Why did the liberals introduce Reforms?
LAISSEZ-FAIRE
French phrase meaning "let do, let go, let pass."
It became used as a synonym for strict free market economics during the early and
mid-19th century. It is generally understood to be a doctrine that maintains that
private initiative and production is best to roam free, opposing economic
interventionism and taxation by the state beyond that which is perceived to be
necessary to maintain peace, security, and property rights.
“Free Market”
Laissez-Faire was the phrase that described Government Attitudes to the welfare of
the people in the 19th C.
Simply most people accepted that poverty and hardship were not things that the
Government COULD or SHOULD do anything about!
HEALTH
WELFARE
UNEMPLOYMENT
LIVING STANDARDS
Were habitually DRUNK
Poor People were
People who
Were LAZY
GAMBLED their money
Therefore in order to solve the problem of Poverty in Britain then a change in attitude
of the Government and the people was necessary!
WHY DID PEOPLE BELIEVE IN THE POLICY OF LAISSEZ-FAIRE?
MONEY- If the government become involved in helping the poor it would cost
money! This meant that taxes would have to be raised in order to fund the social
reforms.
Middle Class- Would have to pay more and the money would not be spent on them!
The KEY POINT is MOST MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE AND THE GOVERNMENT
BELIEVED THAT LITTLE OR NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO EASE THE
PROBLEM OF POVERTY.
WHY DID OPPOSITION GROW THEN?
In the 1870 & 80s, there were severe periods of depression which led to MASS
UNEMPLOYMENT and many politicians realised that the LAISSEZ-FAIRE
POLICY was NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE
By 1900 studies of poverty made it clear that it was a major SOCIAL PROBLEM
which could not be ignored by Governments.
THE BOER WAR
1899-1902, revealed the poor state of the health of the nation. About 1 in 3 of
volunteer recruits failed the army medical examination due to poor diet and living
conditions.
NATIONAL EFFICIENCY
A campaign for ‘national efficiency’ developed in the early 20th Century as British
industrial production fell behind the USA and Germany. Some politicians believed
that the workforce had to be better educated and healthier through state intervention,
to improve national efficiency.
THE RISE OF THE LABOUR PARTY
Working class men, enfranchised in 1867 and 1884, also demanded social reform.
The Liberals and Conservatives had to take account of their views. The rise of the
Labour Party and growth of Trade Unions, posed a threat to the liberals at the polls.
The Labour movement put forward radical socialist policies to meet the needs of the
working class.
NEW LIBERALISM
Describes the changing attitude of the Liberal Party from Laissez-Faire to limited
state intervention for humanitarian reasons and to keep and gain working class votes.