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How effective were the Liberal reforms?

How effective were the Liberal reforms?. Welfare State?. Review of the Reforms. The reforms EASED the problem of poverty for the young, sick, unemployed and the old. DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF POVERTY! They also attempted to improve the treatment of workers.

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How effective were the Liberal reforms?

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  1. How effective were the Liberal reforms? Welfare State?

  2. Review of the Reforms • The reforms EASED the problem of poverty for the young, sick, unemployed and the old. • DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF POVERTY! • They also attempted to improve the treatment of workers

  3. What did they do which was successful? • It can be argued that the reforms were successful as they could have been given the SCALE OF THE PROBLEM when the liberals came to power • The Liberals were also distracted by the increasing threat of Germany and the expense of preparing for war. • Also the Conservative dominated House of Lords regularly opposed liberal proposals

  4. The Liberal reforms marked a transition point between the old laissez-faire attitudes and the Welfare State. • The Liberal years of 1906-1914 laid the foundations of a Welfare State. • Winston Churchill “If we see a drowning man we do not drag him to the shore. Instead, we provide help to allow him to swim ashore” • Basically means help them so they can help themselves.

  5. The Elderly • Guaranteed an income for those to old too work. The liberals hailed pensions as a success. • In Theory was a very good idea however problems in reality • Old-Age Pensions came nowhere near meeting the basic needs of the elderly. • Level of Benefits set too low • Few of the genuinely poor would live till 70. • Too many qualification rules • DID NOT SOLVE POVERTY but made life slightly better

  6. The Young • School Meals – 1906. Children too hungry and weak to learn. • Free School meals- One decent meal a day for children paid by local tax. • 14 million school meals provided by 1914 • Problems • NOT compulsory until 1914 • By 1914 only ½ the education authorities in England and Wales provided the service

  7. Medical Inspections • Education Act 1907 – 2 parts • (A) Compulsory medical inspections at school. • (B) Free Medical Treatment (not compulsory) • Drawback of part B therefore it was largely ignored by education authorities. • Made compulsory in 1912 and provided grants. School clinics began to get set up. • Did little to solve any problems until 1912.

  8. Children’s Charter • Victorian Britain was a dangerous place for children. Hazardous work, abused or neglected at home. • Least able social group to protect themselves from poverty. • 1908 children’s charter designed to protect children from abuse and neglect. • Not Voluntary, marked the beginning of major intervention in the lives of people by the government.

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