Changes

the '''British Liberal Party''' was one of two main political parties in Britain from the mid-19th century to the 1920s. Since then it has become an also-ran with few seats in parliament despite a moderately large vote.  In 1968 it merged with a breakaway faction of the [[Labour Party]] to form the '''Liberal Democratic Party.''' George Dangerfield argued in ''Strange Death of Liberal England'' (1935) that in the face of the multiple crises of Edwardian Britain arounfd 1910-- women’s suffrage, Irish Home Rule, industrial unrest -- liberalism crumbled. More recently historians have argued that 20th century Britain was dominated by liberalism and related creeds, especially as eembodied in various kinds of "liberal socialism."<ref> See Green and Tanner, eds, ''The Strange Survival of Liberal England: Political Leaders, Moral Values and the Reception of Economic Debate''(2007).</ref>   

the '''British Liberal Party''' was one of two main political parties in Britain from the mid-19th century to the 1920s. Since then it has become an also-ran with few seats in parliament despite a moderately large vote.  In 1968 it merged with a breakaway faction of the [[Labour Party]] to form the '''Liberal Democratic Party.''' George Dangerfield argued in ''Strange Death of Liberal England'' (1935) that in the face of the multiple crises of Edwardian Britain arounfd 1910—women’s suffrage, Irish Home Rule, industrial unrest—liberalism crumbled. More recently historians have argued that 20th century Britain was dominated by liberalism and related creeds, especially as eembodied in various kinds of "liberal socialism."<ref>See Green and Tanner, eds, ''The Strange Survival of Liberal England: Political Leaders, Moral Values and the Reception of Economic Debate''(2007).</ref>   

==Origins==

==Origins==

In the 1830s there was a small but clear distinction between the "radical" (reformist) faction of the Whig Party and the reactionaries of the Tory ("Conservative") Party. The Tories accepted the reforms; the Whigs were still dominated by great aristocratic families. Politicians switched easily between parties. This era ended with Viscount [[Palmerston]]'s death in 1865 and the emergence of a new leader who drew sharp party lines..

In the 1830s there was a small but clear distinction between the "radical" (reformist) faction of the Whig Party and the reactionaries of the Tory ("Conservative") Party. The Tories accepted the reforms; the Whigs were still dominated by great aristocratic families. Politicians switched easily between parties. This era ended with Viscount [[Palmerston]]'s death in 1865 and the emergence of a new leader who drew sharp party lines..

===Gladstone===

===Gladstone===

The great leader of the party was [[William Gladstone]] (1809-98), an intensely religious and intellectual politician, who dueled for decades with Conservative leader [[Benjamin Disraeli]] (1804-1881) over who would be prime minister.  

The great leader of the party was [[William Gladstone]] (1809–98), an intensely religious and intellectual politician, who dueled for decades with Conservative leader [[Benjamin Disraeli]] (1804-1881) over who would be prime minister.  

After the defeat of the Conservatives in the 1868 election, Gladstone became prime minister and proved he was not as ready to compromise as the much as the Whigs had done.

After the defeat of the Conservatives in the 1868 election, Gladstone became prime minister and proved he was not as ready to compromise as the much as the Whigs had done.

Between 1870 and 1874 religious disputes played a major part in ripping apart the broad Liberal Party coalition. Disputes over education, Irish disestablishment, and the Irish universities showed the divergence between, on the one hand, Whigs, who wanted state control of education and the propagation of a nondenominational, morally uplifting Christianity, and on the other hand Gladstone and his supporters, who sought to guard religion's independence from a modernizing civil power. This division struck a lasting blow to prospects of agreement on future policy over education and Ireland.<ref> J. P. Parry, "Religion and the Collapse of Gladstone's First Government, 1870-1874." ''Historical Journal'' 1982 25(1): 71-101. Issn: 0018-246x Fulltext: [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2638807  in Jstor] </ref>

Between 1870 and 1874 religious disputes played a major part in ripping apart the broad Liberal Party coalition. Disputes over education, Irish disestablishment, and the Irish universities showed the divergence between, on the one hand, Whigs, who wanted state control of education and the propagation of a nondenominational, morally uplifting Christianity, and on the other hand Gladstone and his supporters, who sought to guard religion's independence from a modernizing civil power. This division struck a lasting blow to prospects of agreement on future policy over education and Ireland.<ref>J. P. Parry, "Religion and the Collapse of Gladstone's First Government, 1870-1874." ''Historical Journal'' 1982 25(1): 71-101. Issn: 0018-246x Fulltext: [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2638807  in Jstor]</ref>

====The Irish Question====

====The Irish Question====

Gladstone united his party, which had several factions based on personalities. He got the Liberals to agree on the [[Irish question]], which dominated British politics from the 1870s to 1914.  One achievement was to disestablish the Church of Ireland -- a branch of the Church of England that Irish Catholics did not want to support. In 1870, Gladstone tried to resolve the agrarian problem, long a major cause of Irish unrest, in which Protestants and absentee English owners controlled most of the good farmlands in Ireland. He extended to to predominantly Catholic southern Ireland the "Ulster Tenant Right", which had protected Protestants in northern Ireland. The new act provided that tenants who were arbitrarily evicted by landowners had to be compensated by them, and paid for improvements they had made to the farm. The act did not reduce the high rents nor give tenants any security. These problems were resolved when Gladstone passed a second Irish land act in 1881, which provided for The Three F's, (fair rent, free sale, and fixity of tenure), and established a land court to which landlords and tenants might appeal voluntarily. The land court reduced average rents by 25%, and helped resolve the agrarian problem. But the Irish kept demanding more power (although not yet agitating for independence). Following the reforms there was an alarming increase of violent outrages and lawlessness in rural Ireland directed against protestant landlords. In 1886 Gladstone, after a brief Conservative interlude, became prime minister for the third time. He now realized that '''Home Rule'' was the only answer to the Irish question, but this solution split the Liberal party. A faction of radical imperialists led by [[Joseph Chamberlain]] broke off from the party and became known as the "Liberal Unionists". The Liberal Unionists voted with Conservatives to defeat Gladstone's Home Rule bill. The Liberals again came into office in 1892, after a campaign during which both parties stressed the Irish issue. In 1893 the House of Commons passed Gladstone's second Home Rule bill, but it was thrown out by the House of Lords. The Liberals stayed in office for more than a year after Gladstone's resignation in March 1894; but Home Rule went off the Liberal Party agenda until 1910.

Gladstone united his party, which had several factions based on personalities. He got the Liberals to agree on the [[Irish question]], which dominated British politics from the 1870s to 1914.  One achievement was to disestablish the Church of Ireland—a branch of the Church of England that Irish Catholics did not want to support. In 1870, Gladstone tried to resolve the agrarian problem, long a major cause of Irish unrest, in which Protestants and absentee English owners controlled most of the good farmlands in Ireland. He extended to to predominantly Catholic southern Ireland the "Ulster Tenant Right", which had protected Protestants in northern Ireland. The new act provided that tenants who were arbitrarily evicted by landowners had to be compensated by them, and paid for improvements they had made to the farm. The act did not reduce the high rents nor give tenants any security. These problems were resolved when Gladstone passed a second Irish land act in 1881, which provided for The Three F's, (fair rent, free sale, and fixity of tenure), and established a land court to which landlords and tenants might appeal voluntarily. The land court reduced average rents by 25%, and helped resolve the agrarian problem. But the Irish kept demanding more power (although not yet agitating for independence). Following the reforms there was an alarming increase of violent outrages and lawlessness in rural Ireland directed against protestant landlords. In 1886 Gladstone, after a brief Conservative interlude, became prime minister for the third time. He now realized that '''Home Rule'' was the only answer to the Irish question, but this solution split the Liberal party. A faction of radical imperialists led by [[Joseph Chamberlain]] broke off from the party and became known as the "Liberal Unionists". The Liberal Unionists voted with Conservatives to defeat Gladstone's Home Rule bill. The Liberals again came into office in 1892, after a campaign during which both parties stressed the Irish issue. In 1893 the House of Commons passed Gladstone's second Home Rule bill, but it was thrown out by the House of Lords. The Liberals stayed in office for more than a year after Gladstone's resignation in March 1894; but Home Rule went off the Liberal Party agenda until 1910.

====Reform legislation====

====Reform legislation====

Liberals prided themselves on being reformers.  The "Education Act of 1870" greatly enlarged the schooling opportunities of the working class. Previously only voluntary schools provided opportunity for the education of the poor, and of 4,300,000 children of school age in England, about half were not in school. The act of 1870 divided England and Wales into school districts with board schools in every district in which there was not an approved voluntary school. At first, elementary schooling was neither free nor compulsory, but it soon became both. Within a generation illiteracy decreased from 19.4% to 1.4%. The "Universities Test Act" of 1871 dropped the requirement of supporting Anglican doctrines and made it possible for non-Anglicans to receive degrees and teach there.  The "Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1871", upgraded the legal standing of labour unions by declaring them to be neither criminal conspiracies nor unlawful combinations. The "Judicature Act, 1873," reorganized court system. The "Franchise Act of 1884" gave the vote to every man who was the head of a household, virtually established manhood suffrage. Along with it was a law that made one-member constituencies the norm.  The buying and selling of officers' commissions in the army was ended.  None of the reforms was reversed when the Conservatives came to power, and they became part of Britain's unwritten constitution.

Liberals prided themselves on being reformers.  The "Education Act of 1870" greatly enlarged the schooling opportunities of the working class. Previously only voluntary schools provided opportunity for the education of the poor, and of 4,300,000 children of school age in England, about half were not in school. The act of 1870 divided England and Wales into school districts with board schools in every district in which there was not an approved voluntary school. At first, elementary schooling was neither free nor compulsory, but it soon became both. Within a generation illiteracy decreased from 19.4% to 1.4%. The "Universities Test Act" of 1871 dropped the requirement of supporting Anglican doctrines and made it possible for non-Anglicans to receive degrees and teach there.  The "Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1871", upgraded the legal standing of labour unions by declaring them to be neither criminal conspiracies nor unlawful combinations. The "Judicature Act, 1873," reorganized court system. The "Franchise Act of 1884" gave the vote to every man who was the head of a household, virtually established manhood suffrage. Along with it was a law that made one-member constituencies the norm.  The buying and selling of officers' commissions in the army was ended.  None of the reforms was reversed when the Conservatives came to power, and they became part of Britain's unwritten constitution.

===Foreign policy and World War===

===Foreign policy and World War===

Liberal foreign policy seemed less able and vigorous than that of the Conservatives; the imperialism captured the public imagination around 1900 was a Conservative issue; it was alien to the Liberal mind.  While not pacifists, the party generally opposed imperialism and overseas conflicts. Britain was so immersed in the Irish problem in 1914 that it was caught totally by surprise when war came. Counting on a fleet that remained powerful, the Liberals had downsized the army. German violation of Belgian neutrality outraged the Liberals as a betrayal--one that posed the immediate threat of German control of the entire continent.  That was unacceptable and so unexpectedly Britain went to war with France and Russia against Germany, Austria and Turkey.  

Liberal foreign policy seemed less able and vigorous than that of the Conservatives; the imperialism captured the public imagination around 1900 was a Conservative issue; it was alien to the Liberal mind.  While not pacifists, the party generally opposed imperialism and overseas conflicts. Britain was so immersed in the Irish problem in 1914 that it was caught totally by surprise when war came. Counting on a fleet that remained powerful, the Liberals had downsized the army. German violation of Belgian neutrality outraged the Liberals as a betrayal—one that posed the immediate threat of German control of the entire continent.  That was unacceptable and so unexpectedly Britain went to war with France and Russia against Germany, Austria and Turkey.  

The Liberal Party as a whole --and indeed the whole nation--endorsed the declaration of war. Asquith, formed a coalition government with the Conservatives in 1915. Asquith made a fine leader in peacetime, but lacked the broad vision necessary to run a war, and he was forced out by Lloyd George in late 1916. The new prime minister was an amazing dynamo who took control of the whole war effort, as well as politics and diplomacy. His government was composed of members of the Conservative, Liberal, Unionist, and Labour parties. However, the majority of the Liberal ex-ministers deserted him to organize a group known as the independent Liberals. Before the war ended, the Liberals became hopelessly divided. Lloyd George's coalition ministry fell in 1922 when the Conservatives (the largest bloc) withdrew support after he proposed military intervention in Turkey.   

The Liberal Party as a whole—and indeed the whole nation—endorsed the declaration of war. Asquith, formed a coalition government with the Conservatives in 1915. Asquith made a fine leader in peacetime, but lacked the broad vision necessary to run a war, and he was forced out by Lloyd George in late 1916. The new prime minister was an amazing dynamo who took control of the whole war effort, as well as politics and diplomacy. His government was composed of members of the Conservative, Liberal, Unionist, and Labour parties. However, the majority of the Liberal ex-ministers deserted him to organize a group known as the independent Liberals. Before the war ended, the Liberals became hopelessly divided. Lloyd George's coalition ministry fell in 1922 when the Conservatives (the largest bloc) withdrew support after he proposed military intervention in Turkey.   

The Liberals never pulled themselves together, as the trade union and working class supported deserted to the upstart [[Labour Party]], and Lloyd George kept personal control of the shrinking Liberal bloc in Parliament. More important than the MP's in the 1920s to 1940s were the Liberal intellectuals, especially economists [[John Maynard Keynes]] and [[William Beveridge]] who devised programmes of government control of the economy, and expansion of the welfare state, that deprived the trade unions of their chance at controlling the economy through socialism.

The Liberals never pulled themselves together, as the trade union and working class supported deserted to the upstart [[Labour Party]], and Lloyd George kept personal control of the shrinking Liberal bloc in Parliament. More important than the MP's in the 1920s to 1940s were the Liberal intellectuals, especially economists [[John Maynard Keynes]] and [[William Beveridge]] who devised programmes of government control of the economy, and expansion of the welfare state, that deprived the trade unions of their chance at controlling the economy through socialism.

* DeGroot, Gerard J. ''Liberal Crusader: The Life of Sir Archibald Sinclair.'' (1993), mid 20th century  

* DeGroot, Gerard J. ''Liberal Crusader: The Life of Sir Archibald Sinclair.'' (1993), mid 20th century  

* Dutton, David. ''A History of the Liberal Party in the Twentieth Century,'' (2004). 360 pp.

* Dutton, David. ''A History of the Liberal Party in the Twentieth Century,'' (2004). 360 pp.

* Ensor, Robert. ''England 1870-1914'' (Oxford History of England Series) (1936), 652pp good survey of politics[http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0198217056/ref=sib_dp_pt/103-4827826-5463040#reader-link excerpt and text search]; [http://www.questiaschool.com/read/10005200 online edition]

* Ensor, Robert. ''England 1870-1914'' (Oxford History of England Series) (1936), 652pp good survey of politics [http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0198217056/ref=sib_dp_pt/103-4827826-5463040#reader-link excerpt and text search]; [http://www.questiaschool.com/read/10005200 online edition]

* Green, E.H.H., and D.M. Tanner, eds. ''The Strange Survival of Liberal England: Political Leaders, Moral Values and the Reception of Economic Debate''(2007).

* Green, E.H.H., and D.M. Tanner, eds. ''The Strange Survival of Liberal England: Political Leaders, Moral Values and the Reception of Economic Debate''(2007).

* Grigg, John. ''Lloyd George: The People's Champion, 1902-1911.'' (1979). 391 pp.

* Grigg, John. ''Lloyd George: The People's Champion, 1902-1911.'' (1979). 391 pp.

* Murray, Bruce K. ''The People's Budget 1909/10: Lloyd George and Liberal Politics.'' (1980). 352 pp.

* Murray, Bruce K. ''The People's Budget 1909/10: Lloyd George and Liberal Politics.'' (1980). 352 pp.

* Parry, J. P. ''Democracy and religion: Gladstone and the Liberal party, 1867–1875'' (1986), 504 pp.  [http://www.amazon.com/Democracy-Religion-Gladstone-18671875-Cambridge/dp/0521367832/ref=sr_1_14/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192323865&sr=1-14 excerpt and text search]

* Parry, J. P. ''Democracy and religion: Gladstone and the Liberal party, 1867–1875'' (1986), 504 pp.  [http://www.amazon.com/Democracy-Religion-Gladstone-18671875-Cambridge/dp/0521367832/ref=sr_1_14/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192323865&sr=1-14 excerpt and text search]

* Parry, J. P. "Review: The State of Victorian Political History," ''The Historical Journal,'' Vol. 26, No. 2 (Jun., 1983), pp. 469-484   [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2638778 in JSTOR], historiography

* Parry, J. P. "Review: The State of Victorian Political History," ''The Historical Journal,'' Vol. 26, No. 2 (Jun., 1983), pp.&nbsp;469–484   [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2638778 in JSTOR], historiography

* Perry, Jonathan. ''The Rise and Fall of Liberal Government in Victorian Britain.'' (1994). 383 pp.

* Perry, Jonathan. ''The Rise and Fall of Liberal Government in Victorian Britain.'' (1994). 383 pp.

* Searle, G. R. ''The Liberal Party: Triumph and Disintegration, 1886-1929.'' (1992). 234 pp.

* Searle, G. R. ''The Liberal Party: Triumph and Disintegration, 1886-1929.'' (1992). 234 pp.

* [[David Lloyd-George]]

* [[David Lloyd-George]]

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====References====

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[[Category:British Politics]]

[[Category:British Politics]]