Khaki Election Worksheets
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Summary
- Definition and Significance of Khaki Election
- Historical Context: 1900 UK General Election (Boer War)
- Later UK Khaki Elections
- Comparative Commonwealth Examples
- Criticisms and Controversies
Key Facts And Information
Let’s know more about Khaki Election!
A Khaki Election is an election influenced by war or military events, often helping the government in power win. The term began with the 1900 United Kingdom election during the Second Boer War and has also been used for elections in Canada and Australia. These elections usually happen during or right after a war, when patriotic feelings are strong. Political parties often stress their role in keeping the country safe or managing the war to win votes.
Khaki Elections can be controversial. They may ignore important issues at home, like the economy, healthcare or social services, and sometimes use fear or security to influence voters. They can also increase divisions between regions or groups. Despite this, they show how war and national pride can strongly affect how people vote.
Definition and Significance of Khaki Election
- A Khaki Election is a national election that is influenced by war or military events. The name comes from the khaki-coloured uniforms worn by British soldiers, which symbolised the military’s role in the country at that time. Usually, such elections happen during or just after a war, when the public feels patriotic or proud of the nation’s military achievements.
- The importance of a Khaki Election comes from the way war influences voters’ decisions. In these elections, people tend to back the government or party viewed as strong on defence or effective in managing the war. Parties may also appeal to patriotic feelings, highlighting their role in protecting the nation to win support.
- Khaki Elections show that wars do more than affect soldiers. They can affect government decisions and change election results. They show how leaders can gain support by connecting their policies to patriotism and military success.
Historical Context: 1900 UK General Election (Boer War)
- The 1900 United Kingdom general election, held between 26 September and 24 October 1900, is often referred to as the first classic Khaki Election. It took place during the Second Boer War in South Africa (1899–1902), at a time when many people believed that the war had effectively been won, even though it actually continued for another two years.
Collage of the Second Boer War
- The election was called following the dissolution of Parliament on 25 September 1900. The Conservative Party, led by Lord Salisbury, in alliance with the Liberal Unionists, won a large majority of 134 seats. This was achieved with only a 5.6% higher share of the vote than Henry Campbell-Bannerman’s Liberal Party, largely because the Conservatives won 163 seats that were uncontested by other parties.
- This election was also notable for several historical milestones:
- The Labour Representation Committee (LRC), which later became the Labour Party, contested a general election for the first time. Being newly formed, it managed to elect only two MPs, Keir Hardie and Richard Bell.
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- It was also the last general election where the leader of either of the two largest parties, and the sitting prime minister, sat in the House of Lords rather than the Commons.
- The election was the final general election of the Victorian era.
- It was the first time Winston Churchill was elected to the House of Commons, representing Oldham, after having lost the seat in a by-election the previous year.
- The Second Boer War heavily influenced the election, with voters swayed by patriotic feeling and support for British soldiers. The Conservatives used wartime patriotism to their advantage, showing they were best suited to lead. The 1900 election revealed how war could influence votes, a pattern seen in later Khaki Elections.
Later UK Khaki Elections
1918 UK General Election (End of WWI)
- The 1918 United Kingdom general election was held on 14 December 1918, just a month after the Armistice with Germany that ended the First World War. Because of its wartime influence, it is known as both the Khaki Election and the Coupon Election (named after the ‘Coalition Coupons’, or official letters of endorsement, given to candidates who supported the wartime coalition government).
- The election gave a huge win to Lloyd George’s coalition. The Conservative Party won the most seats, but Lloyd George, who was a Liberal, stayed on as prime minister. The other group of Liberals, led by H. H. Asquith, suffered defeat with nearly all of them losing their seats. This election made the split in the Liberal Party permanent, and it never fully recovered as one united party.
- The Labour Party, led by William Adamson, fought on its own. Labour gained more votes than both groups of Liberals but only increased its number of seats from 42 to 57. Still, it was an important step forward for Labour, especially in Wales, where it beat the Liberals for the first time.
- This election was also very important for democracy. It was the first to take place after the Representation of the People Act of 1918, which gave the vote to all men over 21 and to women over 30 who met certain property rules. The number of voters tripled, and many women supported the coalition.
- It was also the first time women could stand as candidates for Parliament, following the Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act 1918. In addition, the 1918 election was the first time all voters across the United Kingdom voted on the same day, though the results were delayed until 28 December so that ballots from soldiers serving overseas could be counted.
- In Ireland, the results were very different. The Irish Parliamentary Party, which wanted Home Rule, lost almost all its seats to Sinn Féin, led by Éamon de Valera. Sinn Féin refused to go to Westminster and instead formed the Dáil Éireann, declaring Ireland’s independence. This led to the Irish War of Independence (1919–1921) and made the 1918 election the last UK election to include all of Ireland.
- During the campaign, people were less concerned about peace terms with Germany and more focused on Lloyd George’s leadership and what he promised for the future. He told voters he wanted to build ‘a country fit for heroes to live in’, appealing to returning soldiers. Many voters admired him for winning the war, though some younger veterans became disappointed with politics soon after.
1945 UK General Election (End of WWII)
- The 1945 UK general election was held on 5 July 1945, less than two months after Victory in Europe (VE) Day, which signalled the end of the Second World War in Europe. Because it was influenced by wartime, it is often called a Khaki Election.
Winston Churchill
- It was the first election since 1935, as elections were cancelled during the war. Winston Churchill wanted to keep the wartime coalition government until Japan was defeated, but Labour Party leader Clement Attlee said no. King George VI dissolved Parliament on 15 June 1945, beginning the campaign for a new government.
- Labour’s manifesto, called Let Us Face the Future, promised to rebuild Britain. It included plans for more jobs, better housing, nationalisation of major industries, a new National Health Service (NHS) and stronger social welfare. These ideas were very popular after years of war. The manifesto sold over one and a half million copies.
- The Conservative Party, led by Churchill, also spoke about social reform, but their plans were unclear. Many people still remembered the high unemployment of the 1930s, which had happened under Conservative rule. Even though Churchill was loved for leading Britain to victory, people were unsure if his party could handle peace.
- Voting ended in early July, but the results were not announced until 26 July to include votes from soldiers overseas. When the results came out, everyone was surprised when Labour won a landslide victory, gaining 393 seats to the Conservatives’ 197. Churchill’s government was defeated, and Clement Attlee became prime minister.
- This Khaki Election showed that wartime leadership did not always guarantee peacetime success. Many voters admired Churchill but wanted a government focused on rebuilding a fairer Britain. Labour’s promise of ‘winning the peace’ with jobs, housing and welfare appealed to both civilians and returning soldiers.
1983 UK General Election (Post-Falklands War)
- The 1983 UK general election was held on 9 June 1983, a year after Britain’s victory in the Falklands War. Because the election was influenced by wartime and support for Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, it is sometimes called a Khaki Election. Michael Foot had become leader of the Labour Party in 1980, moving it further to the left. This caused a split in the party, and senior figures like Roy Jenkins and Shirley Williams left to form the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which allied with the Liberal Party as the SDP–Liberal Alliance.
- The Falklands War increased Thatcher’s popularity, and her campaign focused on the economy, defence and strong leadership. Labour’s plan to leave the European Economic Community, scrap nuclear weapons and nationalise industries was seen as extreme and nicknamed ‘the longest suicide note in history’, while the SDP–Liberal Alliance offered a moderate alternative but lost support after a poor by-election.
- On 9 June 1983, the Conservatives won a landslide with 397 seats and a 144-seat majority, their best result since 1935. Labour won only 209 seats, and the Alliance gained 23 seats despite receiving over 25% of the vote. Many prominent Labour figures lost their seats, and the Conservatives won 21 in Scotland, their strongest showing there in decades. Thatcher’s victory gave her a second term and strengthened her reputation as Britain’s ‘Iron Lady’, shaping politics throughout the 1980s.
Comparative Commonwealth Examples of Khaki Election
Canada (1917 Federal Election)
- The 1917 Canadian federal election, held on 17 December during the First World War, is considered a Khaki Election because it was heavily influenced by wartime sentiment. Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden’s Unionist government, a coalition of Conservatives and pro-conscription Liberals, won a strong majority and the largest share of the popular vote in Canadian history.
- The election was delayed from 1916 due to the war. Borden wanted a grand coalition, but Liberal leader Wilfrid Laurier refused over opposition to conscription in Quebec, splitting the party. To boost support, Borden passed the Wartime Elections Act, giving some women the vote and removing it from conscientious objectors and recent immigrants, and the Military Voters Act, allowing soldiers overseas to direct their votes to key ridings. These measures helped the Unionists gain additional seats.
- Candidates ran as Unionists (pro-conscription) or Laurier Liberals (anti-conscription), with some Independents, Labour and Socialists. The Unionists won 153 seats, mostly outside Quebec, while the Laurier Liberals won 82, mostly in Quebec. Out of 235 seats, 33 were uncontested, including two Unionist ridings in Halifax after the Halifax Explosion.
Australia (Modern Usage)
- In Australia, the term ‘Khaki Election’ is used to describe elections influenced by military or security issues. In 2015, the Labor Party accused the federal Coalition government of attempting to manufacture a Khaki Election by focusing on terrorism and military action in response to the rise of violent Islamic State (ISIS) activity in 2014.
- Unlike in the UK or Canada, in Australia the term does not refer to a particular historical election, but is used for situations where national security and patriotic sentiment are emphasised to influence voters.
Criticisms and Controversies
- Khaki Elections, held during or just after war, are often criticised for using war and patriotism to influence voters instead of focusing on normal political issues. While they can help governments win, they raise concerns about fairness and democracy.Key criticisms:
- Exploiting patriotism – Governments may use war feelings to gain support rather than discuss regular issues.
- Giving incumbents an unfair advantage – The government in power often benefits from being linked to military success.
- Manipulating the vote – New laws or rules may favour certain voters, like in Canada’s 1917 election.
- Widening divisions – Khaki Elections can deepen splits between regions, languages or political groups.
- Overlooking domestic issues – Focusing on war or security can ignore important matters like the economy, healthcare or social welfare.
- Exploiting fear – Governments may use threats or military concerns to sway voters.
- Prioritising short-term gain – These elections often aim for immediate popularity rather than long-term fairness in democracy.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Khaki Election
- What was the Khaki Election?
The Khaki Election refers to the United Kingdom general election of 1900, so named for the khaki uniforms worn by British soldiers. The election took place during the Second Boer War, and wartime patriotism heavily influenced public opinion.
- Who won the Khaki Election?
The Conservative Party, led by Lord Salisbury, in coalition with the Liberal Unionists, won a large majority. This allowed Salisbury to remain Prime Minister.
- What was the significance of the Khaki Election?
It showed that wartime elections often favour incumbent governments; patriotism can override domestic political disputes; and public opinion can be strongly shaped by national conflict.