Why was the Conservative Government 1902-1905 so unsuccessful?
“Why was the Conservative Government 1902-1905 so unsuccessful?” 12 Marks
The Conservative Government was so unsuccessful for a variety of events and political developments which all contributed to their overwhelming defeat in the 1906 General Election. It was key events such as the Education and Licensing Acts that in my opinion were crucial factors and evermore their leader Balfour that greatly affected the Conservatives position in Great Britain as a whole.
Firstly, the Boer War not only uncovered the vast amount of poverty in Cities but it also publicised the need for Social Reforms. The Boer War ultimately revealed the great extent of poverty, and to many people, the amount of money and lives lost in the War itself were seen simply unjustified and caused moral outrage throughout Britain. Unlike the Conservatives, some Liberals were already working out a new form of Liberalism in which the State would play a greater role in ensuring minimum living standards for the most vulnerable, and with the constant growing awareness of this vital need of Social Reforms led to much unpopularity for the Conservatives; with the people wanting change; and now.