1A - Impact of War on politics

Current parties + leaders

Liberals - Asquith , believing short success- later under pressure by total war requiring state intervention (opposes laissez faire) - 

Conservatives - Bonar Law - party pro war

Labour - Macdonald resigned during war + had anti-war stance which lost them some support

INP - Redmond - support in hope to receive the legislation they wanted

Ulster unionists - Carson

DORA - AUG 1914

defence of the realm act - gave gov power to have more extensive intervention in civilian lives

-un-liberal type of reform, symbolising state intervention:

• control arms, rail, coal industries + restricted their profits 

• War office Press bureau - censorship of press

• tariffs

• Ministry of munitions - directed production

• agree with TU’s for no striking for higher wages 

• 18-41 aged conscription 1916

• food rationing 1918

• passports for abroad travel + limits on freedom of movement

Asquith

“business as usual” attitude, believing fast victory would boost the liberals 

-thought he could run the country whilst the military could win the war

-used volunteer army, private companies for material supply

had Kitchener - minister of war, Fisher - highest ranking officer, Churchill - head of navy

• Kitchener - munitions scandal resign

• Churchill + Fisher - Gallipoli campaign resigned

Munitions scandal

laissez faire attitude and traditional industry didn’t reach demand 

with word from Kitchener, Asquith denied of shortages, but Sir John French told new of actual shortage

heavy losses and slow victory led to discontent

-LG made as new minister of munitions

Lloyd George

introduced super tax + double taxation

-wanted for total war, with full industry commitment, contrasts Asquith

willingness to abandon old principles + took it more seriously

-was now Minister of munitions and already Chancellor of Exchequer  

1915 Treasury Agreement

made with TU’s, in March 1915, to guaranteed improved wages and conditions, as long as no striking during war

1915 Coalition

due to the munitions crisis + resignations

-conservatives stated without a coalition, they would find it hard to keep supporting the gov, which couldn’t supply troops

-upset INP and liberals due to conservatives not winning an election since 1900

LG, Asquith, BL negotiated this + Carson also in coalition but nothing for INP 

• liberal majority 

• LG now only minister of munitions, Henderson (labour) Education, BL as Colonial Sec + other conservative roles

Minister of Munitions - LG

persuaded coalition for more state power over industry by extending DORA

created and headed Ministry of munitions - oversee production, oversee purchasing and material supply

recognised the need for total war and changing principles, passing many reforms:

1915 Munitions of War act

allowed LG to

-make a central purchasing system to buy necessary war materials 

-organise British science to help the efforts -e.g. weapons, mortars 

-factories turned to war time production + made also its own national factories e.g. 16,000 workers in Leeds factory making 25m shells a year

-extensive control over rail, docks and coal mines

-1915 dilution agreements

-illegal for workers to go on strike, couldn’t leave jobs and could move workers to other parts of the country + also reduced alcohol in drinks

-gov control on prices, wages + profits

-British summer time - altered clocks

1915 Dilution agreement

made with TUs to agree to let semi-skilled + unskilled and women to be trained for job that were reserved for those who were skilled

National Registration Act 1915

LG calling for conscription to support the 2m volunteers

May 1915 - upper age limit from 38 to now 40

National Registration act showed that conscription would lead to 3-4m men joining

-Asquith attempt for the debt scheme but was rejected - men agreeing to join at a later date

1916 Military service act

Jan 1916 - introduced conscription for men over 18-40

betrayal of liberalism

pressure for Asquith to accept came from LG, Unionists + public opinion

men who refused could be imprisoned 

-Summer 1916 - Second act passed to make married men conscripted

-FEB 1918 - third act passed extending age limit to 50 

Inner war cabinet + 1916 Liberal split

-June 1916 Kitchener drowned so LG now Minster of War

-LG called for creation of a war council to run the warm, whilst PM ran the country - Asquith rejected

-Asquith resigned as did LG believing new gov formed on his terms, but rather LG PM - still party leader outside gov

LG led coalition gov - had labour, ulster Conservative unionist and 100 liberals + newspaper support

• BL said they wouldn’t sit in a war council without LG

Asquithan liberals - became opposition, and found it had to criticise LG due to war

LG coalition

“man who won the war”

PM and head of war cabinet.

-44 Conservatives, 12 Lib, 2 Labour 

-had a small inner war cabinet - was the only liberal in it - LG, Curzon, BL, Milner, Henderson - worked without reference to parliament

-had cabinet secs to organise affairs of war cabinet

-used external experts outside gov to help win e.g. Beaverbrook for Propaganda

• His private secretariat - “Garden Suburb”

• didn’t attend parliament 1916-18 - ideas of ruling like a dictator

Increasing gov control

-controlled shipping, farming, production, coal, rationing 1918, wages

-consumers council - set to give view for rationing, first campaign for consumer rights

-New ministries formed - national service, conscription, food, propoganda

LG and Generals

believed gov need more military involvement, attempting to exert control over Generals 

-held recourse often to control militaries actions

Nov 1918

won the war through:

increased state intervention, taxation

-coal and rail benefited the war efforts, but were left in decline after 1918

1918 Maurice debate

public accusation that LG withholding supplies from troops - led to vote of no confidence

-LG won vote with 293-106

-Asquith + some liberals voted against LG, so growing further apart

-permanent split of liberal party, with some now turning to labour

-coalition fought with idea “land fit for heroes”, making LG and conservatives more popular