The Development of New Liberalism

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The Development of New Liberalism

There were many reasons of why New Liberalism developed in the early

20th century. The two main reasons were political pragmatism and

compassion for the poor. New Liberalism developed because Lloyd

George, Asquith and Churchill believed that the government should help

the vulnerable, which could not stand on their own two feet, such as

the young, old, sick and unemployed. The other reasons could be

Britain’s economic position, the Boer war, the Laissez-faire approach,

international competition, work of social researchers such as Booth

and Rowntree, socialist ideas and finally municipal socialism.

Old Liberalism was a political party that came into power in 1867. Old

Liberalism believed to establish a national minimum standard of living

so the individuals would be able to prosper and help themselves. Old

Liberals believed that politics was the will of God, they were deeply

religious. Another point was that, equality for all the opportunities

available, such as anyone can take the national Exams, join the army

and do the civil service, no matter the ethnic background, rich or

poor, or age. Old Liberals also believed in self-help, this meant that

everyone was responsible for themselves, i.e. to get a job, to live

elsewhere, the Government believed in minimal intervention. This was

Laissez-faire; this meant there was no intervention in business or

economy. Old Liberals also believed in low taxation, so that no one

could be heavily taxed and everyone can become wealthy. Old Liberals

also believed in free trade, this meant various countries of the world

could trade which enabled them to obtain materials which they cannot

produce themselves.

New Liberals which evolved from Old Liberalism, believed in more

intervention in order to help the people in society (i.e. the poor)

‘Advocates of New Liberalism, such as David Lloyd George, who entered

the cabinet as president of the Board of Trade in 1905, wished to see

a far more interventionist approach to improving life for the lower

class’ (Byrne 1995)

New Liberals were different from Old Liberals because they believed

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