#english_history 

## 20th century
At the beginning of the 20th century people did not realise they were living at the end of an age. There was still a general belief in the liberal idea, that the nation could achieve steady economic and social improvement as well as democracy without revolution.

A growing demand for reform led "New Liberal" governments to try to improve social conditions. In **1907** they provided free schools meals, in **1908** they started an old age pensions scheme. In **1909** Labour Exchanges were opened, where the unemployed could look for jobs.
The New Liberals had begun to establish what became the "welfare state". By doing so, they made important changes to the free capitalism of the 19th century.

In **1911** another important political event occured. The Liberal drive for reform was extremely unpopular with most Conservatives, who had a majority in the House of Lords, and these assholes tried to prevent many of the bills introduced by the Liberals. In **1909** the Liberals tried to introduce a new budget which was intended to increase the taxes paid by the rich. The Lords turned down the new budget. The new king, [[House of Saxe-Coburg and Windsor|George V]], put an end to the crisis by warning that he would create enough new Liberal lords to give the Liberals a majority. The Lords gave in. ^b4a52f

The crisis was not only about money or reform. There was a constituional disagreement. The Conservatives still favoured a 2-house parliamentary system, while the Liberals wanted to get rid of the Lords. The result of this constitutional debate was the **[[English Parliament|Parliament]] Act of 1911**, by which the Lords lost their right to question financial legislation passed inthe Commons, with their other powers limited. ^a1d699

In 1911 the Commons agreed that MPs should be paid. In **1906** the new "Labour" party had managed to get 29 representatives elected to Parliament. ^6540f7