hws- britain transformed*

Question 1

What does the term national government mean?

Answer 1

A coalition of the major political parties (liberal, labour, conservative) during a time of need

Question 2

Who were the four leaders of the national government between 1930-1945?

Answer 2

Ramsey MacDonald, Stanley Baldwin, Neville Chamberlain, Winston Churchill

Question 3

What were the four threats facing the national governments of the 1930’s-1940’s?

Answer 3

Economic threats (Great Depression), the opposition of the Labour Party, the rise of extreme politics (fascism) and foreign policy threats (arming the country? appeasing Hitler?)

Question 4

Summarise (in 4x bullet points or four short paragraphs) how well the National Government dealt with Economic threats

Answer 4

• 1932 Imports duties Act put a 10% tariff on most imports
  –> supported British industry
• tried to establish Imperial preference within the British Empire
  –> did not work
• Unemployment Act of 1934 introduced a ‘means test’ (benefits for shorter)
  –> arguably necessary as it was predicted there would be a deficit of £120 million
  –> made the poor poorer!!
  –> benefited middle class as loans became cheaper
• Breaking with the Gold STandard
  –> interest rates slashed from 8% in 1931
  –> car and home ownership increased

Question 5

Summarise how well the National Government dealt with the opposition of the Labour Party

Answer 5

• the National Government essentially operated as a dictatorship due to the conservatives winning a majority (470/554) - this was supported by the public
  –> Labour got 13 seats in the coalition and outside, the independent Labour: only 52

Question 6

Summarise how well the National Government dealt with the rise of extreme politics

Answer 6

• 1936 Public order act
  –> banned inflammatory meetings and wearing of military-style uniforms by political groups
• Slow in dealing
  –> 1936- Fascist march through London planned and the Home Office refused to ban it –> Jewish groups left to fend for themselves
  –> Mile End pogrom- Jewish businesses along Mile End Road in London damaged

Question 7

What does the term ‘Two Englands’ refer to?

Question 7

Summarise how well the National Government dealt with foreign policy threats

Answer 7

• British public widely supported appeasement and ‘collective security’ (countries pledging to defend each other)
• Chamberlain continued appeasement even after Hitler’s intentions were clear
  –> he was a pacifist at heart
  –> he misjudged the scale of military spending required –> increased spending by £120 million in 1934 believing this would cover the next 5 years but by 1937, this had increased to £1.5 billion

Question 8

Why was strike action low during the war?

Question 9

How did this change when the war ended?

Question 10

What was Red Clydeside?

Question 11

Why did the miners’ strike in 1921?

Question 12

Why did the miners’ strike fail?

Question 13

What caused the General Strike of 1926?

Question 14

Why did the General Strike fail?

Question 15

What were the consequences of the failed General Strike for the unions?

Question 16

How did the 1932 Import Duties Act benefit the British economy?

Question 17

What were the limitations of Imperial Preference?

Question 18

Why might the Unemployment Act 1934 be viewed as necessary?

Question 19

What were the negative consequences of the Unemployment Act?

Question 20

How did leaving the Gold Standard benefit the British economy?

Question 21

How did the Special Areas Act 1934 support traditional industries?

Question 22

What were the limitations of the Special Areas Act 1934?