churchill: source essay Flashcards
Why did Churchill fall out with conservatives over india?,
-churchill saw india as the ‘jewel of the crown of the british empire’
-Ghandi led non violent protests which he wasnt a fan of
-WC didnt want them to have dominion status but it was agreed by the conservatives anyway
-Amritsar Massacre
-believed their independence would make Britain seem weak
-Stanley Baldwin made speeches mocking Churchill’s views
Why was Churchill opposed to this ideology
-believed it would make empire seem weak
-india was first country to ask for dominion who wasn’t run by a white man
-Irish free state given dominion led to religious turmoils and civil war, similar to situation with Hindus and Muslims in India
What happened to British rule in India?
-under pressure, ghandi started non violent protests
-Uk responded with Amristsar massacre iin 1919, didnt look good for them
1930 Ghandi salt march
-salt easily made on indian coast, but they couldnt make their own and had to buy through UK
-Heavily taxed, angered them
-Ghandi led peaceful march and illegally made salt
-Thounsands protested in teh same way
-Macdonald had 60,000 arrested and introduced new laws
-Round table conferences discussed situation
Gov act of india 1935
-A law that gave india some self government, not on level of other countries
-not given full dominion untill 1947
The abdication crisis
the period in Britain in 1936, in which King Edward VIII abdicated so that he could marry Wallis Simpson, a woman who had been divorced
Why did churchill fall out with conservatives over Edward
-admirer of nazi germany
-off the cuff remarks seen as political interference
-raised constitutional issue of marriage situation
-marriage meant gov would have to reign and dominions would break away
-WC opposed the marriage but believed the solution was a morganatic marriage
what was the conservative view of the abdication crisis?
what were churchills reaction to the indian independence movement?
-bitterly opposed
-not motivated by anything other than prejudice
-found himself isolated from moderate conservatives
-undermined his position through calmer and moderate speeches, mocking references to Churchill’s views
conservative view of churchill after India
-‘unique achievement to stir up a hornets nest where there were no hornets’
-Tried to make secretary for india resign, threatened to shatter conservative party
-won him only ridicule
-Deep distrust
Why did churchil want to rearmament?
-Saw new regime in germany as brutal, disliked its racism
-Churchill feared repeat of WW1, when germany had been a threat to the peace of europe
-Unlike other leaders, churchill had been a member of Gov which had agreed treaty of versailles, that hitler now wanted to break
-Churchill worried about air power, and hitler building up new german air force
-Feared britain would be defenceless
-he knew effecs of aerial bombing, past experience in iraq
Critics to Churchills rearmament demands
-churchill himself had been deeply responsible for disarming in the 1920s and for maintaining 10 year rule
-british financial crisis, not in position to begin an arms race
-seen as unnessary
-tendancy to exaggerate figures and speak in alarmed tone undermined his credibility
what was 10 year rule
Rule that defence planning should not consider a war likely for the next 10 years and just`fied cut backs in defence
who was PM during this
Neville chamberlain
When does hitler become chancellor
30th january 1933
What was first thing Hitler did to go against treaty
Openly started rearming in 1935 and began rebuilding army through conscription
What happened in the rhineland
March 1936
-3000 german troops marched in
Austrian Anschluss
March 1938
-growing nazi support in austria
-plebiscite called to see what people wanted
-hitler refused election, germany troops took over to complete anchscluss
-elections held but nazis controlled votes
-took control
Border between germany and CZechoslovakia
-Spet 1938- encourages nazis in sudetenland to rebel, hitler demands return of the areas which contain germans
-He wasnt happy with just this
What happened as a result of German occupation of the Sudetenland
-Chamberlain held meetings
-Basically coming to an agreement over what he could have
-Meeting 1: could control sudetenland in parts germans were
-Meeting 2: Hitler demanded the entire sudetenland
-Munich meeting 1938 this fell into place
What happened after the munich meeting
hitler occupied the rest of Czechoslovakia illegally
What options did britain have to deal with hitler
-remain uninvolved: churchill disliked
-Persuade czechs to make conncessions and persuade hitler to accept them
How churchill wanted to deal with Hitler in early days
-disagreed wit both
-believed moral cowardice to give in to agression
-firm stand with other nations neccesary
-weakness in britain would encourage germany to carry on
-at very least should have been some form of opposition
-A gran alliance to defeat threat
Arguments against churchill’s views
-Had no spoken to allies about joint action
-didnt have army ready for war
-If war had happened, italy and russia could take advantage and threaten parts of empire not easily defended (churchill had little understanding of vulnerability)
-Hostile with communism, Russian alliance unlikeley
-France opposed to action
-Public opinion in US favoured Isolasionaism
-US neutrality acts stopped any involvement
early occurences in war
-Nazi-soviet non agression pact
-German forces invaded poland 1939
-3rd sept 1039 Britain declared war because of this
-Norway campaign disaster
-Germany had western Polands USSR had east
-Germany took denmark and norway
What was norway campaign
-first real initiative
-Churchill pressed for action in norway to block vital route for germany
-proposed laying mines in waters to stop GR
-Chamberlain agreed, but hitler already invaded
-poorly managed and purpose was questionable
Problems with gov at beginning of war
-Poorly managed
-economic planning not effective
-Little military expeirience in cabinet
-Inneffective war and defence ministers
-Chamberlain useless
main replacement for chamberlain
Lord halifax
Why wouldnt Halifax take the position
would have to renounce lord title, reluctant to take on the job as didnt think he had the right knowledge and experience
why did churchill become PM
-10th may, germany invaded holland and belgium
-made it clear that a decisive leader was needed
-substantial lack of confidence in cabinet
-He was only option
-Seen as someone who would bring new determination to the war
What was churchill’s stance towards the war in 1940
Pros of C as wartime leader
-Sent troops to great places, tactfully
-Morale, public speaking
-funding W america, turning point
-Dunkrik, D day, battle of britain
-We won
-Embraced new tech
-bletchly park
-Very democratic
By 28 may 1940 what challenged did churchill face?
-Dunkirk
-Danger of italian entry into suez
-japan possible threat
-Gold reserves running out
-Considerable fear of german bombs
What was special about Churchill’s leadership style during war?
-very vigorous
-constantly working
-dedicated
-Officials who couldnt keep up or who displeased him dismissed.
-believed in strong personal relationships with allies
-mastery of both written and spoken expression
-Personal flamboyance
-Most travelled of all PMs before him
-Daring and ruthlessness.
