# National Insurance Act (1911)

URL: https://english-history.com/timeline/1911-national-insurance-act
Categories: main-event

The government introduced contributory health and unemployment insurance for millions of workers. Within the broader Early 20Th Century & World Wars period, mass democracy, the two world wars, Irish partition, economic crisis and the rise of Labour remade the political and social order. This event is placed at 1911 in the chronology so it can be read alongside the political, military, social and cultural changes around it. The law significantly expanded state involvement in social welfare.

## Why it matters
The law significantly expanded state involvement in social welfare.

Ruler at the time: [George V](https://english-history.com/rulers/george-v)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — National Insurance Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=National+Insurance+Act&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — National Insurance Act](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=National+Insurance+Act)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of British history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_British_history)
- [The National Archives — twentieth-century resources](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/)