大学英语 英美概况13单元 答案 Unit 13.docVIP

Unit Thirteen Britain in the Twentieth Century By the end of the 19th century the European situation had seriously deteriorated. The international struggle for colonies had degenerated into and international arms race, and as the result, two world wars arose in the 20th century and the British Empire declined in the years after the wars. Conditions in Britain before the First World War Liberal Reform At the general election of 1906 the liberals, as champions of free trade, won a clear majority and their leader Campbell-Bannerman organized a capable cabinet that included radicals and liberal imperialists. Under him and after his death, under Asquith, came the reforms: a school medical service; a system of old-age pensions; slum; eight-hour work day; and trade boards and Labour Exchange. Lloyd’s Budget of 1909 was rejected by lords, because the Lords could veto any legislation of which they disapproved. Lloyd was determined to curb the power of the Lords. The Parliament Bill of 1911 would deprive the Lords of their veto and any control of finance. At last, the Lords surrendered, and the Commons became virtually the sole legislative body. Further reform such as the National Insurance Bill was passed, to give relief to the sick and unemployed people. Crisis at Home The working class movement reached new height with a wave of strikes between 1911 and 1914. The 3 strikes: the great strike of railway men; the coal-miner strike; the strike of the transport workers In 1914 a “triple alliance” of transport workers, miners and railway men was formed to strengthen labour solidarity. There was also trouble in Ireland. Ireland was on the verge of civil war. Unrest Abroad The capitalist countries needed more foreign markets, raw materials and strategic positions. But the world had already been partitioned among the old colonial countries. The struggle between repartition and anti-repartition became fierce. The international struggle for colonies degenerated into an international