Great Britain: political system, economy and domestic policy
Lessons 11–12 · 2 lessons · M. Lafasov, U. Jo‘rayev, E. Xoliqov, D. Qodirova. Jahon tarixi (World history), Grade 9, revised 3rd edition. “O‘qituvchi” Publishing House, Tashkent, 2014
12
Great Britain’s domestic policy
Textbook: pp. 42–44
GoalDescribe the Irish question, the 1911 parliamentary reform and the labour movement (the Labour Party).
New words
Home Rule: self-government for Ireland within the United Kingdom · gomrulHouse of Lords: the upper chamber of the British parliament · Lordlar palatasitrade union · tred-yunionthe Labour Party, named so from 1906 · Leyboristlar partiyasi
Explanation
The Irish question: most Irish peasants were tenants while the land belonged to landlords from Britain; famine and poverty pushed many to emigrate to America. In the 1870s the MP C. Parnell demanded self-government for Ireland (Home Rule) and agrarian reform; the government passed a Land Act in 1881, but the conflict continued. In 1886 a Home Rule bill was rejected in parliament, and in 1905 A. Griffith founded the Sinn Féin party. A new bill of 1912 was passed in 1914 but its introduction was postponed because the First World War broke out. The 1911 parliamentary reform limited the House of Lords’ veto so that the Commons’ decision prevailed, set parliament’s term at 5 years and introduced pay for MPs. The trade unions founded their own party in 1900 (called the Labour Party from 1906), which won 29 seats in 1906. After a miners’ strike in 1912 a minimum wage law was adopted; pensions from age 70 (1908) and sickness and unemployment insurance (1911) had also been introduced.
Worked examples
What Home Rule meant: Ireland staying within Britain but running its own internal affairs (not full independence).
Powers of the Lords: before 1911 they could block a law; afterwards a law passed three times by the Commons took effect even if the Lords rejected it.
Class activity
“Timeline”: place the Irish question on cards by the dates 1875 – 1881 – 1886 – 1905 – 1912 – 1914.
Practice
1
What was Home Rule and who demanded it?
Self-government for Ireland; demanded by the MP Parnell and his supporters.
2
What did the 1911 parliamentary reform change?
The Lords’ veto was limited, parliament’s term became 5 years and MPs were paid.
3
When was the Labour Party founded and how many seats did it win in 1906?
Founded in 1900 (named so from 1906); 29 seats.
4
Why did the workers decide to form their own party?
Losses from strikes were being recovered from the unions, making struggle hard; workers wanted to defend their interests themselves in parliament.