British Politics 1918-1929 Flashcards
What was the outcome of the 1918 Election?
- There was a coalition victory between the Conservatives, Liberals and Labour.
- The main parties involved were Conservatives and Liberals.
- Conservatives had a higher percentage of the coalition, because there was only half a Liberal Party.
Who was the prime minister of the coalition government in 1918?
David Lloyd George
What Irish Party was on the rise in 1918?
Sinn Fein; they replaced the Irish Nationalist party as the main Irish Party.
What was the aim of Sinn Fein?
Rather than home rule, they wanted full independence for Ireland. Irish politics were taking a more radical stance.
Three reasons there was a coalition in 1918.
- The conservatives depended on Lloyd George greatly. Lloyd George was known as ‘the man who won the war.’
- Both Lloyd George and the Conservatives were concerned about the rise of Labour and joining together would help to create a front against the new party.
- Lloyd George had gained a great deal of power and prestige as wartime prime minister. This had come about because of his alliance with the Conservatives and he wanted to maintain this.
Why did the coalition government win the 1918 Election?
- The Prestige of Lloyd George.
- Female Voters at the time were householders and were more likely to be Conservative voters.
- Lloyd George’s promises for social policies- ‘Homes fit for heroes’.
- Non-coalition parties campaigned separately; whereas the coalition had joined forces, so was an inevitable win.
Describe the ‘Treaty of Versailles’.
- June 1919, conference between David Lloyd George from GB, Woodrow Wilson from USA and Georges Clemenceau from France.
- Terms included: the War Guilt Clause, Reparations, Demilitarisation and Loss of Land.
How successful was the Treaty of Versailles?
Successful? The only success from this was the dismantling of the German fleet; there was no longer a naval rivalry.
Unsuccessful? Lloyd George wanted to protect German interests but they were not. Lloyd George experienced pressure from the GB public - he did not live up to their expectations.
What is a mandate?
A mandate is ruling a country as part of their Empire but in the interests of the defeated countries.
Describe British mandates.
GB and France took countries as mandates. GB gained the German colonies, Iraq, Palestine and Islands in the Pacific.
How successful was ‘The Mandates’?
Successful? GB was a great power, they had influence all over the world - at its height, controlled a quarter of the world.
Unsuccessful? The cost of administration and the cost of defence for all the Empire countries.
Describe the ‘League of Nations’.
- An international organisation, that provided rules in order to prevent war.
- GB joined and was in the permanent council.
- The league was weak - they had no army and USA and Russia were not a part.
What country did not join the ‘League of Nations’ and why?
The USA did not join the league because they have been an isolationist country and kept out of European problems.
What was the Chanak Crisis?
Mustafa Kemal was a general who led an uprising in 1922 when he resisted the Greens when they tried to take Smyrna.
This was a breaking of an international treaty, LG had troops at Chanak but decided to send reinforcements.
Led to a negotiated peace and created modern Turkey.
How successful was ‘The Chanak Crisis?’
Successful? LG enforced the treaty and stooped the corrupt leader.
Unsuccessful? Conservatives were angry as they not consulted and he fell out with the public because they were ‘war weary’.
The Chanak Crisis politically weakened Lloyd George and the Liberals.
What were relations with France like?
Lloyd George wanted to maintain the peace, he showed friendship to France.
France was a key ally with Britain.
What maintaining good relations with France a good idea?
Lloyd George was criticised for being too friendly with the French. He was said to have let them get their own way with reparations.
Critics could see that Germany was impoverished and his hurt GB interests as trade would be limited.
What were relations between Russia and GB like?
Relations with Russia were very poor.
Communism in Russia after the Russian Revolution in 1917 was a major threat to Britain.
1918-1920 communism erupted into civil war; between the Reds and Whites (Spartacists and Royalists), wanted the Tsar to return to power.
Britain supported the Royalists and led to GB intervention. The Spartacists were victorious.
Was GB intervention in the Russian Civil War successful?
Successful? -
Unsuccessful? GB failed to stop the Bolsheviks and became unpopular with the public. British public believes it was expensive and unneeded intervention. The Jolly George incident - equipment for Russia; Dockers refused to load he shop.
Explain what happened at the Washington Conference.
The USA influenced Britain to break off the treaty with Japan; replaced with the Washington Conference 1921.
USA, GB and Japan made the 5-5-3 size for each navy. For every 5 ships America had, Britain could have 5 and Japan could only have 3.
How successful was the Washington Conference?
Successful? Brought stability to the Pacific region and removed Japan as a treat.
Unsuccessful? Showed GB weakness- followed the US.
Successes by Lloyd George in dealing with the Irish problem.
- LG supporters said he ‘conjured the Irish problems out of existence.’
- LG ended an unpopular war.
- Lloyd George extricated himself from a difficult situation.
Failures of Lloyd George in dealing with the Irish problem.
- Conservative opposition - many of the Conservative ideas were based on unionism.
- Saw it as a concession to terrorism.
- Betrayal to the Protestants who lived in the South
- Opposition within the Labour and Liberal movements - appalled by the methods used by the Black and Tans.
What was the Housing Act of 1919 responsible for?
It was responsible for housing, the big aim was to build new homes and encourage local authorities to clear slums and ‘back-to-back housing’. Wanted to replace these with council houses.
What was significant about council housing?
They were affordable houses; and entailed low rent for working classes.
Who funded the Housing Act of 1919?
Was funded by the Ministry of Health, but the houses were built by private builders who were in it to make profit.
The ministry paid £910 per house, but the true building cost was just £385.
Ministry was spending too much.
How many new homes had been built by 1922?
Just 200K new homes; there was a shortage of around 800K new homes.
Who was the Minister of Health?
Addison - he was sacked in 1922 and the policy was stopped.
What was the National Insurance Act of 1920-1921?
Lloyd George extended the policy of the 1911 Act, as it only reached 3 million workers; to a total of 12 million workers. It was still temporary for 15 weeks and after this you could still be paid a ‘transitional payment’ aka the dole.
