Chapter 16-Challenges to stability Flashcards
What was the abdication crisis?
On the death of George V, Edward VIII became King aged 41. However, he had been attracted by Wallis Simpson and by traditional standards she was unsuitable to be Queen. When King Edward announced plans to marry Mrs Simpson, there was a constitutional crisis as the Church of England did not recognise divorce. PM Baldwin said that marriage between the King and Mrs Simpson was unconstitutional and so when the king wanted to ask the public for a morganatic marriage, Baldwin refused. On 11 December 1936 he abdicated and George VI became King.
What was the British Union of Fascists?
Following a visit to fascist Italy, Oswald Mosley formed the BUF and gave speeches around the country. It gained support and grew quickly with 50,000 members in 1934. Support for the BUF was strongest in London, Manchester and Leeds and typical recruits were young working class men. Mosley’s appeal to anti-Semitism won some support but it also lost supporters. It never became a big movement and electorally it was a failure.
What was the Communist Party of Great Britain?
Founded in 1920, the CPGB lasted until the 1990s and it had an influence beyond its numbers. Members were attracted to it because it was claiming to provide for the working class. As Capitalism seemed to be collapsing, these revolutionary ideas grew in appeal and faced with mass unemployment under Labour, popularity grew.
What was the Communist Party of Great Britain?
Founded in 1920, the CPGB lasted until the 1990s and it had an influence beyond its numbers. Members were attracted to it because it was claiming to provide for the working class. As Capitalism seemed to be collapsing, these revolutionary ideas grew in appeal and faced with mass unemployment under Labour, popularity grew.
What was the extent of the threat from the Communist Party of Great Britain?
Communists were present in many aspects of life and several trade unions had leaders who were CPGB members. Many played a key role in strikes and they played a key role in the National Unemployed Workers Movement which had 50,000 members in the early 1930s. The Communist Party Newspaper the Daily worker had a circulation of 80000 copies and the left book club had 50000 members by 1939. However, the National government never thought they were a serious threat and police kept a close eye on them.
How did National government policies limit political extremism?
Legislation was passed to limit the threat from political extremism. The 1934 Incitement to Disaffection Act could be used to prosecute anyone advocating revolution or violence and the Public Order Act 1936 forbade the wearing of political uniforms and gave the police greater powers of control. The National Government had huge parliamentary majorities and this ensured stability and so had no need to depend on political alliances.
What other factors limited political extremism?
Labour prevented extremism as it was led my moderates who opposed Communists anf they rejected attempts to bring about a popular front. International events discredited political extremes and Mussolini’s invasion of Abyssinia turned people away from Fascist Italy. The economy was recovering and a more comfortable life style was developing which meant that there was no need for political extremism. The of the BUF and CPGB contributed to their own failures as they failed to get a good reputation and to build up support.
