KU: Reports found that more than 30% of the population was living in poverty.
A: More than most people believed and showed that a lot of people were affected by it, not just a small percentage (3%) like previously thought.
KU: Reports highlighted the main causes of poverty were not self-inflicted – poverty often caused by the death of a bread-winner, old age, sickness or unemployment.
A: This challenged the government’s policy of ‘laissez-faire’ - people poor through no fault of their own, not always possible for them to get themselves out of poverty.
A: Surveys had shown that poverty was not self-inflicted, it gave the government a mandate to introduce welfare reforms which would be accepted by the public – helping the ‘deserving poor’ – Free School Meals, Old Age Pension and National Insurance Act. Paragraph 2 – National Stock / Efficieny
Try and make a link explaining that the poverty highlighted by Booth and Rowntree was having a direct impact on Britain’s ability to fight in wars and this was another reason why reforms were introduced.
KU: 1/3 of recruits in Boer War rejected on medical grounds – government would have to ensure basic health of the population
A: Shocked at the poor physical condition of the working class – if they were to maintain their status as a world power they would need to improve the health of the recruits.
KU: Basic reforms had been introduced in Germany with positive results
A: Growing population in Germany meant that they were becoming more of a threat – if Britain were to keep up with Germany they would need to introduce welfare reforms to improve the health of the population – e.g Free School Meals and medical Inspection.
It was clear that poor health not only affected the population, it also affected Britain as a nation defending the realm. Paragraph 3 – Fear of the Labour Party / Socialism
Explain that reforms were not just introduced out of genuine care for the poor – the Liberals needed to offer reforms to attract working class voters who might otherwise vote for the new Labour Party.
KU: Traditionally the Liberals were supported by the Working Class (Scotland, Wales, N. England) – the