Challenges at home and abroad

1886-1901
 Liberal decline
• By 1886, Gladstone's powers were diminishing, Home rule Bill in 1886
caused a split in the Liberal party
• Obsession with Ireland led to lack of meaningful social reform. This is
short-sighted as he extended education and franchise, therefore the
masses would look for a political voice through someone who represented
their interests.
• Chamberlain and Hartington (former secretary of India) left the liberal
party over the HR Bill. The defecting liberals were known as Liberal
Unionists and wanted to keep Britain with Ireland. By 1895 all these
liberals were absorbed into the "Conservative and Unionist Party".
• Liberal policies over colonial expansion also caused dissent within the
party and created a rift between imperialists and anti-imperialists. There
was also ideological tensions between older laissez-faire and radical
liberals (like Chamberlain who favoured a strong social reform
programme). Before the 1885 election, Chamberlain put together an
'unofficial programme' (greater state intervention, free education,
graduated income tax reform of local government) which had won the
votes of the new rural labouring electorate and secured a liberal victory,
but he feared it would be sidelined due to HR
 Reasons for Conservative Dominance
• The HRB saw the conservatives win a clear majority, and gain support from 79
Liberal unionists
• Middle class vote gradually moved towards the conservatives. In 1865 no
conservative was returned for London borough, in 1900 67 out of 75 London seats
were taken by the Tories, known as the 'Villa Tories' as their substantial dwelling
created the smart suburbs of Britain's towns. There is a view that Salisbury's
Redistribution Bill increased the number of Villa Tories.
• Popular sentiment and enthusiasm for Imperialism and pride in nation helped to
sustain the Conservative vote as they believed in the 'Age of Imperialism'.
• Richard Middleton's servings as Conservative national agent and secretary of the
National Union from 1895 to 1903 coincided with successful election results.
Middleton was sensitive to changes in politics and his advice to Salisbury was very
helpful. He increased the number of constituent agents and organised them on a
regional basis. He revamped the National Union and promoted the activities of the
Primrose league.
• The legislation of Salisbury 2nd government was generally more sympathetic to
the needs of ordinary people, although it ignored the growing class gaps (middle
vs upper) and poverty of many working families.
• The spread of Trade Unionism and socialism led to demonstrations against
Balfour's Irish policy , but the governments reaction was always swift and
sometimes firm, but this didnt affect electoral appeal
 2nd Salisbury Ministry Domestic 1886-
92
Success
• Local Government Act 1888 – created
county councils and gave rural voters a
degree of control over their local affairs
• Technical Instruction Act 1889 –
responsibility was given to local
governments to deal with technical
education and area they lagged behind
compared to Germany
• Housing of working class act 1890 –
allowed local councils to identify poor
dwellings and replace with council
houses
• Factor Act 1890 – ended children under
the age of 11 from working and set 12
hour day for women
Failure
• Smallholding Act 1892 –
attempted to set up
agricultural labourers with
their own land, but achieved
little, but showed government
awareness of high rural
unemployment
• Government ignored Royal
commission findings of 50% of
labour classes earning 75
pence a week, survivable rate
being £1.25
 Salisbury Foreign & Imperial Policy
Splendid isolation (not getting involved in alliances) Chamberlain believed empire would help with economic issues by creating jobs
Success Failure
•Russia troops gathered in Afghanistan in 1885, Salisbury •France and Russia signed a defensive alliance 1894, as the Triple
made it clear they would defend India, the dispute was Alliance had already be formed, therefore Britain were isolated
settle to Britain's Satisfaction. •Kiel Canal opens in 1895 and Navy Bill was passed in 1898, Britain’s
•When Eastern Rumelia united with Bulgaria, going against empire and trade routes were directly threatened. But it marked the
the Conference of Berlin, Salisbury's firm diplomacy avoided time for Britain to find reliable allies
war and won Bismarck’s respect. When issues developed •Rhodes aimed to build a railway from cape town to Cairo. He stirred
further, Salisbury backed Germany against Russia up Uitlanders with the aim of overthrowing Kruger. Jameson Raid 1895,
•In 1897, Russia secured the lease of Port Arthur, which they saw the Jameson overcome by the Boers. Britain reputation fell and
planned to link to the Trans-Siberian Railway, and Germany they were censured as it was seen as unprovoked.
obtained a port at Kiaochau. Britain protested and received • Wilhelm congratulated Kruger in the Kruger Telegram (1896) German
ample compensation from Chinese, agreements were made continued to giver the Boers arrangements
with Russia, Germany and France in dividing China. •Ultimatum from Beoers was rejected by Britain to stand down, Boers
•Boer was won by Britain, who controlled Transvaal gold attacked. War lassted from 1899 to 1902. As the war continued it lost
mines and absorbed the Boer republics (treaty of support in Britain, cost £200m and lost 20,000 men. LT, people turned
vereeniging 1902) away from imperialism and highlighted isolation as European countries
supported Boer cause
Success Failure
• After the scramble of Africa and conquest in pacific, Britain had 88m • Colonial Conference in
subjects added to the empire and by 1900 Britain exercised authority 1897, where empire
over a 1/5 of worlds land surface and ¼ of its people.
• Berlin conferences in 1884 and 1885, avoided disputes on land custom unions were
acquisitions and Salisbury was signatory to several crucial agreements introduced, failed to be
• In 1898, Kitchener defeated the Dervishes at Omdurman and secured picked up, this would
the Sudan for Britain. The French later made claims on South Sudan,
Britain threatened action and the French withdrew have helped Britain in
• Chamberlain encouraged joint-stock companies to invest in terms of competition
underdeveloped areas in the empire, loans to finance irrigation projects
and railways. Brought confidence and pride in the empire
 Salisbury Irish Policy
Aimed to give Ireland “resolute government” and limit influence of Parnell, hardline. Successful
in medium term
Success Failure
• Land Act (1887) – improved on Gladstone's Act • After the HR Bill was
and allowed for further rent review.
• Crime Act (1887) outlawed plan of campaign, defeated , Parnell’s
gave police and magistrates special powers to proposal of easing distress
deal with trouble makers. When violence
escalated in Michelstown, police killed three in Ireland was rebuffed by
demonstrators. Well known poet Blunt flaunted
the law and his Balfour imprisoned him leading Salisbury , which saw two
to his stock rising. Nationalist MPs organise
• Levels of violence subsided and rents were paid protest, not paying rent
• In 1890, Crimes Act was relaxed and Public works
were introduced to help unemployment. District
Board was set up giving grants for industrial
development. In 1891, £33m was set aside to
guarantee tenants loan for buying land. By the
1890s, prices were rising , with lower rents ,
conditions were improving in rural Ireland
• Parnell’s reputation m was ruined by the scandal.
Support from Catholic Church was reduced for
HR. Gladstone refused to work with Parnell, the
INP was split throughout the 1890s.
 Gladstone 3rd Ministry
• Small majority, weak, dependent on the way the Irish
nationalists voted, Second Home Rule bill introduced, but
defeated. Gladstone resigned in 1894
• Inexperienced Roseberry took his place. He believed in
imperial expansion, he clashed with the French over the
annexation of Uganda, overruled Gladstone and created and
imperialism division in the party. His aristocratic background
did not bode well with radical and nonconformist part of
party. His attempts to introduce legislation was thwarted by
house of lords. Liberals suffered crushing defeat in 1895
election
• In 1898, Campbell-Bannerman was appointed leader of the
Liberal Part, he was dull and unknown, and could not
compete with Salisbury. Out break of Boer War (1899)divided
the part again, and Campbell-Bannerman failed to impose
leadership.
 Salisbury 3rd Ministry
Success
• Disease of Animals Act –
helped farmers, as
agriculture was still in the
doldrums
• Despite legislative paralysis,
they won the 1900 election,
partly due to success at the
time in the Boer War
Failure
• Agricultural Rating Act(1896)
diminish the pressure of the
rates upon the land. Aimed to
relieve the tenant; but the
landlords benefited.
• Chamberlain’s Workmen's
Compensation Act (1897)
failed to interest conservatives
in idea of old age pensions,
Liberals used this in their
liberal policies
 Challenges Posed by Overseas competitoin
Foreign Factors
British Decisions Cyclical
• Population growth and immigration • By the 1880s much of • Britain's balance of payments remained
- Germany and America had a large
labour force and ready home Britain's machinery and in surplus during the Great depression.
market for manufactured goods. production methods were •Between 1886 and 1901 Britain
Germany pop. 56.4m in 1900. outdated and there was a survived the challenge of foreign
European immigrants flooded into reluctance to invest in the competition to it industry and export
America; there population was
77.5m in 1901 which was a 30% new modern machinery trade. In the 1880s, Britain was still the
biggest exporter of industrial products
increase in 20 years. The immigrant •British Governments lack and so did not believe it needed to
population was hard working of investment in technical worry.
seeking a better life and helped education - The British •As the World economy grew, the City of
build a greater nation. government failed to
• Vast Untapped resources -
London became more important to the
make adequate
American and Germany were rich in investment in education world economy. Britain was the largest
coal and iron ore. This gave them exporter of capital and of invisible trade,
advantages in steel manufacturing, and scientific and so still maintained a surplus trade
by 1890 America overtook Britain in technological research, balance.
steel production, by 1896, and and Britain fell behind •British shipbuilding industry was still the
Germany had achieved the same. Germany who invested largest in the world. The British
• Political Stability - Germany became heavily merchant fleet represented about one
one nation in 1871. Under •The fair trade league third of the total and British ships still
Bismarck, by 1886, they were dominated shipping lanes
pursuing expansionist policies in (1881) put forward
industry and empire, America had moderate demands for •Britain was the largest outlet for
recovered from the Civil War 1861- restructuring of Britain's primary products such as tea, cane sugar
5. trade policy, which argued and wheat. It bought 50% of the worlds
• Tariff reform - British market share that domestic meat exports. By 1900, half of Britain's
of manufacturing output fell as manufacturers needed food was imported. This allowed
Germany imposed tariff in 1870
(13% manufactured goods) and protection, but neither Argentina and Uruguay(meat exporters)
to take British manufactured goods in
America followed, which by 1900 Gladstone nor Salisbury exchange
stood at 57%. were moved.
 Labour movement development
• TU activists originally setup reform league(1865) to push
government for franchise reform. The 1884 Franchise Act
strengthened the political status of the working class and forced
parties to seek support
• Craft Unions bargained, had political influence but were not
sympathetic of the poor and unskilled. This led the way for New
Unions where membership was not dependent on workers trade
and used their funds to help Labour candidates win a seat
• Spread of socialist ideas, via groups such as the Fabien Society
(1884), their writings attempted to persuade the government into
social reform, formed my middle class intellectuals. SDF were
extreme but their membership was smaller. No socialist groups
wanted revolution but instead worked in theory.
• Socialist societies gave Labour basic principles, they encourage
public ownership of some industries and educating working class.
They organised meetings and unskilled workers to strike for better
condition, but had limited influence on formation of LRC
 Independent Labour Party
• In 1892, Hardie and Burns became the first
Independent Labour MPs, gaining seats in two by
elections
• Hardie founded the ILP in 1893, and was the leader. It
stood for reforms that would benefit working class
people, end of child labour, national scheme of
unemployment. In the 1895 election, not one of 28 ILP
candidates won a seat. In response Hardie cooperated
with the TU and recruit members
• Hardie seeked endorsement from the TUC at their
annual conference, but they were dominated by craft
unions who believed in self help and saw the ILP as
socialist and refused endorsement. The ILP was small,
underfunded and lacked union support
 LRC
• By 1899, TU movement had become dominated by the new mass
unions, who wanted to improve conditions for workers. These
unions were well organised and had low subscription (1d a year)
with numbers growing rapidly
• The craft unions, due to increase in unemployment at certain
times and growing strength of mass unions, began to adapt and
allowed unskilled members to join with low subscription fees, and
became more militant, and began to reject laissez faire
• In 1899, a conference was held to discuss how parliamentary
representation could be increased, in 1900 the Labour
Representation Committee was formed from union
representatives, ILP and members of socialist societies, but craft
unions refused to join
• The Taff Vale Judgement of 1901 and the conservative
governments refusal to introduce legislation to protect Tu’s
convinced craft unions that they needed a working class party to
protect their interests. The LRC became the Labour Party in 1905.
 Growth of New Unionism
• As manufacturing industries began to experience a downturn in demand, unskilled workers were laid
off..The spread of education among the labouring classes after 1870 and the right to vote for many
unskilled labourers in 1884 boosted their confidence. Trade Unions were legal in 1876.Leading socialist of
the SDF held meetings outside factory gates to encourage the workers to assert their rights.
• A few high profile strikes by unskilled labour gave impetus to the new union movement. e.g.:
• Bryant and May match girls strike (July 1888) - The factory in London generally had young and female
workers from the slums, allowing low wage for dangerous job. Annie Beasant, helped organise the match
girls strike and gave it publicity, which captured public sympathy and ended in triumph after two weeks
• Gas Workers Union Strike (July 1889) - established in March 1899, by Thorne, the General Labourers Union
soon had 20,000 members. He organised a strike that demanded 8 hour shifts instead of 12.The Southern
Metropolitan Gas Company immediately agreed and this encouraged other workers to create unions. This
strike led to better pay and conditions for all workers in gas, water and electricity companies where supply
to customers was essential.
• Dockers Strike (August 1889) - The work of the Dockers was irregular and poor (5d an hour). When the
stock companies cut bonus rates, the strike began. The port was brought to a standstill. The strike demand
included 6d an hour pay, abolishment of plus systems, union recognition and to be taken on for a minimum
of four hours a day. The strike went on for five weeks, London Dockers were able to negotiate the ending of
the strike and their demands were met. A New GLU was formed with 30,000 members.
• The strikes showed that the workers could no longer be ignored or exploited without struggle. The
intervention in the strikes indicated public sympathy for the strikers. The success of strikes gave confidence
to other unskilled workers to form unions. It strengthen the trade union movement as a whole.
• However, during the 1890s success diminished with various unsuccessful strikes(hull docks 1893, ended in
failure). Employers federations which coordinated lockouts to defeat strikes( such as the 1897 Federation of
Engineering Employers lockout, the AEU had to give in), even though many disputes were settle via the
Conciliation Act 1896.By 1900, trade unions only represented 11% of workforce.