History UNIT1

• Began 1899 exp' of easy/early victory.
• UK casualties= 6% of 450,000, showed inadequacy of army and unhealthy state of recruits, 37% failed medical.
• Financial cost ^ than exp'.
• Serious effect on national morale, only just managed to defeat army of farmers. = Debate over 'National Efficiency' + poverty.

• Tories failed to take action to tackle Taff Vale judgement= Labour sought alliance with Liberals.
• Formed 1903, X2 parties agreed not to fight in constituencies at general election.
• Lab would support Liberal reforms to reverse Taff Vale. Libs offered prospect of social reforms.

• Balfour;s Education Act 02, all elementary schools under local council control, needed to establish parity between schools.
• Act angers non-conformists, schools controlled by Anglicans, feared Anglican control over religion.
• Some non-con' refused to accept council supervision + independent but 06= ran out of funds.

• 03 Commission reported use of coolie labour in UK Empire.
• Coolies = Indentured labourers who were brought to West Indies and South Africa.
• Commission criticised their treatment= National scandal.

• Taff Vale case threatened strike, company sued the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants for damages post strike.
• Company won= ASRS costs of £51,000.
• Post Taff Vale = ^ willingness of trade unions to affiliate tto LRC. Membership ^ from 376,000- 1901 to 998,338- 1906.

• Joseph Chamberlain (Colonial Sec.)+ Tariff Reform League duties on imports to counter competition from cheaper foreign goods, Empire= Prefriential treatment.
• Balfour refused, would mean ^ £ of food and ended policy of free trade followed since 1840s.
• JC resigned Sept 03 to campaign Imperial Preference, Spilt Tory Party = Lib :)
• Balfour bridge gap by using threat of retaliation, force contries to reduce tariffs.
• Balfour looked weak and indecisive.
• Libs able to use Tariff reform in 06 campaign, Tories = £££ Food.

1. Work of Booth and Rowntree= 1/3 of UK dwellers in poverty.
2. Reports 01-2 showed main cuases were low pay not idleness. Case for state to help = ^^^
3. Boer War showed poor health of recruits.
4. Medical inspections = Working class children = 8cm shorted than middle class.

• ^ Conditions prompted Libs to advocate financing social reform by taxation etc.
• 'New' liberalism= changing attitudes within Lib Party. SI was justifiable to free people of poverty and unemployment.
• Majority Report of the Commission in favour of moving away from deterrence and suggested the Poor Law should prevent and cure destitution.
• Lloyd George= Catalyst, Libs needed to change in order to succeed.

Libs won 377 seats, Tories 157.

1906 Trade Disputes Act-

• Reversed Taff Vale
• Appeased Lab MP' + 03 pact.
• Trade Union membership ^ 1.9m to 4.1m -1914.

Campbell-Bannerman replaced as PM by Asquith + Lloyd George = Cof Ex. Libs embarked on 'radical crusade' led by LG, sought to v=blunt power of Hof L and maintain/^ appeal of liberals.

1906 Education Provision of School Meals Act-

• Local authorities provide school meals to children with poor parents. ^ 14m meals.
• Followed Lab pressure and indicated Libs not master of fate.

1907 Education Medical Inspection Act-

• Annual inspection of elementary kids in an effort to counteract diseases e.g. TB.
• Medical Department in Board of Education,

1908 Children and Young Persons Act-

• Borstals and juvenile courts.
• Buying alcohol and tobacco banned.
• Parents legally responsible of children's welfare.

1908 Old Age Pensions Act-

• Non-contributory, 25p per week to singles over 70 and 37.5p to couples.
• Income couldn't exceed £31 + those earning £21-£31 on decreasing scale.
• Average lif expectancy = 57.