The period between 1906 and the First World War has often been seen as the last great moment of Liberal Party rule and a turning point in political history. In fact the welfare reforms introduced in these years were substantial achievements in social and economic progress, but it is the political turmoil of the years that receives greater attention, most obviously because of the precipitous decline in the Party that followed the War and its replacement by the Labour Party in 1922 as the official opposition to the Conservatives. This essay outlines some of the key features of Liberalism, the background to the 1906 election victory, characteristics of the Liberal Government, and some of its major legacies in the form of social welfare and Parliamentary reform. The tensions in the Party…
1830 words
Citation: Woodhams, Stephen. "Decline of the Liberal Party". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 12 November 2007 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=1745, accessed 27 November 2024.]
