Have you created a glossary of Have you created a glossary of key terms/people?key terms/people?

Trade UnionsTrade Unions NonconformistNonconformist Boer WarBoer War Conservative PartyConservative Party Liberal PartyLiberal Party Labour PartyLabour Party Irish Nationalist PartyIrish Nationalist Party Free TradeFree Trade RatesRates Imperial ProtectionismImperial Protectionism LandslideLandslide Campbell-BannermanCampbell-Bannerman Arthur BalfourArthur Balfour

Why did the Liberal Party Why did the Liberal Party win the general election win the general election

of 1906of 1906L/O: L/O:

1)1) To understand the reasons for the Liberal To understand the reasons for the Liberal victory in 1906victory in 1906

2)2) To To make a judgementmake a judgement as to the most as to the most important reason why the Liberals wonimportant reason why the Liberals won

3)3) To learn how to approach essay writing at To learn how to approach essay writing at AS-LevelAS-Level

Each of these pictures is loosely linked to a reason Each of these pictures is loosely linked to a reason why the Liberals won the 1906 election. Can you work why the Liberals won the 1906 election. Can you work

out what they are?out what they are?

The Boer WarThe Boer War Costly in money and lives.Costly in money and lives.

War lasted much longer than people expected – 3 years to War lasted much longer than people expected – 3 years to defeat an inexperienced group of badly equipped farmers.defeat an inexperienced group of badly equipped farmers.

Methods used to defeat Boers caused moral outrage in Methods used to defeat Boers caused moral outrage in Britain.Britain. British army interned civilians in concentration camps where British army interned civilians in concentration camps where

dreadful conditions led to the spread of fatal diseases.dreadful conditions led to the spread of fatal diseases. C-B described the army’s methods as ‘barbaric’ and Lloyd C-B described the army’s methods as ‘barbaric’ and Lloyd

George declared ‘we are killing babies now’.George declared ‘we are killing babies now’. Revealed the extent of poverty in Britain’s cities and need Revealed the extent of poverty in Britain’s cities and need

for social reform.for social reform. Roughly two volunteers in every three were rejected because Roughly two volunteers in every three were rejected because

they were medically unfit.they were medically unfit. People wondered how a prosperous country such as Britain People wondered how a prosperous country such as Britain

could produce such weak and undernourished young people.could produce such weak and undernourished young people. The Liberal Party was reunited as the war went on.The Liberal Party was reunited as the war went on.

The 1902 Education ActThe 1902 Education Act

Non-conformist support swung firmly Non-conformist support swung firmly back in favour of the Liberal Partyback in favour of the Liberal Party They were furious that there rates were They were furious that there rates were

going to help pay for Roman Catholic going to help pay for Roman Catholic and Church of England schoolsand Church of England schools

They launched a campaign against the They launched a campaign against the Act which was supported by the Liberal Act which was supported by the Liberal PartyParty

Lloyd George in Wales.Lloyd George in Wales.

The 1904 Licensing ActThe 1904 Licensing Act

The 1904 Licensing Act:The 1904 Licensing Act: Infuriated non-conformists by proposing Infuriated non-conformists by proposing

to compensate publicans for the to compensate publicans for the cancellation of licencescancellation of licences

‘‘Chinese Slavery’Chinese Slavery’ The Chinese Labour Act angered the trade The Chinese Labour Act angered the trade

unionists and nonconformistsunionists and nonconformists Nonconformists raised a moral outcry about Nonconformists raised a moral outcry about

the treatment of the Chinesethe treatment of the Chinese Trade unionists feared that employers might Trade unionists feared that employers might

bring Chinese labour to Britain to push wages bring Chinese labour to Britain to push wages downdown

Unemployment in Britain was high in 1905 - Unemployment in Britain was high in 1905 - why was the government turning to Chinese why was the government turning to Chinese labour when there were so many unemployed?labour when there were so many unemployed?

It was a gift for Liberal politicians in turning It was a gift for Liberal politicians in turning British workers against the Conservatives. British workers against the Conservatives. David Lloyd George said:David Lloyd George said:

““What would you say to introducing Chinamen at What would you say to introducing Chinamen at one shilling a day to the Welsh quarries? . . . . If they one shilling a day to the Welsh quarries? . . . . If they introduced them to one part of the Empire, why not introduced them to one part of the Empire, why not to every part?”to every part?”

The Taff Vale CaseThe Taff Vale Case 1902 – House of Lords 1902 – House of Lords

declare that the Taff declare that the Taff Vale Railway Company Vale Railway Company could sue the railway could sue the railway workers’ trade union workers’ trade union for lost profits due to for lost profits due to strikestrike Conservatives lost Conservatives lost

support amongst the support amongst the working classes because working classes because they refused to overrule they refused to overrule the decision.the decision.

Encouraged trade union Encouraged trade union support for the Labour support for the Labour or Liberal Party who or Liberal Party who promised to reverse the promised to reverse the decision.decision.

Neglect of social reformNeglect of social reform The Boer War exposed the The Boer War exposed the

malnutrition in the cities malnutrition in the cities and led to concerns about and led to concerns about the physical decline of the the physical decline of the British race.British race.

Reports by Booth and Reports by Booth and Rowntree also highlighted Rowntree also highlighted the extent of poverty in the extent of poverty in Britain’s cities.Britain’s cities.

Some Liberals were Some Liberals were planning a new form of planning a new form of Liberalism in which the state Liberalism in which the state would play a role in would play a role in ensuring minimum ensuring minimum standards of living.standards of living.

The Conservatives produced The Conservatives produced nothing other than the nothing other than the Education ActEducation Act

Tariff ReformTariff Reform Chamberlain put forward his ideas for tariff Chamberlain put forward his ideas for tariff

reform in a public speech in Birmingham on 15 reform in a public speech in Birmingham on 15 May 1903.May 1903. The Conservative Party split between those who The Conservative Party split between those who

supported him and those who clung to the idea of free supported him and those who clung to the idea of free trade (Winston Churchill defected)trade (Winston Churchill defected)

The Conservative government adopted tariff reform as The Conservative government adopted tariff reform as its official programme. its official programme.

Working and middle classes feared that this would lead to Working and middle classes feared that this would lead to rising prices and therefore falling living standardsrising prices and therefore falling living standards

The Manchester Guardian, on 15 Jan 1906, wrote The Manchester Guardian, on 15 Jan 1906, wrote of the election in Lancashire “A candidate had of the election in Lancashire “A candidate had only to be a Free Trader to get in, whether he only to be a Free Trader to get in, whether he was known or unknown . . . He had only to be a was known or unknown . . . He had only to be a Protectionist to lose all chance of getting in Protectionist to lose all chance of getting in though he spoke with tongues of men and angelsthough he spoke with tongues of men and angels

BalfourBalfour Lacked political skillLacked political skill Failed to show an awareness of Failed to show an awareness of

public opinion (particularly the public opinion (particularly the working classes)working classes) Failed to foresee the problems of Failed to foresee the problems of

Chinese Labour and Taff Vale CaseChinese Labour and Taff Vale Case Indecisive on tariffsIndecisive on tariffs

Ends up allowing Chamberlain to Ends up allowing Chamberlain to make tariff reform a key policymake tariff reform a key policy

Balfour was responsible for the Balfour was responsible for the Education Act.Education Act.

Responsible for the timing of Responsible for the timing of the election – they could have the election – they could have waited just under another 2 waited just under another 2 years.years.

The Lib-Lab PactThe Lib-Lab Pact

Liberals wouldn’t Liberals wouldn’t oppose Labour in oppose Labour in 30 constituencies30 constituencies Labour promised to Labour promised to

limit their limit their candidates in other candidates in other constituencies to constituencies to prevent an anti-prevent an anti-Conservative splitConservative split

Reduced Liberal Reduced Liberal election costs.election costs.

Attractions of the Liberal PartyAttractions of the Liberal Party

Reunited – disagreed with Education and Reunited – disagreed with Education and Licensing Act and Tariff ReformLicensing Act and Tariff Reform Issues that had divided them were not being Issues that had divided them were not being

discussed in the run up to the electiondiscussed in the run up to the election United under the banner of Free Trade United under the banner of Free Trade

(key issue in 1906 election – ‘bread and (key issue in 1906 election – ‘bread and butter’ issue)butter’ issue)

It was very clear to voters what the Liberal It was very clear to voters what the Liberal Party was against. But in 1906 it was far Party was against. But in 1906 it was far from clear what they stood for!from clear what they stood for!

Diamond 9 ActivityDiamond 9 ActivityMost important to least important

Some key points to help you Some key points to help you make your mind up:make your mind up:

Evidence from by-elections suggests Evidence from by-elections suggests Liberal support increased after the 1902 Liberal support increased after the 1902 and 1904 Acts.and 1904 Acts.

25 of the 30 constituencies chosen in the 25 of the 30 constituencies chosen in the Lib-Lab pact went to Labour.Lib-Lab pact went to Labour.

100%

98%

86%

78%

78%

75%

69%

59% of speeches dealt with Taff Vale

The Liberal Party swept to power in 1906, The Liberal Party swept to power in 1906, with 399 seats to the Conservative with 399 seats to the Conservative

Party’s 156.Party’s 156. They were helped by:They were helped by:

The failings of the Conservatives in the late The failings of the Conservatives in the late 1890s and early 1900s that led to massive 1890s and early 1900s that led to massive defection of votersdefection of voters

The Liberal Party’s ability to mobilise The Liberal Party’s ability to mobilise previously untapped supportpreviously untapped support

Turnout rose by 8% over that in the 1900 election the Turnout rose by 8% over that in the 1900 election the highest since 1885highest since 1885

The existence of Labour candidates in The existence of Labour candidates in constituencies where no Liberal was standingconstituencies where no Liberal was standing

The abstention of many Conservative voters The abstention of many Conservative voters who could not bring themselves to vote and who could not bring themselves to vote and who could not support Balfour.who could not support Balfour.

The voting system in this country – FIRST PAST The voting system in this country – FIRST PAST THE POST rather than PROPORTIONAL THE POST rather than PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATIONREPRESENTATION

Essay Question: Explain why the Liberals Essay Question: Explain why the Liberals won a ‘landslide victory’ in the general won a ‘landslide victory’ in the general

election of 1906?election of 1906? Introduction – Show an understanding of what the landslide Introduction – Show an understanding of what the landslide

victory was and the debate around why it happened.victory was and the debate around why it happened. How could you link the following into paragraphs?How could you link the following into paragraphs?

Tariff ReformTariff Reform Education ActEducation Act Chinese slaveryChinese slavery Taff Vale CaseTaff Vale Case Licensing ActLicensing Act Lack of Social ReformLack of Social Reform Balfour’s leadershipBalfour’s leadership Neglect of social reformNeglect of social reform ‘‘New Liberals’ proposing social reformNew Liberals’ proposing social reform Lib-Lab pactLib-Lab pact

Conclusion – most important factor. You could also Conclusion – most important factor. You could also comment on how the voting system makes the victory a comment on how the voting system makes the victory a ‘landslide’ even though the percentage of votes is much ‘landslide’ even though the percentage of votes is much closer.closer.

One side of A4 TYPED = 500 words

DUE IN MONDAY 22nd SEPTEMBER