Explain Why Were The Liberal Party Motivated To Introduce Social Reforms
Why were the Liberal Party motivated to introduce social reforms?
(12 marks)
Charles Booth and Seebohm Rowntree’s important social investigations proved more scientifically that poverty was a major issue in Britain. Evidence showed that 30% of the urban population could be classified as poor, and 10% of the British population were living below the poverty line. Britain had experienced a massive rise in population, with populations in areas such as London, Lancashire and the West Midlands nearly doubling. Industrialisation also led to the rise of conurbations – densely populated urban areas. These results proved that the old system of the Poor Law could no longer cope.
The Liberal Party sought after ‘National efficiency’, in order for Britain’s industrial and military strength to be sustained. This widespread conviction in the Edwardian Period for Britain to create ‘National …show more content…
New Liberalism believed in interventionism for those who are ‘deserving’ and aimed to close the gap for those in poverty. Furthermore, New Liberalism supported taxation in order to fund social reforms. This new ideology also supported the movement away from a ‘laissez-faire’ economy, proposing that the state had an obligation to intervene. New Liberalism continued to build the legacy of Joseph Chamberlain (former Liberal who left over the issues of Home Rule and reforms), a politician that sought after the implementation of reforms such as old age pensions, and the provision of loans to the working class for the purchase of houses. Additionally, David Lloyd George believed that social reform would alleviate the threat of socialism – a view shared by Winston Churchill, who had defected from the Conservatives. Another Liberal thinker, J.A. Hobson spoke of “the sovereignty of social welfare”, crucially illustrating that social welfare was the paramount concern for the
(12 marks)
Charles Booth and Seebohm Rowntree’s important social investigations proved more scientifically that poverty was a major issue in Britain. Evidence showed that 30% of the urban population could be classified as poor, and 10% of the British population were living below the poverty line. Britain had experienced a massive rise in population, with populations in areas such as London, Lancashire and the West Midlands nearly doubling. Industrialisation also led to the rise of conurbations – densely populated urban areas. These results proved that the old system of the Poor Law could no longer cope.
The Liberal Party sought after ‘National efficiency’, in order for Britain’s industrial and military strength to be sustained. This widespread conviction in the Edwardian Period for Britain to create ‘National …show more content…
New Liberalism believed in interventionism for those who are ‘deserving’ and aimed to close the gap for those in poverty. Furthermore, New Liberalism supported taxation in order to fund social reforms. This new ideology also supported the movement away from a ‘laissez-faire’ economy, proposing that the state had an obligation to intervene. New Liberalism continued to build the legacy of Joseph Chamberlain (former Liberal who left over the issues of Home Rule and reforms), a politician that sought after the implementation of reforms such as old age pensions, and the provision of loans to the working class for the purchase of houses. Additionally, David Lloyd George believed that social reform would alleviate the threat of socialism – a view shared by Winston Churchill, who had defected from the Conservatives. Another Liberal thinker, J.A. Hobson spoke of “the sovereignty of social welfare”, crucially illustrating that social welfare was the paramount concern for the