OCR Specification focus:
‘constitutional crisis, causes, course and results; the issue of women’s suffrage 1906–1914; problems in Ireland 1910–1914; Trade Unions and problems of industrial unrest’
The years 1906 to 1914 were marked by political confrontation, constitutional upheaval, social reform struggles, and rising tensions over Ireland and women’s suffrage.
The Constitutional Crisis
Causes
The constitutional crisis of 1909–1911 stemmed from conflict between the Liberal government and the House of Lords.
In 1909, Chancellor David Lloyd George introduced the “People’s Budget”, which raised taxes on land and wealth to fund social reforms and naval expansion.
The House of Lords, dominated by Conservative peers, broke convention by rejecting the budget, provoking a clash over parliamentary sovereignty.
Parliamentary Sovereignty: The principle that the House of Commons, as the elected chamber, should have ultimate authority in law-making and taxation.
Course
A political deadlock followed, with two general elections held in January and December 1910.
The Liberals, dependent on Irish Nationalist and Labour support, promised reform of the Lords in exchange for backing.
King George V agreed to create new Liberal peers if necessary to pass reform.
Results
The Parliament Act of 1911 reduced the Lords’ powers, limiting their ability to veto legislation to a two-year suspensory veto and removing control over money bills.
This confirmed the supremacy of the Commons and was a turning point in British constitutional development.
The Women’s Suffrage Movement 1906–1914
Suffragists and Suffragettes
The demand for votes for women intensified:
The NUWSS (National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies), led by Millicent Fawcett, pursued peaceful, constitutional campaigning.
The WSPU (Women’s Social and Political Union), founded by Emmeline Pankhurst in 1903, adopted militant tactics, earning the name “Suffragettes.”
Suffragette: A member of the WSPU who campaigned for women’s votes using militant direct action such as protests, hunger strikes, and property damage.
Campaign and Government Response
From 1906, suffragettes disrupted meetings, chained themselves to railings, and engaged in window-smashing campaigns.
The government responded with imprisonment, force-feeding of hunger strikers, and the Cat and Mouse Act (1913), allowing temporary release of weakened prisoners before re-arrest.
Excerpt from a 1914 suffragette poster symbolising the government’s “release and re-arrest” policy under the Cat and Mouse Act. The imagery links hunger-striking prisoners to the cat-and-mouse metaphor widely used at the time. This excerpt focuses on the central emblem; the full poster includes additional text not essential to the syllabus. Source
Despite raising publicity, suffragette militancy alienated many politicians, and no franchise reform was achieved before 1914.
The Irish Question 1910–1914
Background
Ireland’s demand for Home Rule (self-government within the UK) dominated politics.
The Irish Parliamentary Party, led by John Redmond, held the balance of power after the 1910 elections.
In return for supporting the Liberals, Redmond secured the introduction of a Third Home Rule Bill (1912).
Opposition
Unionists, led by Sir Edward Carson, strongly opposed Home Rule, fearing domination by a Catholic majority.
In 1912, Unionists formed the Ulster Covenant and established the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), pledging to resist Home Rule by force.
Sir Edward Carson signs the Ulster Covenant at Belfast City Hall (1912), committing Unionists to resist Irish Home Rule. The scene illustrates elite leadership, mass participation, and the political gravity of the pledge. Background figures include civic dignitaries and organisers, reflecting the breadth of Unionist support. Source
Escalation
The Curragh Mutiny (1914), when British officers threatened to resign rather than act against Unionists, exposed the fragility of the government’s position.
By 1914, Britain stood on the brink of civil conflict between Unionists and Nationalists. The outbreak of the First World War postponed implementation of Home Rule.
Industrial Unrest 1910–1914
Growth of Trade Unionism
Between 1910 and 1914, Britain experienced the “Great Unrest”, a wave of strikes across industries.
Miners, dockers, railwaymen, and transport workers sought better pay, shorter hours, and improved working conditions.
Trade unions grew in size and militancy, with many influenced by syndicalist ideas advocating direct action.
Syndicalism: A radical trade union movement advocating that workers should control industry through direct action such as strikes and boycotts.
Strikes and Tensions
Notable disputes included the South Wales miners’ strikes and national railway strikes of 1911 and 1912.
The Liberal government deployed troops during strikes, leading to violent clashes and deaths, which inflamed working-class resentment.
The emergence of the Triple Alliance (miners, railwaymen, and transport workers) threatened coordinated strike action.
Impact
Industrial unrest highlighted deep economic and social grievances.
It also reinforced the rise of Labour as a political force, representing working-class interests more effectively than the Liberals.
Interconnections
The years 1906–1914 revealed how political reform, social movements, and national tensions collided:
The constitutional crisis redefined parliamentary authority.
The suffrage campaign underscored the challenge of expanding democracy.
The Irish problem pushed Britain towards civil war.
Industrial unrest reflected wider discontent and foreshadowed future Labour strength.
FAQ
King George V acted as a mediator during the deadlock. He assured the Liberals that, if necessary, he would create hundreds of new Liberal peers to outvote the Conservative majority in the House of Lords.
This royal intervention pressured the Lords into passing the Parliament Act without the need for mass peer creation, thus avoiding a constitutional showdown between monarchy and aristocracy.
Many suffragists opposed militancy because they feared it damaged the cause by alienating public sympathy and politicians.
The NUWSS believed peaceful persuasion was more effective in winning support.
Some moderate supporters withdrew their backing after violent acts, such as arson or window smashing, seeing them as counterproductive.
This division weakened the overall unity of the campaign for women’s suffrage before 1914.
Unionists used mass mobilisation to strengthen their opposition.
The Ulster Covenant (1912) gathered almost half a million signatures pledging resistance.
The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) was formed, with military-style drilling and smuggled German arms.
This level of organisation demonstrated their willingness to use force, heightening fears of civil war.
The Curragh Mutiny exposed the British Army’s reluctance to act against Unionists in Ulster. Officers stationed at the Curragh Camp signalled they would resign rather than enforce Home Rule against armed Unionists.
This undermined confidence in the government’s ability to maintain authority in Ireland, raising doubts about state control and deepening the crisis on the eve of the First World War.
Unions expected a Liberal government, dependent on working-class support, to pass stronger protections for labour.
Frustrations included:
The Liberal use of troops during strikes, which led to violent clashes.
Limited progress on wage and condition improvements.
Legal restrictions on unions after court cases such as Osborne (1909), which restricted political funding.
This sense of betrayal fuelled militancy and widened the gap between Labour and the Liberals.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks)
Which Act of Parliament, passed in 1911, reduced the power of the House of Lords to block legislation?
Mark Scheme:
1 mark for identifying the Parliament Act.
1 additional mark for stating the year 1911.
Question 2 (6 marks)
Explain two reasons why there was widespread industrial unrest in Britain between 1910 and 1914.
Mark Scheme:
Award up to 3 marks for each developed reason.
1 mark for identifying a valid reason.
1–2 additional marks for development or explanation of how/why it led to unrest.
Examples:
Low wages and poor conditions in staple industries (1 mark). Development: Workers, such as miners and railwaymen, demanded higher pay and shorter hours as living standards lagged behind prices (1–2 marks).
Growth of trade union militancy and syndicalist influence (1 mark). Development: Syndicalist ideas encouraged direct action and strikes, leading to coordinated unrest such as the South Wales miners’ strike and the Triple Alliance’s threat (1–2 marks).
Other valid factors may include government responses to strikes, use of troops, or the inadequacy of Liberal reforms.
Maximum 6 marks.
