Socialism, Trade Unionism and the Rise of Labour c. 1890-1906

Liberal Sunset

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  • Created by: beth
  • Created on: 25-05-10 12:50

Origins of Labour

1880s Socialist Revival

1867 Karl Marx's 'Capital'

Reform Act-more working class men got the vote

1870s Economic Slumps

Class gap increased

Liberals and Conservatives couldn't meet needs

New working class political groups in 1884:

1) The SDF (Social Democratic Federation)-Marxist, class hostility & revolution

2) The Fabians- middle class, use existing system to reach socialism

3) The Socialist League- branch of SDF, wanted to be more revolutionary

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The Independent Labour Party

Founded in 1893 by Kier Hardie

Influenced by: Radical Liberalism, Nonconformity, Trade Unions more political

Peak membership in 1895 35000

Candidates defeated in 1895 General Election

Seen as too socialist

Had success in local elections

1898 joined with SDF to get a Labour majority in West Ham

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The Labour Representation Committee

Formed in 1900 when the ILP, SDF, Fabians, and TUC(Trade Union Congress) joined together

Started when the TUC decided they needed better representation

In 1903 the Liberals and the LRC wrote the Lib-Lab pact to oppose Conservative MPs

127 Trade Unions joined after the Taff Vale Judgement of 1901

1906 General Election 29 LRC MPs were elected

Why was there a need for a Labour Party?

Political: pressure on trade unions, unskilled workers had no vote/voice, government had failed with social reform

Social/Economic: working class had no opportunities, poor, unhealthy, ignorant, economic problems of late 19th C, competition form USA and Germany

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Important Factors in the Rise of the Labour Party

1880s foreign competition

Extreme poverty among working class

1884-5-vote for skilled working class men

Taff Vale Judgement 1901

Lyons/Wilkins Case 1899

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