to lesson effects of unemployment

Question 12

labour government 1929-31 - the rise of the labour party- what were the economic problems + failures (economic blizzard)

Answer 12

• romoured 2 years of unblance - borrowing increased
• pound slump in value
• 10% in unemployment assistance ( to keep pound stable) this made the labour party split
• USA did not want Britain to spend £ on welfare even tho unemployment rising - USA had power: large currency reserves due to borrowing during war
• Labour leading ministers MACDONALD + SNOWDEN joined conervative led coalition = national government = split of labour party - macdonald formed national government - traitor to labour

Question 13

Dominance of the conservative party - 1922 - 31
why were the the dominant inter war party ?

Answer 13

Baldwin was well organised
Identifided with patriotism
Supported by ALL CLASSES
secured the majority of the female vote - via Franchise act 1929 and widows+ orphans act

Question 14

Dominance of the conservative party - 1922 - 31
why was baldwin in power for so long?

Answer 14

high political skillls
Appealed to masses
Didnt face any major challenges
passed significant acts which

Question 15

Dominance of the conservative party - 1922 - 31
Baldwin - what 3 significant acts did he pass and what were his succeses ?

Answer 15

1924-29 handled strikes well
passed significant acts:
1. Widows + Orphans act 1925 - state pensions introduced which attracted women workers
2. local gov act 1929 - layed foundations of health service
3. franchise act 1929 - extended voting to all women

Question 16

welfare support - in 1918 what was it like

Answer 16

based on victorian poor laws + liberal welfare reforms
1911 liberal reforms -> unemployment benefit through insurance scheme
- self funding and had to pay in
- only compulsary for traditional industries

Question 17

welfare support - post ww1 3 acts
1. Unemployment Insurance Act 1920
2. national economy act 1931
3.unemployment act 1934

desribe

Question 18

descirbe unemployment insurance act 1920

Answer 18

• covered 12 million people - men and women
  the externsion for state spending was justified by:
• need to fix high unemployment
• fears of revolution (as seen in russia) due to extreme poverty

Question 19

describe national economy act 1931

Answer 19

means test introduced to limit benefits bill as concerns to welfare budget
- disqualification of ‘short time’ workers - which meant unemployment meant more sense than work
- benefits could only be claimed for 6 months then required reapplying - following that transitional payments inroduced but required means testing
ALSO some children forced to leave home as unemployed parents couldnt claim benefits if children worked

Question 20

describe unemployment act 1934

Answer 20

reversed cut in benefits for short time unemployed
means testing continued
- cut in long term benefits = protests = gov introduced standstill regulations - suspended cut which shows pressure protected welfare system