How successful were the Liberal Reforms?
1. Intro – SEAF
Start Date – Explain that in 1906 attitudes to poverty and social reform were largely
still those of self-help and laissez-faire. However, attitudes were
changing - largely due to surveys of Booth and Rowntree.
End Date – The Liberals had no great plan to introduce reforms when they won the
1906 election, but between 1906 and 1914 introduced a series of social
reforms. Interrupted by the outbreak of war in 1914.
Argument – refer to the question and outline your argument (outline some successes
and limitations of the Liberal reforms)
Factors –
explain that the Liberals intended to help the five groups of most
‘deserving’ poor – i.e. the young, the old, the sick, the unemployed and
the low-paid.
2. Background – poverty and welfare in 1906
Poor Law, Workhouses, Booth, Rowntree. – KEEP THIS VERY SHORT
3. The Young
School Meals Act 1906
Education Act 1908
Children Act 1908
(Don’t try to write this all in one massive paragraph – split it up and analyse as you
go!)
4. The Old
Old Age Pension 1908
5. The Sick
Workmen’s Compensation Act 1906
National Insurance Act (Part I) 1911
6. The Unemployed
Labour Exchanges 1909
National Insurance Act (Part II) 1911
7. The Low-Paid
Trades Disputes Act 1906
Trades Boards Act 1909
Conclusion
ANSWER THE QUESTION!!
SOME QUESTIONS ASK IF THE LIBERALS TACKLED POVERTY, OR IF
THEY ESTABISHED A WELFARE STATE. REMEMBER – ALL ‘HOW’
ESSAYS ARE NOT THE SAME!
Use Pants/Fab!
End with a quote if you can.
Why did the Liberals pass social reforms?
THIS WILL USUALLY BE AN ‘ISOLATED FACTOR’ QUESTION.
DO THE FACTOR IN THE QUESTION FIRST!!!!
1. Introduction: (SEAF)
1. Intro – SEAF
Start Date – Explain that in 1906 poverty was widespread and that there was no
welfare state. There was growing acceptance of the idea that social
reforms were necessary to help the ‘deserving poor.’
End Date – The Liberals had no great plan to introduce reforms when they won the
1906 election, but between 1906 and 1914 introduced a series of social
reforms, including old age pensions, National Insurance and free
school meals.
Argument – refer to the factor in the question and outline your argument
Factors –
explain what the other factors were that led to the Liberals passing
reforms – new liberalism, national efficiency, national security,
changing attitudes to poverty(Booth/Rowntree), political advantage.
2. Changing attitudes to poverty
Booth’s and Rowntree’s surveys, recognition that existing legislation was inadequate,
the idea of the ‘deserving poor’, inadequacy of provision to deal with the scale of the
problem.
3. Concerns over national efficiency
Foreign competition, Britain’s status, German and American industry, the German
welfare system
4. Worries over national security.
Boer War, government investigations, pre-war crises
5. New Liberalism
Liberal landslide, Lloyd George, Winston Churchill, decline of ‘Old Liberalism’,
decline of laissez-faire.
6. Political Advantage
The threat of the Labour Party, developing socialist ideology, enfranchisement of the
working classes, discontent/fear of unrest
Conclusion
ANSWER THE QUESTION!!
WHICH FACTOR OR FACTORS WAS/WERE MOST IMPORTANT.
BE DECISIVE – HAVE AN OPINION OF YOUR OWN (MAKE SURE IT
MATCHES WHAT WAS IN THE REST OF YOUR ESSAY).
FIND A GOOD QUOTE IF YOU CAN.