Chapter 16 Flashcards
Challenges to stability
What was the name of the woman Edward VIII was planning to marry?
Wallis Simpson
What statement did Edward VIII say about South Wales mining villages?
‘something must be done’
Why was the government opposed to Wallis Simpson?
She was American, not an aristocrat and had been divorced twice
Why would Edward’s marriage to Wallis Simpson cause a constitutional crisis?
It was incompatible with his position as a Head of Church that did not recognise divorce
What is a morganatic marriage?
The wife of the king would not be crowned queen and her children would not inherit the throne
When did Edward VIII announce his abdication?
11th December 1936
When did the British newspapers have a news blackout until?
3rd December 1936
What was the name of the extremist group formed by Oswald Mosley?
British Union of Fascists (BUF)
How many members did the BUF have by 1934 and who supported them?
50,000 and Lord Rothermore
Where was support for the BUF strongest?
London, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds
What were some of the reasons for supporting BUF?
Disillusionment of other political parties, limited efforts to deal with unemployment, in favour of better relations with Hitler’s Germany
How much had the BUF’s numbers declined by by 1935?
5000
When did the BUF lose the support of Lord Rothermore?
BUF indoor rally in Olympia Hall in 1934
What infamous battle led to the British public rejecting the BUF?
The Battle of Cable Street
Why were people attracted to the Communist Party?
Based on a distinct philosophy, capitalism seemed to be collapsing, democracy unable to cope
