The Edwardian age

After the death of Queen Victoria, her son Edward became king as Edward VII (seventh). His reign started in
1902. He started a series of relations with different countries in Europe, especially France. During his reign,
the Liberal Party won the elections in 1906 and started the creation of the Welfare State, introducing the
National insurance and old age pensions. Despite (nonostante) these social improvements (miglioramenti
sociali), the Edwardian period was characterised by strikes (scioperi) and violence, because factory workers
had low wages (salari bassi) and prices were high (i prezzi erano alti).

Also women started to protest and fight for their rights (diritti). In 1903 the Women’s social and political
Union was created. The Suffragettes started to fight for the women’s right to vote.

In 1909 the Liberal Party proposed the People’s Budget (è il nome della legge) to promote welfare for the
poorest and taxes for the richest. This law was refused by the Conservative party and a constitutional crisis
started. In 1910 the king died and his son became king as George V. His informal attitude made him very
popular.

In 1914 the First World War broke out. The king visited the troops and hospitals, and was very active and
human. At the same time, the Irish crisis started. The Support for Home Rule for Ireland (il nome del partito
che sosteneva l’indipendenza irlandese dall’Inhìghilterra) was very active and organised protests to obtain
the control of Irish people over Ireland. The Unionists and the conservative Party opposed the
indipendence of Ireland. A civil war broke out in 1916. In 1922 the Irish Free State was born, but in the
North, a part of the Country remained under the control of the United Kingdom.