This document provides sources related to Liberal reforms in early 20th century Britain. Source A is a political cartoon about old age pensions introduced in 1908. Sources B and C give different views on the impact of old age pensions - one from a Labour MP wanting to emphasize Labour's role, and one from a post office worker seeing the real impact. Source D is a photo of Lloyd George shaking hands, which could be used to argue he was popular due to the reforms but was really propaganda. Sources E and F provide differing views on the National Insurance Act from a government report and unions, showing unions were critical despite supporting the policy. Source G explains poverty was an issue the reforms aimed to address, but they were unpopular with trade unions

1. Liberal Reforms DIRT Review
Aim: To develop key source skills and integration of contextual
knowledge

2. 1. Study source A
What is the message of this source? Use details of the source
and your own knowledge to explain your answer. (6 marks)
5 shillings a week for an individual
7 shillings and 6 d (pence) a week for
a married couple
Rich conservatives (eg. Lord Halsbury)
opposed the Budget which was to pay
for the Liberal Reforms (the People’s
Budget of 1909)
Question 1
Level 1 – Surface details of cartoon (1 mark)
Level 2 – Main message of cartoon or
cartoonists viewpoint (2 marks)
Level 3 – Main message + context (3-4 marks)
Level 4 – CV + context (5-6 marks)

3. 2. Study sources B and C.
Why do these sources give such different views about the impact of old age pensions? Use
details of the sources and your knowledge to explain your answer. (8 marks)
Joseph Clynes is a Labour MP –
he wants to emphasise the role
of the Labour Party in causing the
Old Age Pensions Act to be
passed. He is trying to get
political capital (persuade
people) that the Labour Party
were responsible for this.
Flora Thompson saw it first hand,
she worked in the Post Office
which people went to in order to
collect their pensions. 650,000
people benefited from the OAP in
the first year.
Remember to cross
reference.
Whereas
On the other hand
Although
However

4. 3. Study source D
Does this source prove that Lloyd George was popular? Use details of the source and
your knowledge to explain your answer. (8 marks)
Yes – shaking hands. After all,
after the introduction of Old Age
Pensions, 650,000 people
benefited in the first year.
No – why was this photograph
produced? It’s to make the
Liberal Party and Lloyd George
look good. In fact you had to be
over 70 to get any pension at all,
and once you had an income of
over £31 a year you got nothing
anyway…

5. 4. Study sources E and F
Which of these sources is more useful as evidence about the success of the Liberal Reforms?
Use details of the sources and your own knowledge to explain your answer. (9 marks)
A government
report –
focusing on
the whole
country. The
government
would want to
emphasise the
successes.
Unions would be
expected to support
these reforms
(National Insurance
Act in this case), but
they are being
critical. Although
this is only one
dispute in one area.

6. 5. Study source G
Why was this source published in 1911? Use details of the
source and your knowledge to explain your answer. (7 marks)
Poverty was an issue – Booth and
Roundtree had led research that had
discovered that up to 31% of people
in London and 28% of people in York
lived in poverty.
National Insurance Act was
unpopular with some groups:
1. Trade Unions and Labour Party
didn’t like the fact that the
worker had to contribute 4d.
2. Conservative MPs and some
employers objected to the cost.

7. Question 2
Level 1 – General assertion (1 mark)
Level 2 – Identifies similarities or differences. Award lower end for one ID, higher end for 2 ID or one explained without ck (2-3)
marks
Level 3 – Explains differences between the sources supported with relevant context (4-5 marks)
Level 4 – Explains differences between the sources referring to purpose linked to relevant context (6-7)
Level 5 – As level 4 AND reaches a valid and justified conclusion (8 marks)
Question 3
Level 1 – General assertion based on photograph(1 mark)
Level 2 – Contextual knowledge not linked to the question (2 marks)
Level 3 – Explains yes OR no with reference to the source and relevant supporting context (3-4 marks)
Level 4 – Explains yes AND no with reference to the source and relevant supporting context (5-7 marks)
Level 5 – As level 4 AND explanation linked to purpose with relevant context (8 marks)
Question 4
Level 1 – General assertion (1 mark)
Level 2 – Stock evaluation (2 marks)
Level 3 – Asserts usefulness of sources based on content of the sources (3-4 marks)
Level 4 – Evaluates the usefulness of the source by supporting content with relevant contextual knowledge(5-6 marks)
Level 5 – As level 4 AND explanation linked to purpose with relevant context (7-8 marks)
Question 5
Level 1 – General assertion (1 mark)
Level 2 – Contextual knowledge not linked to the question/source (2-3 marks)
Level 3 – Explains message of the source with context to support (4 marks)
Level 4 – Evaluates purpose of the source with relevant context (5-7 marks)
NB. No election in 1911 so do not credit as context.