EDWARDIAN ENGLAND

EDWARDIAN ENGLAND

march 2021, 31

#0001

created by Alessandro Savino

Limited Edition

Queen Victoria is dead!

When Queen Victoria died in 1901, her son Edward became king as Edward VII. British towns were also the wealthiest in Europe and British ships carried 80 percent of world trade

When Queen Victoria died in 1901, her son Edward became king as Edward VII. British power was being challenged by technical innovation, especially in France and Germany, but also the growing industrial competition in America.

Beginnig of an era

The king’s diplomacy helped Britain to join a new alignment of European countries: This is the beginning of the Triple Entente.

King Edward signed an agreement with France in 1904, called the Entente Cordiale.

THE SEEDS OF THE WELFARE STATE

The political landscape began to change

We had the birth of the Labour Party in 1906. The general election was won by the Liberals, who were divided into two groups.

Among the New Liberals, there was David Lloyd George, who was Chancellor of the Exchequer in charge of the country’s finances at the time.

OTHER IMPORTANT REFORMS

The foundations of the Welfare State were laid down through a series of measures. At the end, in 1910 the king died and was succeeded by his son, who became George V.

The Parliament Act, removed the House of Lords’ right to veto money bills passed in the Commons. It also stated that general elections would be held at least every five years.

In the same year mass strikes led to a period of social unrest not previously experienced.

THE SUFFRAGETTES

HOW EVERYTHING STARTED

In 1903 Mrs Emmeline Pankhurst founded the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU). The ‘Suffragettes wanted women to have the vote, and soon won massive publicity for their cause. Women over 30 would gain the vote in 1918, whereas suffrage would be granted to women over 21 in 1928.