Why did the Liberal party win the general election of 1906?

You need to created a glossary of key terms/people?

Trade Unions (unions) Nonconformist Boer War Conservative Party Liberal Party Labour Party Irish Nationalist Party Free Trade Rates Imperial Protectionism Landslide Campbell-Bannerman Arthur Balfour

Why did the Liberal Party win the general election of 1906?
1)

L/O: To understand the reasons for the Liberal victory in 1906 2) To make a judgement as to the most important reason why the Liberals won

The 2nd Boer War 1889-1902

Costly in money and lives.

Methods used to defeat Boers caused moral outrage in Britain.

War lasted much longer than people expected 3 years to defeat an inexperienced group of badly equipped farmers. British army interned civilians in concentration camps where dreadful conditions led to the spread of fatal diseases. Campbell-Bannerman [Lib.] described the armys methods as barbaric and Lloyd George [Lib.] declared we are killing babies now.

Revealed the extent of poverty in Britains cities and need for social reform.

The Liberal Party was reunited as the war went on. This war seriously damaged the reputation of the Conservatives because of the methods they used to win the war.

Roughly two volunteers in every three were rejected because they were medically unfit. People wondered how a prosperous country such as Britain could produce such weak and undernourished young people.

The 1902 Education Act

Non-conformist support swung firmly back in favour of the Liberal Party

This Act increased state money to all church schools, enabling them to provide elementary education for free. This Act upset many nonconformists who felt it gave preferential treatment to Church schools. They were furious that their rates were going to help pay for Roman Catholic and Church of England schools They launched a campaign against the Act which was supported by the Liberal Party - Nonconformists & Lloyd George [c.1903]

The 1904 Licensing Act

The 1904 Licensing Act:

This Act aimed to reduce the number of public houses [pubs] in certain areas. The government compensated breweries if their pubs were closed. This upset the breweries and also non-conformist opinion, who felt it was outrageous to give state money to breweries.

Chinese Slavery

The Chinese Labour issue angered the trade unionists and nonconformists

Nonconformists raised a moral outcry about the treatment of the Chinese in S. Africa low wages Trade unionists feared that employers might bring Chinese labour to Britain to push wages down Unemployment in Britain was high in 1905 - why was the government turning to Chinese labour when there were so many unemployed? It was a gift for Liberal politicians in turning British workers against the Conservatives. David Lloyd George said:

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

The Taff Vale Case

1902 House of Lords declared that the Taff Vale Railway Company could sue the railway workers trade union for lost profits due to strike they called in 1900. Not officially an Act, this House of Lords ruling made it effectively illegal for unions to go on strike, as they would be financially liable for strike activity.
Conservatives lost support amongst the working classes because they refused to overrule the decision. Encouraged trade union support for the Labour or Liberal Party who promised to reverse the decision.

Neglect of social reform

The Boer War exposed the malnutrition in the cities which led to concerns about the physical decline of the British race. Reports by Booth and Rowntree also highlighted the extent of poverty in Britains cities. Some Liberals were planning a new form of Liberalism in which the state would play a role in ensuring minimum standards of living campaigning for reforms The Conservatives produced nothing other than the Education Act

Tariff Reform

1.

Chamberlain put forward his ideas for tariff reform in a public speech in Birmingham on 15 May 1903.
and joined the Liberal party because he disagreed with tariff reform (later rejoined in 1924).

The Conservative Party split between those who supported him and those who clung to the idea of free trade (Winston Churchill defected) He crossed the floor of the House of Commons

The Conservative government adopted tariff reform as its official programme.

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

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

Balfour

Lacked political skill Failed to show an awareness of public opinion (particularly the working classes)

Indecisive on tariffs

Failed to foresee the problems of Chinese Labour and Taff Vale Case

Balfour was responsible for the Education Act (1902). Responsible for the timing of the election they could have waited just under another 2 years. A lot of people believed this person became Prime Minister because his uncle was PM before him (Lord Robert Bob Salisbury)

Ends up allowing Chamberlain to make tariff reform a key policy

The Lib-Lab Pact

Liberals wouldnt oppose Labour in 30 constituencies

Labour promised to limit their candidates in other constituencies to prevent an antiConservative split Reduced Liberal election costs.

Attractions of the Liberal Party

Reunited disagreed with Education and Licensing Act and Tariff Reform

Issues that had divided them were not being discussed in the run up to the election

United under the banner of Free Trade (key issue in 1906 election bread and butter issue) It was very clear to voters what the Liberal Party was against. But in 1906 it was far from clear what they stood for!

The Liberal Party swept to power in 1906, with 399 seats to the Conservative Partys 156.

They were helped by:

The failings of the Conservatives in the late 1890s and early 1900s that led to massive defection of voters ( alienated sections of the voting public) The Liberal Partys ability to mobilise previously untapped support

The existence of Labour candidates in constituencies where no Liberal was standing The abstention of many Conservative voters who could not bring themselves to vote and who could not support Balfour. The voting system in this country FIRST PAST THE POST rather than PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION They promised that if they were elected they would introduce social reforms.

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

Essay Question: Explain why the Liberals won a landslide victory in the general election of 1906?

Introduction Show an understanding of what the landslide victory was and the debate around why it happened. How could you link the following into paragraphs?

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

Tariff Reform Education Act Chinese slavery Taff Vale Case Licensing Act Lack of Social Reform Balfours leadership Neglect of social reform New Liberals proposing social reform Lib-Lab pact