Britain domestic politics and foreign affairs (1929-1939)

Question 1

give an example of a statistic of the 1929 general election

Answer 1

labour’s vote went up to 37.1% from 33%

Question 2

who was the leader of the labour party at the start of their reign

Answer 2

MacDoanld

Question 3

give 3 examples of MacDonald’s new cabinet in 1929

Answer 3

Henderson took foreign office
Snowden continued at the Exchequer
Wheatley was minister of works

Question 4

give 5 problems for labour and MacDonald in 1929

Answer 4

MacDonald showed himself to be more interested in foreign and imperial matters

poor economic situation (Wall Street Crash, 1.2 million unemployed)

labour was a minority government

raising taxes would make Britain less confident

committed to free trade

Question 5

summarise the Housing Act 1930

Answer 5

restored the subsides for local authorities to build houses that had been given in 1924 by Wheatley Act

most slums ckeared ever

700,000 houses built

Question 6

why did Baldwin’s government lose the 1929 general election (5 points)

Answer 6

general strike and inability to deal with the trade unions

economic problems and increase in price of exports (putting Britain back on the gold standard)

failure to tackle problems of industry (the decline of the staple industries)

trade disputes act 1927 (outlawed sympathy strikes and therefore another general strike would be illegal which angered the working class and trade unions)

Baldwin was seen as old fashioned and boring with the propaganda (e.g. ‘safety first’)

Question 7

what did the second labour government achieve (4)

Answer 7

Arthur Greenwoods housing act (slum clearance)

marketing boards which helped producers

coal mines act (day reduced to 7.5 hours a day)

unemployment benefit increased

Question 8

why did some reforms fail to pass

Answer 8

lack of liberal support

Question 9

give 2 examples of reforms that failed to be passed

Answer 9

education bill (leaving age 15)

maximum working week to 48 hours

repeal of trade unions act

Question 10

when was the wall street crash

Answer 10

october 1929

Question 11

why was 1931 a year of crisis for labour (5)

Answer 11

MacDonald inexperienced in economic matters

more unemployment benefit to be paid making financial strain worse (CA- labour ideology)

divisions within the labour government (Snowden wanted to bring spending cuts but Moseley wanted to increase government to stimulate the economy)

May Committee

‘run on the bank’- the may committee created panic and a rush to withdraw money which reduced gold reserves

Question 12

what happened with the May Committee

Answer 12

set up to suggest ways for the government to curb expenditure after a proposal by a Liberal MP. The committee was chaired by Sir George May. Its main conclusions were extensive public sector spending cuts, including a cut to the unemployment benefit, and increased taxation.

Question 13

why did the labour government fall from power in 1931 (4)

Answer 13

divisions within the part (trade unionists wanted to raise taxes but MacDonald realised he needed to cut employment but others wanted this to be more)

trade unionists rejected cuts that affected the unemployed completely and rejected the May Committee proposals

New York bankers would only agree to loans if unemployment benefit was cuts

MacDonald went to the king and asked to resign as he was unable to lead his party due to the disagreement

Question 14

why was the 1931 general election so bad for labour and 5 reasons why

Answer 14

seats for labour fell from 288 to 52 (MacDonald faced more anger from labour)

blamed fro making the depression and Britain’s debt worse

blamed for the May Committee

divisions and indecisiveness showed weak leadership

appeared inexperienced

resignation of the party and loss of MacDonald as leader made them appear a party in chaos

Question 15

why did MacDonald accept the job of being head of the national government once he tried to resign (4)

Answer 15

persuaded by the king flattered by the king request

he wanted to maintain socialist policies and help for the working class by staying as PM

to reduce the influence and power of the conservatives in the national government

believed- that without the divisions and restraints of those in the labour party he could improve the economy

Question 16

criticism of MacDonald (4)

Answer 16

he was accused of abandoning the cause and just following his own ambitions

too slow to react to the economic crisis and just followed old ideas

he had created labour decline through setting up the May Committee

ignored the feelings in his own party and trade unions

Question 17

strengths of MacDonald (2)

Answer 17

he acted honourably to serve his country in a crisis

he attempted to maintain unemployment benefit

Question 18

to what extent did labour recover in the 1930s

Answer 18

seats in parliament began to increase throughout the 1930s and they also won many by elections in late 1930s

labour became the main opposition party

Question 19

why did support for labour return (5)

Answer 19

unemployment remained high under the national government

cuts in unemployment benefit and the means test which angered the working class leading to hunger marches and demonstrations

gained support from some newspapers

moderate policies (the more extreme left-wingers left the party and set up the socialist league, Bevin (leader of the TWU) was anti-communist and the economic ideas were practical

helped by the weaknesses of other parties (e.g. fall of liberals and lack of support for communists)

Question 20

why was labour’s recovery limited (4)

Answer 20

conservatives still had a majority and Baldwin and Chamberlain were generally respected prime ministers by the late 1930s

labour did not do well in more prosperous and middle class areas these people disliked state control ideas and policies

many voters disliked/ unaccustomed to policies such as nationalisation greater state control increase in welfare

for those that did well in the 1930s they were more likely to vote for the conservatives as they were seen to be doing a good job

Question 21

what are the economic problems in the 1930s

Answer 21

the depression affected the staple industries and exports especially hard, unemployment rose dramatically in these areas

long term unemployment in certain areas (Wales, Northern Ireland) such as the Jarrow march raising awareness of the problems of unemployment in certain areas especially the north (Jarrow had a 70% unemployment rate)

Question 22

give 3 examples of economic policies the government introduced

Answer 22

Import duties act 1932 tariffs introduced to protect British industries exemption for those in the empire

special areas act 19334 aid given to depressed areas

British shipping act 1935 loans given to build new ships

Question 23

how did the economy improve in the 1930s (5)

Answer 23

cuts in unemployment benefit and the introduction of the means tests which stopped the banking crisis and allowed some debt to be paid off

leaving the gold standard which made exports easier to sell and helped British trade around the world

lower interest rates which made it easier for industry and the middle class to borrow money which helped new industries develop and grow

home market increased such as radios and furniture which increased the standard of living and created jobs in these areas

mass entertainment developed and jobs created in these areas (e.g. cinema, dance halls and restaurants)

Question 24

what were the reasons for the economy recovery (3)

Answer 24

depression lowered prices and thereofre those who had kept their jobs were better off, this increased customer demand as people had more money especially for houses, cars, clothes and entertainment

world trade had improved by the mid late 1930s due to recovery from the depression

rearmament from 1935 due to feats of German expansion which helped industry as it stimulated shipbuilding, steel and aircraft, chemicals

Question 25

how did the economy not recover (4)

Answer 25

less trade with key countries like the USA and Germany as their own tariffs made it less likely to buy from Britain not enough council housing for the working class which lead to more social divide and many working class still lived in slum housing only certain areas benefitted from the Special Areas act the north, South Wales and Scotland failed to recover until the late 1930s

Question 26

to what extent was the government directly responsible for the economic recovery through direct government actions (4)

Answer 26

coming off gold standard encouraged trade from other countries kept interest rates low tariffs increased trade around the empire cuts in government spending which helped debt and international confidence

Question 27

to what extent was the government directly responsible for the economic recovery through indirect government action (4)

Answer 27

housing building boom which meant that businessman and builders took advantage of loans to build houses and the middle class took advantage of cheap mortgages retail and consumer goods boom due to cheap loans and low interest rates increase in new industries increase in world trade rearmament

Question 28

why did political extremism emerge in the late 1930s

Answer 28

part of wider changes in Europe due to the rise of dictators and the dislike of democracy more fascist ideas developed due to the economic problems of the 1930s made people desperate and able to blame other races

Question 29

how significant was the threat from the communist party (4)

Answer 29

many supported the idea of a more equal society and greater power for the workers high unemployment made people more likely to listen to extreme views and the promise of sharing out wealth break up of labour 1931 some working class who had previously supported labour began to support the communists rise of fascism made some more left wing in opposition to this

Question 30

how was the threat from the communist party not that significant (5)

Answer 30

the threat was exaggerated by the conservatives (e.g. Zinoviev letter) and said that communists were involved in the General strike membership was quite low influence on the trade unions was limited due to Bevin (Trade Disputes act 1929) labour party wouldn't work with communists and this wasnt accepted by the working class well recovery of the economy gave people more reassurance of the government and less likely to turn to extremism

Question 31

who was the leader of the British Union of Fascists

Answer 31

Oswald Mosley

Question 32

give 4 reasons why people supported Mosley and fascist parties

Answer 32

most support from the young working class men as they admired his persuasive speaking early 1930s- national government had failed to deal with unemployment , introducing spending cuts which lowered morale leading to people listening to more extremist views the problems seemed to contrast to the new dynamic Italy and Germany where fascism appeared successful Mosley proposed the implementation of tariffs which would protect the textile industry and this was wanted to make better relations with Hitler to avoid war

Question 33

why did the majority of people not support fascism (3)

Answer 33

not a mass movement violence and extreme views which was disliked by many some disliked the connections with Germany many of the unemployed working class continued to support labour in the 1930s

Question 34

why did political extremism fail (9 reasons)

Answer 34

1934 incitement to disaffection act- against anyone threatening violence or revolution 1936 public order banned political uniforms and demonstrations the national government had parliamentary majorities this prevented extremist parties from gaining power stability under Baldwins and Chamberlains government e.g. Baldwin was seen to have handled the abdication crisis well labour and trade unions were led by moderates Stalin and Hitler's brutality discredited communism and fascism in Britain economic recovery strength of parliament and monarchy generally popular by the late 1930s and no desire for revolution democracy was popular in Britain as it had increased in the 19th century and by 1928 all women got the vote so there was no desire to overthrow it

Question 35

summarise the abdication crisis 1936

Answer 35

King George V died in January 1939 and his son became Edward VII but he wanted to marry Wallis Simpson but the government wouldnt allow it

Question 36

when was the abdication crisis

Answer 36

11th december 1936

Question 37

what was the impact of the abdication crisis on the British people (3)

Answer 37

seen by some as disloyal concerns of strength and reputation of the monarchy Baldwin was seen to have dealt well with the crisis providing an ultimatum to Edward and persuading him to abdicate

Question 38

what influenced foreign policy in the 1930s (2)

Answer 38

anti-war feeling due to memories of WW1, reaction against the Chanak crisis and won by the conservatives on the basis they would persue peace and not rearm wall street crash added economic issues and therefore brought forward more extreme leadership and dictators across the world (e.g. Mussilini, Hitler and Franco)

Question 39

what was the government reactions to foreign policy

Answer 39

strategy over Italy- eventhough Italy had invaded Ethiopia Britain was keen to keep Italy as an ally but the foreign secretary had agreed to support the League of Nations in imposing sanctions on Italy, Hoare had an agreement allowing Italy to claim most of Ethiopia but when this was leaked he had to resign as it went against the League of Nations Baldwin was too slow to react and rearm and did not attempt any negotiations with dictators

Question 40

why did Chamberlain follow the policy of Appeasement

Answer 40

to avoid war with Germany when they began to take areas of land and they had promised to help Poland should they be threatened by Germany policy was popular to other politicans many were worried of another war starting due to the small army, lack of weapons and not enough money to fight Germany there was some sympathy with Germany due to the treaty of Versailles

Question 41

what was the impact on rearmament

Answer 41

it increased after 1939 more focus put on agriculture, aircraft production and ship building new technologies were extended through the creation of radar stations and new aircraft such as Hurricane and Spitfire