What is the message of the source?

1. What is the message of the source? L1 (1-2 marks): general comment – no reference to source detail or use of background knowledge L2 (2-4 marks): attempt to interpret message; includes source detail to support this, but no background knowledge included L3 (4-5 marks): as L2, but supports interpretation with background knowledge

2. CONTENT Large, wild-eyed figure (Lloyd George), with spiked mace, labelled BUDGET; empty dish on table. Small, but 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 – including the OAP. 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’ actions – uses word like ‘plutocrat’ – not right that money should give power in a democracy. Hof Lords – wealthy, unelected members. Shows LG’s dish to be empty – could represent lack of money for reforms, if budget not passed. OR – might be criticising LG for using threats against wealthy – shows him as an armed bully. OR could be just describing events – not taking sides. Fi fi fo fat – I smell the blood of a plutocrat… 1909 cartoon

3. 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/- 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.

4. 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. (If asked about reliability – the scheme didn’t help everyone – the poster doesn’t say this – but it does show its importance to those helped)

5. CONTENT Rough looking man in flat cap (?working class), carrying a club- labelled socialism- behind his back. He is asking a well-dressed man in a top hat (?rich) if he minds him accompanying him as he is going the same way – but is failing to tell him ‘and further’. The rich man nis looking anxious. He is carrying a bag labelled ‘Old Liberalism’ CONTEXT: 1909 = year of the People’s Budget – LG wanted to increase taxes on the rich to fund his reforms. This meant an end to the old ways of laissez-faire. LG was a New Liberal who wanted to see government taking action to help the needy. Old Liberals were not all convinced. COMMENT: Punch was a magazine read by the middle/upper classes so this cartoon might reflect the views of readers that for the government to start providing OAPs etc was too much like Socialism. Some were worried that it would allow some Socialist ideas to come in and before long, Britain would be a Socialist state. The artist's opinion seems to be that the Liberals are being fooled into allowing this to happen. 1909 cartoon from Punch

6. CONTENT: Times reader complaining about changes introduced by the Liberals. Claims it will tax people unfairly and give handouts (inferred – to poor) which are not only wasteful but will weaken people’s characters as they won’t have to rely on their own efforts if the state gives them handouts. Letter to The Times July 1908: The strength of this kingdom has been its great reserve of wealth and the sturdy independent character of its people. The measure which is being pushed through the House of Common with haste will destroy both. It will force people to give up wealth by unjust taxation. It will distribute it in small doles (handouts) the most wasteful of all forms of expenditure, and will weaken the character of the people by teaching them to rely, not on their own exertions, but on the state CONTEXT: 1908 = year when OAP was introduced – a costly reform to be paid for out of increased taxation on the rich. This meant an end to the old ways of laissez-faire and ‘self-help’. COMMENT: The Times was read by middle/upper classes. Its readers would be paying higher taxes as a result of this change. This reader claims that this is unfair. He also claims it will weaken Britain as people will sit back and do nothing rather than work hard to be independent. It is one-sided. Many people worked hard, spent little but were still very poor as a result of low wages/ill health… The workhouses couldn’t cope with the increasing numbers. This was one of the reasons the Liberals wanted to make changes.

7. What is the message of the source? COMMENT The message of the source is……………….. CONTENT This is shown by………….and……………….., CONTEXTwhich refer to………………..and……………..