Britain

By lolashezza

  • Great Exhibition

    International showcase of industry, technology and culture.
    Held in the Crystal Palace "workshop of the world".
    Highlights UK's economic dominance.

  • Matchgirls' Strike

    Led by Annie Besant.
    Workers at Bryant and May match factory protest against low wages and dangerous phosphurus fumes.

  • Formation Independant Labour Party

    Under Keir Hardie (first labour MP).
    Working class interests in parliament.
    Challenges the dominance of liberals and conservatives.

  • Local Government Act

    Allowed women to only vote in local elections.

  • NUWSS

    National Union of Women's Suffrage Socities.
    Led by Millicent Fawcett.
    Peaceful campaign for women's voting rights.

  • Labour representation committee

    Predecessor to labour party.
    Aimed to secure parliamentary representation for trade unions and socialists.

  • Taff Vale Case

    States that trade unions are liable for any losses caused by strikes.
    Led to an increase in labour support.

  • Lib-Lab Pact

    Liberals agree to not oppose labour candidates in come constituencies.
    Allows labour to win more seats in parliament.

  • WSPU

    Women's Social and Political Union.
    Led by the Pankhurst family.
    Radical tactics to demand votes for women.

  • Liberal welfare reforms

    Under Campbell-Bannerman.
    Liberals introduce social reforms like free school meals to takle poverty.

  • Old Age Pensions Act

    Provided state pensions for people over 70 with low incomes.

  • People's Budget

    By DLG.
    Proposed higher taxes on wealthy to fund welfare programs.
    Led to a political crisis in the House of Lords.

  • Hunger strikes

    By suffragettes.
    Imprisoned suffragettes went on a hunger strike.
    Government introduced force-feeding policies.

  • National Insurance Act

    Unemployment and sickness benefits for workers.
    Lays foundations for welfare state.

  • Cat and Mouse Act

    Allowed government to release suffragettes that went on hunger strikes temporarily until they recovered, then re-arrested them.

  • Emily Davidson's suicide

    Emily Davidson throws herself in front of King George V's horse, in protest for suffragettes.

  • WW1 begins

    Women enter workforce when men leave to fight.
    Society shifts towards total war.
  • Period: to

    WW1

  • Munitions crisis

    Shortages in munitions led to women working in factories.

  • Military Service Act

    Conscription introduced for men aged 18-41.

  • Representation of the People Act

    Enfranchises:
    - Women over 30
    - All men over 21

  • Housing Act (Addison Act)

    By Christopher Addison.
    Government funded housing for working class families.
    Follows "homes fit for heroes".

  • Sex Disqualification Act

    Allowed women to enter professions like law, civil service and go to universities.

  • Unemployment Insurance Act

    Expanded benefits to more workers.
    Over 11 million people.

  • Post-war crisis

    2 million unemployed after returning from war.

  • General Strike

    Trade unions call for 9 day strike against coal miners' wages.
    Government stops the strike.

  • Wall Street Crash

    Economy collapsed.
    High unemployment and social hardship.
  • Period: to

    Labour Government

    Under Ramsay MacDonald.
    Faces economic crisis: Wall Street Crash and the rise of unemployment.

  • Housing Act (slum clearance)

    By Arthur Greenwood.
    Large-scale demolition of slums and construction of new housing.

  • Britain leaves Gold Standard

    Causes currency depreciation.
    Financial crisis worsens.
  • Period: to

    National Government

    1931-1935: under Ramsay MacDonald
    1935-1937: under Stanley Baldwin
    Created to overcome wartime issues.
    Mixture of labour and conservative experts.

  • Import Duties Act

    Abandons free trade and introduces tariffs.

  • Unemployment Act

    After unemployment peaks at 3 million.
    Establishes a means-tested dole system.

  • Unemployment Assistance Act

    Means-tested benefits for long-term unemployment.

  • Government of India Act

    Gives India more self-governance.

  • Jarrow March

    Ellen Wilkinson (Labour MP for Jarrow).
    Unemployment march from Jarrow to London to demand jobs after the collapse of shipbuilding industry.
    Baldwin completely ignores.

  • Holiday Pay Act

    Guaranteed paid holidays for workers.
    Improved living standards.

  • WW2 begins

    Evacuation millions of children from cities to rural areas.
  • Period: to

    WW2