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7 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Booth's Reports |
Booth's Reports... -Between 1889 and 1903 he studied the life of the poor in London. -His findings 'Life and Labour of the people in London' changed his opinion and he concluded that 30% of London's population was living in poverty. -He used scientific methods and put people in classes. He worked out a 'poverty line', a level of income required to stay beyond starvation. -The scale of poverty he discovered could not be met by charity alone. -The reasons for poverty were not necessarily a person's own fault.
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Concerns over National Security (The Boer War of 1899) |
-The British thought the war would be over quickly, but the Boer forces proved to be well trained, well equipped and well led. -The war dragged on for three years. Eventually, Britain used 450,000 troops to defeat Boer forces that totalled 35,000 men. -The war was a great shock to British confidence. -In Britain people searched for answers as to why it had taken three years for professional soldiers to defeat a force of Boer farmers. -The quality of soldiers was blamed for the poor British performance in the war. -Men offered themselves for service during the recruitment process – there was a very high level of rejection of young men on the grounds of health. -In some towns as many as nine out of ten recruits for the army were rejected because they were so unfit. -It revealed a massive amount of young men were in a dreadful physical condition.
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German Influence |
-In Germany the Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck had brought in social reform measures such as old age pensions and sickness insurance for Germany's workers. -Lloyd George and Churchill felt inspired to introduce similar style reforms in Britain. -The result of these social reforms was high levels of productivity, a reduced flow of immigration to the USA and reduced social discontent. |
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Municipal Socialism |
Successful reforms at local government level, led by Liberals, led reforms that encouraged Liberals at national level... -Throughout the 19th century local government had been forced to take steps and intervene in the lives of the people in areas of public health and sanitation. -In Birmingham under Joseph Chamberlain who was Mayor of the city from 1873 to 1875, provision was made for gas and water supplies controlled by the government. -They also cleared slums and introduced a city park system. -These reforms were designed to better the lives of the people of Birmingham. -Public works schemes to improve living conditions and public health had been established in the late 19th century, often set up and run by Liberals. -These small, local schemes raised the possibility of similar schemes being a success on a national level. -Therefore the Liberal reforms of 1906 can be seen as a continuation of this. |
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New Liberalism |
-A new type of Liberalism had emerged by 1906, and it was this 'new liberalism' which provided the inspiration for the reforms. -New Liberals, such as Lloyd George, Winston Churchill and Herbert Asquith, argued that there were circumstances in which it was right for the state to intervene in people's lives. -These new Liberals were personally committed to creating reforms to help specific problems from which the poor suffered. -These 'New Liberals' came into positions of power and were more able to influence government policy and reform. |
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Rowantree's Reports |
Rowantree's Reports... -A study of Town Life found similarities to those of Booth. -Showed poverty was widespread; one third of the population living in towns lived in poverty. -Primary poverty was used to describe those whose earnings were low but could survive on this (15%). Secondary poverty was used to describe those whose earnings were enough but who spent their money in a wasteful way (18%). -Again it found poverty was not the person's fault. -Many of the elderly, ill and unemployed lived in such poverty. Even those who did work had wages that were so low they could not afford the basics. |
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Political developments in Britain |
The working class could now vote: -By 1900, 6 out of 10 men could vote. -The working classes and their needs now had to be considered more than ever before. -The growth in newspapers and in education after the 1870's saw an increasingly educated and politicised working class who also helped highlight the problems of society. -Political parties like the Liberals would have to instigate social reform in order to attract their votes. |
