Liberal Landslide
An overview of the reasons why the Liberals attracted more votes, and what the Conservatives did wrong for the Liberal's to in a landslide victory in the election.
- Created by: sarah
- Created on: 08-05-13 18:14
View mindmap
- Reasons for the Liberal Landslide
- Factors weakening the Conservatives
- Boer War
- The war was more costly in lives and money
- Some methods of defeating the Boers caused moral outrage
- Revealed the effect of poverty - Liberals gained support by claiming the Conservatives had neglected this also pushing Chamberlain to encourage tariff reform
- 1902 Education Act
- Before 1902 catholic and Anglican schools were funded by churches, the act provided all schools to be funded from local funds
- Outraged non-conformists, some refused to pay their taxes
- Before 1902 catholic and Anglican schools were funded by churches, the act provided all schools to be funded from local funds
- 1904 Licensing Act
- Aimed at reducing public houses
- Proposed to compensate all brewers and publicans for the cancellations of licenses (annoying non-conformists
- Aimed at reducing public houses
- Chinese Labour Issue
- Work for low wages, being imported into South Africa
- Moral outcry from non-conformists about treatment of the Chinese
- Trade Unionists feared employers would bring them into Britain (pushing down wages at home)
- Unemployment was already high in 1905, and inadequate support for them. Opposition to 'Chinese Slavery' took away votes from the Conservatives
- Work for low wages, being imported into South Africa
- Taff Vale Case
- 1901- dispute between Taff Vale Railway Company and railway workers trade union, causing strike action, and the company to demand compensation.
- 1902- House of Lords said it was right to sue, making it almost impossible to strike successfully
- Only an act of parliament could over-rule the Lords judgement and the Conservatives refused
- Tariff Reform Campaign
- Chamberlain wanted to reintroduce tariff with lower level tariff for goods coming into Britain from the empire than imported from non-empire countries. (Imperial Protectionism)
- Chamberlain said it would help protect Brit jobs, help pay for social reform and strengthen Britain's position in the world
- Working and Middle classes feared this would mean expensive food and a fall in living standards
- Chamberlain wanted to reintroduce tariff with lower level tariff for goods coming into Britain from the empire than imported from non-empire countries. (Imperial Protectionism)
- Boer War
- Attractions of the Liberals
- Re-united party (originally divided over Home Rule)
- United behind Free Trade (the 'bread and butter' issue
- Exploited mistakes of the Conservatives
- Misjudgements over education, Licensing and Welsh Disestablishment
- Liberals supported Home Rule
- Factors weakening the Conservatives
Comments
No comments have yet been made