Britain 1935-39

Question 1

Discuss the tory dominance in government in Britain 1935-39

Answer 1

7th June 1935 Baldwin (conservative) becomes PM.

• Baldwin became PM after MacDonald resigned due to ill health. The ‘power behind the throne’ during MacDonald’s premiership, Baldwin remained PM until 1937 when he was succeeded by Chamberlain.
• was Baldwin always leading?

Question 2

Jarrow crusade

Answer 2

22nd Sept 1934 Gresford mine disaster kills 266 in north wales. Unemployment and poverty was as high as 70% in the north. 200 men marched from Jarrow to London with a petition asking for a steel works to replace the local shipyard that had closed won. The petition that few 12,000 signatures was handed to parliament and the PM Baldwin refused to see the marcher and nothing happened.

Question 3

Importance of Jarrow Crusade

Answer 3

example of the orthodox view of the ‘bad’ in the 1930’s, like to great strike but there was no violence, semi-isolated incident which didn’t spread- not nationwide, not high hopes, no consensus, no parliamentary majority. OR Baldwin not giving into militant displays which is a good thing, avoiding extremes, ‘defence of institutions’,

Question 4

Mass communication in Britain 1935-39

Answer 4

PENGUIN BOOKS: July 1935 the first penguin paperbacks go on sale bringing literature to the masses. They cost a sixpence (as much as cigarettes) 3 million were sold in the first year.

BBC: radio becomes dominant mass media in Britain with the BBC.

CINEMA: golden age of Hollywood after the invention of talkies in 1927. The 1930s included films such as the Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind

Question 5

The abdication crisis 1936

Answer 5

20th Jan: George V dies and is succeeded by Edward VIII.

• His choice of bride (a married American) could have caused a constitutional crisis.
• as he is the head of the CofE, social issues due to continuity of class and structure in the face of social change.
• issue as BBC educates on British values which are shot down.
• Baldwin advises Edward VIII that the British people would not accept his wife, 11 December he broadcast his decision- Baldwin was credited with adverting a constitutional crisis.

George V was crowned and ‘showed what the monarchy stood for’, founded the George cross for ‘acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger’

Question 6

Events in Ireland

Answer 6

29 December 1937 – new constitution makes Ireland a republic in all but name. In addition to making Ireland a de facto republic, the constitution laid claim to the whole of Ireland.

Question 7

Chamberlain

Answer 7

Chancellor 1931-37, PM 1937-40.

• fiscal conservative
• The treasury argued it could not afford large scale military production –explains appeasement.
• Public opinion was anti-communist more than antifascist.
• Chamberlains economic policy is important- housing.
• Barnett argues that chamberlain overstretched imperially, James argues points out that chamberlain spent in domestic policies not re-arm.
• GB are trying to play a key global role and expand the state internally- too much to do so there is a tangible drop in GB power.

Question 8

Kindertransport

Answer 8

12th Feb 1938 onwards.

• a total of 10,000 Jewish children from 5-17 arrived from 1938-39.
• First wave of mass immigration

Question 9

Rearmament under Baldwin and chamberlain

Answer 9

July 1934 new air defence programme adds 41 squadrons to RAF

• April 1935 Italy, France and Britain discuss German rearmament at the Stresa conference.
• Italy invades Ethiopia leading to the hoare-laval pact.

Question 10

Appeasement.

Answer 10

1935-38. By Baldwin and chamberlain.
-policy to delay rearmament

1] appeasement simply encourage dictators and it meant that when war came it had a horrific impact on the British economic and global position.

2] appeasement showed that Britain’s power had gone completely. This encouraged Hitler then led to a war which had an effect on Britain and her empire.

3] argues that this prolonged the depression in core industries. It slowed growth with a short-sighted policy.

4] highlights that elected leaders were only a part of the problem, the majority of British society wanted disarmament and appeasement.

5] Whitehall couldn’t act as there was no united imperial policy after 1931. The Canadians, Indians and Australians all wanted to avoid a war with Germany.