What was unionism and What was unionism and who were unionistswho were unionists

Unionists were people who Unionists were people who supported the union of supported the union of Scotland, England, Ireland Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales.and Wales.

They were opposed to any attempt They were opposed to any attempt to break it up.to break it up.

In the 1880’s, Liberal Prime Minister In the 1880’s, Liberal Prime Minister William Gladstone proposed that William Gladstone proposed that Ireland should have Home Rule, Ireland should have Home Rule, which meant that Ireland should run which meant that Ireland should run itself.itself.

The immediate effect on The immediate effect on the Liberals was the Liberals was damaging and the party damaging and the party splitsplit Many of the older, more Many of the older, more

traditional, Liberals breaking traditional, Liberals breaking away to form the Liberal away to form the Liberal Unionists.Unionists.

Liberal Unionists and Liberal Unionists and Conservatives joined together to Conservatives joined together to create the Scottish Unionists create the Scottish Unionists party in 1912.party in 1912.

Why were the Why were the Conservatives Conservatives unpopular?unpopular? The Conservatives were The Conservatives were

associated with the big associated with the big landowners and landlords in the landowners and landlords in the towns, in turn were seen to be towns, in turn were seen to be making huge profits from rents making huge profits from rents charged for poor quality housing.charged for poor quality housing.

Conservatives (sometimes Conservatives (sometimes called Tories)also called Tories)also supported a policy called supported a policy called protection.protection.

Protection meant putting up tariff Protection meant putting up tariff barriers to protect British farming barriers to protect British farming against foreign competition. against foreign competition.

The effect would be to make food The effect would be to make food from abroad more expensive.from abroad more expensive.

In Scotland protection was not In Scotland protection was not popular.popular.

The urban population did not The urban population did not want food prices to rise and want food prices to rise and Scottish industries did not want Scottish industries did not want anything that would make trade anything that would make trade more difficult.more difficult.

For all of the above reasons, For all of the above reasons, Conservatives policies were not Conservatives policies were not widely popular in Scotland.widely popular in Scotland.

How important was the How important was the Labour Party in Scotland Labour Party in Scotland before 1914?before 1914?

How did Scots see How did Scots see themselves within the themselves within the union of the United union of the United KingdomKingdom Most Scots saw themselves as Most Scots saw themselves as

British and were happy to be a British and were happy to be a part of Britain and its empire.part of Britain and its empire.

There was almost no support for There was almost no support for Scottish nationalism and the SNP Scottish nationalism and the SNP did not exist.did not exist.

Scots saw themselves as equal Scots saw themselves as equal partners with the English.partners with the English.