Britain 17- Political developments Flashcards
who led the govt during the war and between what years?
Churchill led a nationalistic coalition govt
why did Chamberlain face criticism with the outbreak of war?
-for his policy of appeasement
-for failing to procure an alliance with Soviet Russia to deter Hitler
-criticised for not organising the economy for war
-many MPs felt the army was inadequately prepared and supplied
-failed to win over Labour and form a NG
what was the war known as during the first year and why?
the ‘phoney war’ as there was no immediate attack from Germany
how was Chamberlain’s leadership further undermined?
he boasted during the ‘phoney war’ era, that ‘Hitler had missed the bus’ and a few days later Germany invaded Denmark and Norway
what event ultimately lead to Chamberlain’s resignation?
may 1940- Chamberlain opened a debate on the disastrous Norwegian campaign and faced strong attacks from tory backbenchers, labour demanded he resign and DLG denounced him saying he should ‘sacrifice his office’
What event was Churchill faced with just weeks after he came to power?
May 1940- German armies deep into Northern France and British force were trapped near Dunkirk and plans were made for more than 300,000 men to be evacuated. left Britain vulnerable to Nazi invasion
what were views of Lord Halifax who opposed Churchill’s?
felt that with France collapsing, an army retreating, no help from America + Germany controlling most of Western Europe, the sensible policy was to negotiate with Hitler. but Churchill convinced most to continue fighting
what were Churchill’s strengths and weaknesses?
-During and after war he became a legend
-but he was impulsive + dictatorial + constantly interfered in the details of govt depts, felt he knew more and was a poor committee chairman
who was Churchill’s deputy PM and why was he effective?
Clement Attlee who was an extremely effective organiser
who was in Churchill’s war cabinet?
Churchill, Attlee, Neville Chamberlain + Lord Halifax which later exapnded
name 3 other key figures within Churchills war cabinet by late 1940?
Ernest Bevin, Anthony Eden, Sir John Anderson
what was Bevin’s significance?
founded + led the largest TU, key role in labour movement between the wars, his opposition to extremism won Churchill over, minister for labor and national service and key role in maximising economic output
what was Eden’s significance?
foreign secretary from 1935 until he resigned in 1938 in protest to appeasement and then became FS again in 1940, Churchill had great admiration for Eden and recommended him to king George VI as his successor
what was John Anderson’s significance?
home secretary-1940, the Anderson air-raid shelter for use in gardens was named after him. Chancellor of Exchequer- 1943
how did the 1930s act as a reason for Labour victory in 1945?
Conservatives associated with Chamberlains policy of appeasement and the problems of the 1930(unemployment and social deprivation) and electoral propaganda played on these bad memories
how did the impact of war contribute to the Labour victory in 1945?
-steady leftward trend amongst electorate helped by the expansion of the TU movement during war and the revelation of Soviet contributions in stopping Hitler putting socialism in a good light
-war increased sense of shared experience + made labour policies of state intervention + planning seem like a good idea. Beveridge report and proposals for a welfare state popular from 1942
-wartime coalition allowed leading labour figures to prove themselves on a national stage, e.g. Attlee, Bevin and Morrison
who was Stafford Cripps?
labour politician who took on no. of position in wartime coalition and after 1945 election was part of Attlee’s govt as president of the board of trade and then COE from 1947-50
who became chancellor or the exchequer after Stafford Cripps?
Hugh Dalton
why was the fact that the election was held so soon after war a problem for the conservatives?
unable to run as effectively as it usually did as many conservative agents were away in the armed forces so labour with more TU ists ws able to put more agents into constituencies
why was Labour’s manifesto a reason for their victory in 1945?
‘Let us face the future’ was more inspiring and radical than ‘Mr Churchill’s Declaration to the voters’ which was moderate and uncontroversial.
what was the name of Labour’s manifesto and what did it promise?
‘Let us face the future’: nationalisation of key industries, econmic planning, full employment, creation of the NHS and system of social security
what was the conservative manifesto and what did it promise?
‘Mr Churchill’s declaration to the voters’ progressive ideas on key social issues but vague on post-war economic controls
how did Churchill himself contribute to the Labour 1945 victory?
associated with the war and right man for post war reconstruction and probably lost votes through his ‘Gestapo speech’ suggesting a Labour govt would need some form of secret police force to ensure control
how did the electorate contribute to the 1945 Labour victory?
20% of electors were voting for the first time in 1945 and most seemed to vote Labour and the tendency of those who served in the armed forces was to vote Labour
