BRITISH DEPTH STUDY, 1890-1918

1. BRITISH DEPTH STUDY, 1890-1918 The Liberal Reforms

2. Reactions to the reforms Starter: Refer to the change and continuity table you completed for homework: Do you think the Liberal reforms were a total change in the way the government helped the poor or were the old ideas about poverty still present? Be ready to explain your answer

3. Lesson Objectives By the end of this lesson you should: • Understand and be able to explain the reactions to the Liberal reforms • Consider how effective the Liberal reforms were

4. Reactions to the reforms • The Liberal reforms were controversial and met with enormous opposition Use p.56 to explain what each of the following groups opposed or criticised: • Conservatives – • Doctors – • Friendly societies and building societies – • Workers – • Rich people and the House of Lords – • The Labour party –

5. Rich Fare CONTENT • Large, wild-eyed figure – Lloyd George • Spiked mace labelled ‘Budget’ • Empty dish on table • Small, well-dressed, well-fed man cowering under the table (plutocrat – has power because he is wealthy) CONTEXT • 1909 – year of the People’s Budget • LG wanted to increase taxes on the rich to fund his reforms • The Conservative dominated House of Lords rejected this – LG threatened to have more Liberal peers created to outvote them COMMENT • Could be approving of LG’s actions – uses words like ‘plutocrat’ – not right that money should give power in a democracy. HofL – wealthy, unelected members. LG’s dish is empty – could represent lack of money for reforms if budget not passed • Could be criticising LG for using threats against wealthy –shows him as an armed bully

6. The Philanthropic Highwayman CONTENT • LG is seen standing on a road side holding a gun and a donation box labelled ‘Old Age Pension Fund’ • You can see he has travelled by horse and a motor car approaches on the road • A highwayman robs travellers • A philanthropist is generous and seeks to promote the welfare of others CONTEXT • 1909 – again, year of the People’s Budget COMMENT • LG is collecting money in order to raise pensions, and the gun shows he's going to force the rich people to give money as he is a highwayman (and the car approaching is a symbol of wealth). It shows that he is a charitable robber, as he wants to steal from the rich and give to the poor

7. The Big Dog and the Little One CONTENT • 2 old men • Shabbily dressed, thin man has a tiny dog labelled ‘OAP’. Well-dressed, well fed man – Lord Halsbury has a huge dog labelled ‘PENSION.’ He tells the poorer man that his dog is nothing but a mockery, but gets the reply that despite its small size, it is a great comfort –as not every one can have a large dog (pension) CONTEXT • The Liberals introduced an OAP in 1908. It was only 5 shillings a week, limited to the very poor over 70s, with various restrictions • Previously, such people would have relied on their children or gone into the workhouse. Many lives were made easier • Wealthy men had long been able to contribute to a private pension so would regard the small OAP a quite laughable COMMENT • The artist seems to approve of the idea of the OAP, though is commenting on its smallness. He is aware of the difference it would make to many old people

8. The Dawn of Hope CONTENT • Liberal Party poster with LG sitting by the bed of a sick man • His hand is gesturing towards a glow (window through which dawn can be seen?) on which are the words ‘National Insurance…….’ The man is looking towards this. In LG’s pocket is a document labelled National Insurance CONTEXT • Many lived in poverty as a result of being unable to work through sickness. Medical care was also too great an expense for many • LG proposed a National Insurance scheme, paid for by workers, employers and government COMMENT • The title is uplifting - ‘The Dawn of Hope’ and the caption is calling for support of Liberal Party policies. It suggests a ‘better tomorrow’ if the Liberals get their proposals through Parliament. There was some opposition –not just from those who wanted a continuation of ‘laissez-faire’ and less government spending, but also from some workers who resented the idea of 4d being stopped from their meagre wages • The scheme didn’t help everyone –the poster doesn’t say this –but it does show its importance to those helped

9. The Poor Law (source 17) In 1834 a new Poor Law was introduced. Some people welcomed it because they believed it would: • reduce the cost of looking after the poor • take beggars off the streets • encourage poor people to work hard to support themselves The new Poor Law ensured that the poor were housed in workhouses, clothed and fed. Children who entered the workhouse would receive some schooling. In return for this care, all workhouse paupers would have to work for several hours each day However, not all Victorians shared this point of view. Some people spoke out against the new Poor Law, calling the workhouses 'Prisons for the Poor'. The poor themselves hated and feared the threat of the workhouse so much that there were riots in northern towns