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UNIT 2: CHALLENGES TO THE STATUS QUO, C1886-1914 - Coggle Diagram
UNIT 2: CHALLENGES TO THE STATUS QUO, C1886-1914
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS
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Problems In Industry
There was more demand for coal, machinery, and shipping, which became a problem as Britain was exporting key ‘tools’ for the process of industrialisation.
By 1880’s, Britain had fallen behind in the latest technology.
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1896-1914 rapid cotton exports lead to new factories in Lancashire, but owners relied on old methods/ tech.
Britain had founded successful innovations in steel production, but got exploited by the USA + Germany.
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There was a lack of engagement in new industries such as chemical and electrical engineering. However, this was challenged by the Lever Brothers, who’s business in the mid 1890’s had sold 40,000 tons of soap a year.
The government had failed to make adequate investment in education and scientific/ technological research. By 1890, Britain was a decade behind Germany and the USA in building technical colleges.
Problems in Agriculture
The development of the canning process in the 1880’s from beef in Argentina and Uruguay intensified problems, along with the development of refrigeration with lamb from Australia and New Zealand.
By 1899, 40% of meat consumed in Britain was imported.
Farmers went bankrupt and many of them moved and settled in towns or emigrated to the USA or Canada.
Agricultural workers fall from 1 million in 1871 to 600,000 in 1901.
Farmers in the south of Scotland, Warwickshire and Lancashire were the least effected due to mixed farming.
Many farmers turned to dairy farming as it can’t be imported and market gardening in areas where fruit, veg and flowers grow such as the Thames valley.
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Foreign competition
1886 royal commissions industry and trade report noted that Britain’s manufacturing supremacy was being challenged from abroad.
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However, Britain was still at the forefront in shipbuilding, where British ships dominated shipping lines. Britain was responsible for the export of 50% traded meat.
Invisible Trade
Britain’s balance of payments remain in surplus during the depression, but has a negative balance of trade as a result of the fall in visible exports.
The surplus was as a result of the dominance in world shipping and gave London the position of the worl’d main centre of international banking.
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SOCIAL CHANGE
New unionism
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More militant and adopted socialist ideas, where the government had to introduce social reforms.
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High profile strikes
Bryant and May Match girls 1888: led by socialist Anne Besant, and successfully enabled match girls to take on their employers and form their own unions.
The gas workers’ and general labourers union strike: reducing the working day,, the gas workers won recognition and the right to pursue collective bargaining.
The dockers strike 1889: wanted a wage of sixpence an hour- the dockers tanner. Strike went on for 5 weeks, negotiated and demands were met.
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Trade unionism 1900-1914
1900, trade union memberships stood at 2 million. 1/6th of occupied population.
Taff vale 1901- unions are liable for damages to employers made on strike. Reversed in 1906 I trades dispute act and peaceful picketing is leagalised.
Unions use funds to support labour, however the Osborne case damages this. There is a partial reversal of this in 1913 trade unions act.
Syndicalism
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Sympathy strikes start to increase, such as the triple alliance of miners, railwaymen and transport workers.
Syndicalism encouraged sympathy strikes by other unions to increase pressure on the government and employers. Removal of capitalism and encouraging social reforms.
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Suffragists
National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) set up in 1897 by Millicent Fawcett and campaigned for equal rights to men.
Suffragettes
1903, Emmerline Pankhurst formed the Women’s Social and Political Union ( WSPU) to put right injustices to women.
Slogan was “deeds not words”, and was named suffragettes by the daily mail.
They broke up political meetings, smashed windows, chained themselves to railings and some went on hunger strikes.
After bulls were thrown out in 1913, Pankhurst intensified violence.
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Standards of living
Majority experienced a better standard of living as a result of scientific and technological advancements, increased wage and more range of goods and foodstuffs.
However, children and women are still working in sweated industries, which were not covered in factory acts.
Booth: 10% of people were classed as very poor, 30% below the poverty lines line (1891).
Rowntree: “we are part of a social system and we must play our part as a great whole and if we fail to pay our part, nobly the whole is marred”.
SOCIAL POLICIES
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Welfare reforms 1906-14
Children
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Provision of medical inspections in schools 1907: ensured children were healthy enough to benefit from schooling.
Children’s charter 1908- juvenile courts and borstals were set up. Tobacco and cigarettes were illegal to be sold to under 16.
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