politics of empire and labor 1880-1914
TRANSCRIPT
Themes
• Empire, poverty and socialism• The politics of labor • Conservative party dominance 1886-1906• Liberal party governments 1906-1914• Growing social and political tensions
Empire, Poverty and Socialism
• Socialist political organizations
• Social reform as a central political issue
The Politics of Labor
• Increase in trade union membership 1880s-1914: 400k to 3 million
• Formation of the Labour Party 1900
• 1906 election: 30 MPs
Conservative Party Governments 1886-1906
• Conservative political dominance rests on their attachment to Empire
Conservative Party Governments
• The dangers highlighted by the South African War: e.g. health of recruits. Thus:
• Social Reform and Empire: how to make Britain stronger through social reform?
Conservative Party Governments
• But Tariff Reform politically divisive. • Collapse of Conservative Government 1905• Loss of election in 1906 to the Liberal Party
Liberal Government 1906-14
• Social reform • Winston Churchill• David Lloyd George• Old Age Pensions 1909• Unemployment insurance 1911