Britain 1900-1951

  • Reform Act

    Majority of Wales given the vote
    Most supported Liberals
    Non-conformists (celtic fringe, Cornwall) against the Church of England
    Believed Liberals could accomodate radical views
  • Creation of the Independant Labour Party

    Highly Idealistic
    Lack of majority
    Established a few branches in Wales
  • General Election

    ILP put up 28 candidates, only won 44,325 votes
    Keir Hardige (leade) thought they would have to join with other right-wing groups
  • General Election

    LRC- 15 candidates, won 62,698 votes
  • Taff Vale Railway

    Lots of strikes
    Legal descision not allowing then to strike
    Lib-Lab tradition abandoned
  • Education Act

    Lots of funding given to schools
  • Tarrif Reform

    Joseph Chamberlain resigns from cabinet
  • Elecntion-Liberal Victory

    conservatives have no clue on tarrif reform policy
    election miscalculation by conservatives-PM resignation for strategy
    Not the strength of the liberals but the mess up of the conservatives
  • Education Act

    Medical inspection for school children passed to identify problems. However parents couldn't keep up with costs
    1914-compulsory for children to go to school
    1912-school clinics set up
  • Old age Pensions Act

    Help pensioners live outside the workhouse
    Made for age 70+, very limited, not many over that age
    Government hesistant due to high costs
    Pensioners not given large amounts of money
  • Lloyd George's People's Budget

    People on lower salories payed 9d in the pound
    people with over £3000 had to pay 1s 2d in the pound
    £5,000 a year payed 6d in tax
  • General Election

    40 Labour MPs in House of Commons
    Henderson resigned
    MacDonald declined seat due to family deaths
    Barns 'holding the fort' for MacDonald
  • Insurance Act

    Pensions too high
    Balance between state, employer and employee unfair
    Labour should get it modified
    Others thought it should be rejected altogether
  • Parliamentary Act

    Resticted the House of Lords (mainly conservative) to decline House of Commons proposals a maximum of 3 times
    reduced their power
  • Shop Act

    Half day once a week
  • Shell Scandal

    Critical shortage of high-explosive shelss
    blamed Lord Kitchener who failed to supply shells
    Lead to Asquiths Liberal government to collapse and a Ministry of Munitions to be created by Lloyd George.
  • Russian Revolution

    Communism takes over Russia pulls out of war
    Fear of communism taking over Europe
    DLG sent Henderson to Russia to negotiate peace. Henderson wanted to attend Socialist meeting- German socialists there-unpopular
    Left out of cabinet for a while-resigns
  • Bloody Sunday

    IRA killed 8 British agents
    British troops railed football matches looking for suspects
    3 IRA men called for match to be called off after hearing this
    Crowd ran alarmed and 14 civilians killed