Britain 1930-1997: Churchill's Wilderness Years

Question 1

What was the National Government?

Answer 1

A Coalition government made up of all British political parties

Question 2

Which leaders and parties were in power under the National Government?

Answer 2

Labour - Ramsay MacDonald (1929-1935)
Conservative - Stanley Baldwin (1935-1937)
Conservative Neville Chamberlain (1937-1940)

Question 3

Evidence to suggest the 1930’s were an OPTIMISTIC CASE?

Answer 3

• National Government found common ground for dislike for extremist parties
• Improved housing and sanitation
• Price of goods decreased quickly.
• Suburban housing boom
• New steelworks in Jarrow opened up new employment opportunities

Question 4

Evidence to suggest the 1930’s were the DEVIL’S DECADE?

Answer 4

• 70% unemployment in Jarrow.
• 62% unemployment in South Wales
• 200 in Jarrow March due 2.5 mill unemployed.
• 50,000 members of the Fascist Union.
• 80,000 communist papers in circulation daily.
• 85% male unemployment during the war period.

Question 5

What is the Gold Standard?

Answer 5

A monetary system in which the standard economic amount is based on a fixed quantity of gold

Question 6

What was Churchill’s View on India?

Answer 6

Old-fashioned.
- ‘Jewel of the crown’ in trade, had to be protected.
- saw British rule preventing domination of Hinduism and Islam - ‘barbaric practices.’
- Saw Anglo-Saxon’s as racially superior.
- British rule meant good economic and social progress.

Question 7

How did Churchill’s view of India contribute to his ‘Wilderness years’?

Answer 7

Created a serious rift between Churchill and Baldwin. Disagreed with Lord Irwin’s proposal for Round Table Talks and allowing India the same self-governance as ‘white Dominions’; Australia, Canada, etc.

Question 8

What was Ghandi’s Salt March in 1930?

Answer 8

A bold act of non-violent civil disobedience to protest an end of British rule and taxation in India.

Question 9

State one act of Ghandi’s Civil Disobedience

Answer 9

Avoiding the Salt Tax by producing natural salt. Proves India can be independent.

Question 10

3 Reason’s Churchill wanted rule over India

Answer 10

• British rule prevented the domination of Hinduism
• Ensured ‘good’ government.
• Prevented eastern practices and helped to ‘protect the weak.’

Question 11

What was the British View of India?

Answer 11

• Should be open to discussion.
• King George V met with Ghandi
• Lord Irwin believed India is capable of self-governing.
• Government of India Act, 1935, significant changes to the colonial rule of India.

Question 12

What was Churchill’s response to the British View of India?

Answer 12

• Outdated, racist views (unpopular by consensus)
• Churchill’s statements became more extreme - refused to meet Ghandi, calling him a ‘Malignant and subversive fanatic.’
• Said he ‘Wished India well’ following the Government of India Act.

Question 13

What was the name of the party supporting Indian Independence?

Answer 13

Indian National Congress

Question 14

What is the name of the group against Indian Independence, which Churchill was a member of?

Answer 14

Anti-Indian Independence Society

Question 15

3 Factors that contributed to the end of British rule in India

Answer 15

• The backlash from the Amritsar Massacre, 370 killed, 1200 wounded.
• Successful civil disobedience such as the avoidance of the Salt Tax.
• The Round Table Talks in 1930 and 1931.

Question 16

What year was the abdication Crisis?

Answer 16

1936

Question 17

Which King abdicated in 1936?

Answer 17

King Edward VIII

Question 18

Who was King Edward VIII determined to marry?

Answer 18

Wallis Simpson

Question 19

Why was Edward VIII marrying Wallis Simpson a problematic decision in the eyes of the government?

Answer 19

• Simpson was an American divorcee.
• Edward VIII was head of the Church of England which does not support divorce.

Question 20

What is a Morganatic marriage?

Answer 20

A marriage where the partner marrying into nobility does not inherit any titles or land.

Question 21

Why did King Edward VIII abdicate?

Answer 21

His proposition of a morganatic marriage to Wallis Simpson had no parliamentary backing

Question 22

What was Churchill’s view on the abdication Crisis in 1936?

Answer 22

In support of Morganatic marriage.

Question 23

How did Churchill’s view of the abdication crisis contribute to his ‘Wilderness Years’?

Answer 23

He was put into direct conflict with the Conservative Party and Baldwin.
- Baldwin humiliated Churchill by shouting him down in Parliament following a speech supporting morganatic marriage.

Question 24

Why did the government actively push for Edward VIII’s abdication

Answer 24

His active investment in political matters.

Question 25

Why was Edward VIII loved by the working class?

Answer 25

Socialist ideas - cared for the welfare of the working class. Visited Merthyr Tydfil: 'something must be done' -62% unemployment due to Conservative Laissez-Faire. - Created false promises that the government struggled to live up to.

Question 26

What is appeasement?

Answer 26

A policy of trying to placate or pacify a country by accepting their demands

Question 27

What were the terms of the Treaty of Versailles 1919?

Answer 27

- Germany had to take 100% of the blame for WW1. - Demilitarization of the Rhineland. - restricted to 100,000 men, 6 ships, 0 submarines, tanks or aircraft. - £6.6 billion to be paid to France and Belgium - 10% of land lost.

Question 28

What were Hitler's key policies?

Answer 28

A - Abolish the Treat of Versailles R - Rearm Germany E - Expand (Lebenstraum) A - Abolish Communism

Question 29

What was the British 'Ten-Year Rule'?

Answer 29

That there would be no prospect of War for 10 years following WW1 to allow for cuts in military spending and a focus on social spending. - British armed forces reduced to 350,000 men.

Question 30

Why was the British army deemed weak by Churchill in the 1930s?

Answer 30

- Defense spending in 1930 was lower than 1910 - Britain put faith in weaker international organisations such as the League of Nations - Only £100 million spend on defense in 1933. - British defense grew to £700 million but was still behind Germany. - Between 1932-1936, German soldiers increased from 100,000 to 1 million. British only had 897,000 men. - Anglo-German Naval treaty allowed German navy to grow to 35% of the British Navy.

Question 31

What are Key features of appeasement to Germany in the 1930s?

Answer 31

1933: Germany begins rearming. Britain remains diplomatic. 1935: Anglo-German Naval Treaty allowed Germany to expand its Navy to 35% of Britain's Naval strength. 1936: Germany remilitarises the Rhineland. Britain avoid intervention. 1938: The Munich Agreement - permits Germany's annexation of the Sudetenland, in return for not invading Czechoslovakia. 1939: Britain begins to rearm as Germany invades Czechoslovakia and Poland.

Question 32

What is the significance of the Munich Agreement in 1938?

Answer 32

Highlights Chamberlain's weakness. Declares this a success - 'peace in our time.' but is humiliated by Germany's later invasion of Czechoslovakia. Proves Appeasement to be a failure.

Question 33

What was Churchill's view on appeasement?

Answer 33

Anti-appeasement. - Rearmament was necessary as Britain lagged behind Germany. - A Grand Alliance would deter Germany from further invasion as Britain wasn't strong enough alone. - War in 1938 was necessary to support France when Czechoslovakia fell.

Question 34

How did Churchill's view of the appeasement contribute to his 'Wilderness Years'?

Answer 34

- Rearmament - prioritising social spending, Ten-Year rule. Baldwin believed rearmament would lose the election. - Grand Alliance - all countries had different war mindsets. The Great Depression made US too weak to support Britain. - War in 1938 - maintaining the Ten-Year rule. No official break of ToV until Poland.

Question 35

What were Churchill's main aims for Britain's military in the 1930s?

Answer 35

- Rearmament - Grand Alliance - War in 1938