Era of the Great War Homes fit for heroes

In today’s class I am learning to: Homes fit for heroes In today’s class I am learning to: Explain why different governments tried to improve housing standards in Britain Analyse the success of actions taken to improve housing after the war

Homes fit for heroes Before the war many people lived in poverty; after helping Britain win they did not want to return to this. Steps were taken to try to improve their lives.

This meant tackling many of the country’s social problems. Homes fit for heroes Britain’s wartime Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, promised the returning military men that they would come back to “homes fit for heroes”. This meant tackling many of the country’s social problems.

Homes fit for heroes There were many reasons that promises were made to improve soldiers’ lives (and others too). Firstly was the need to thank the men and women, at home and abroad, that helped the country win the war.

The war had also revealed just how bad poverty was in Britain. Homes fit for heroes The war had also revealed just how bad poverty was in Britain. Many men that had been tried to volunteer – or been conscripted – were not healthy enough to fight, and this could lead to future military and economic problems.

Homes fit for heroes Politics played a role too. During and after the war there were major strikes and protests about poor living and working conditions. The 1919 Battle of George Square saw workers fight with the police and soldiers.

Homes fit for heroes The Liberal government worried that if no improvements were made there could be a violent revolution in Britain. This was a real worry because a revolution had already happened in Russia in 1917.

The success of the new Labour Party also worried the Liberals. Homes fit for heroes The success of the new Labour Party also worried the Liberals. The Liberal Party usually gained most working class votes, but many of these people now supported Labour. The Liberals had to act to keep their votes.

Homes fit for heroes Also, before the war the Liberal government had already introduced many social reforms. These included free school meals, school medical inspections, old age pensions and also unemployment insurance.

After the war the government’s priority was to improve housing. Homes fit for heroes After the war the government’s priority was to improve housing. This meant building more homes, and also improving existing houses to tackle problems like overcrowding and poor sanitation.

The government’s first action was the 1919 Addison Act. Homes fit for heroes The government’s first action was the 1919 Addison Act. Before the war most housing was built by private builders; the Addison Act meant that councils would now start building large numbers of new houses.

Homes fit for heroes The government said that the Addison Act would lead to the building of 500,000 more homes all across Britain within three years. However only 213,000 of these houses were actually built, less than half of the target.

Homes fit for heroes An economic crisis in 1921 left the country facing major financial problems. The Liberal government stopped the subsidies being used to build council houses, leading to a slump in house building.

In 1924 the first Labour government passed the Wheatley Housing Act. Homes fit for heroes In 1924 the first Labour government passed the Wheatley Housing Act. Labour took power after promising to improve working class lives, so the law aimed to build more houses, including indoor toilets, electricity and gardens.

Homes fit for heroes The act meant that the UK government would pay subsidies to councils to cover part of the costs of house building. More than 500,000 homes were built by 1933, although many people continued to live in slum housing.