Why did attitudes change towards the poor? LO- Answer National 5 level question SC- Note taking Answering questions Group Discussion

Changing Attitudes The liberals were elected in 1906 By 1900 “laissez faire” was not working and public attitudes to poverty and other social issues were changing The liberals were elected in 1906 they took a much larger role in helping those sections of society who could not help themselves

Reasons for Liberal Reforms National Security Boer War Influence of Germany National Efficiency Fears of the new Labour party Report by Rowntree and Booth Fear of Communism Municipal Socialism

National Security Boer War Boer War 1899-1902 (South Africa) Britain had a small but well trained army up against farmers A 3 year war required recruits - Britain couldn’t find healthy and able bodied men 40% of recruits were rejected for health problems including rickets, poor eye sight, under height/ weight, flat footed All problems due to poor health

National Security Influence of Germany Germany had introduced sickness insurance for workers so Lloyd George/ Churchill felt inspired to introduce similar reforms in Britain Germany had recently overtaken Britain as the world’s biggest power. Germany did have a range of welfare benefits such as pensions, unemployment benefits etc.

National Efficiency Many feared that Britain was in decline as a world power If Britain was to remain a world power, it needed a strong, healthy and well-educated workforce

Fear of communism Karl Marx’s ideas of communism were attractive to the poor and the government were very worried that unless they did something, that there would be a communist revolution in Britain.

Municipal Socialism This is the idea that councils were already charging residents local taxes to pay for essential services – water and gas supply, parks, bin collections, buses and schools. You paid these taxes whether you used the services or not. Why not get the government to do the same – collect tax money and use it for everyone’s benefit.

Rowntree and Booth Report by Booth and Rowntree – these shocked the government and everybody in the UK. The government vowed to act and ‘Laissez-Faire’ and Samuel Smiles idea of self-help were dead. Agree that the main causes of poverty are: illness unemployment age the young and old were at risk of poverty

Liberals vs Labour New Liberals Ideas emerged in 1900 suggesting that the Government should intervene with the poor This group included Lloyd George and Churchill Labour Party Formed at the turn of the century Feared it might lose working class support to this new party if they did not try to help the poor

Fear of new Labour party The Liberals had been out of power for 10 years. With more and more working men now getting the vote (80% by 1900), the Liberals felt if they didn’t give the poor welfare reforms, then the poor would vote instead for the new Labour Party.

The result – people clearly wanted to give the Liberals a chance Jan 1906 Liberal 49.0% 400 MPs Conservative 43.6% 157 MPs Labour 5.9% 30 MPs Irish Nationalist 0.6% 83 MPs Liberal majority 130 ( 157+83+30 = 270)