National Gov 1931-45 Flashcards
What was the short-term outcome of MacDonald’s leadership?
Remained prime minister until November 1922, but failed to create a longer-lasting ‘Centre Party’.
What was the long-term outcome of MacDonald’s leadership?
Regained overall leadership of the Liberals but failed to prevent the rise of the Labour Party.
What were the reasons for MacDonald’s political fall?
- Ill health
- Retirement
- Resigned having failed to form coalition
- Lost general election
Why was a National government formed in 1931?
Due to the Wall Street stock exchange collapse in October 1929, leading to a global decline in trade and production.
What did MacDonald and Philip Snowden believe was necessary in 1931?
They believed they had no option but to press ahead with spending cuts, including a proposed cut of ten percent on unemployment benefits.
What significant event occurred on 28-29 October 1929?
The American stock market saw $30 billion wiped off the value of stocks and shares.
What factors led to the Wall Street Crash?
- Fears that shares were overpriced
- Slowdown in sales in important industries
- Concern about the extent of borrowing to pay for shares
What was the impact of the Wall Street Crash on banks?
Many borrowers could not repay loans, leading banks to recall international loans.
Who became the new leader of the Labour Party after MacDonald?
George Lansbury.
What did MacDonald announce on 24 August?
He would continue to serve as the prime minister of a ‘National government’ to face the emergency.
Why did the Conservatives support MacDonald in forming a National government?
They saw MacDonald would bear the blame for unpopular economic measures, allowing for a Conservative triumph later.
What was the outcome of the October 1931 election?
- Conservative: 473 seats (55.2%)
- Liberal: 33 seats (6.5%)
- Labour: 13 seats (1.6%)
- Total: 554 seats (67.0%)
Who effectively served as prime minister as MacDonald’s health failed?
Baldwin.
What controversial plan did Baldwin propose regarding Abyssinia?
To appease fascist Italy by giving them two-thirds of Abyssinia.
What was Baldwin’s approach to rearmament in 1935?
He offered to increase spending on rearmament to fulfil military requests from the League of Nations.
What was the public perception of Baldwin in the 1940s and 1950s?
He was attacked as one of the ‘Guilty Men’ who had appeased Hitler.
What advice did Baldwin give to King Edward VII?
To abdicate the throne rather than attempt to marry Mrs. Wallace Simpson.
What was the role of the monarch in Britain during 1918-97?
The monarch was the head of the Church of England, which frowned upon divorce, and divorce was a source of social stigma into the 1960s.
Who succeeded Baldwin as Prime Minister?
Neville Chamberlain succeeded Baldwin at an exceptionally difficult time.
What was Chamberlain well-liked for?
Chamberlain was well-liked for his successful creation of new homes and his assured performances on cinema newsreels as Chancellor of the Exchequer.
What was Chamberlain’s policy towards Hitler?
Chamberlain attempted to find ‘peace in our time’ and flew three times to meet Hitler to resolve a crisis.
How did Churchill view Chamberlain’s policy of appeasement?
Churchill was critical of Chamberlain’s appeasement of Hitler from the start.
What led to Chamberlain’s removal from office?
Chamberlain was forced from office after a vote of no confidence once the war began in earnest.
Who replaced Chamberlain as Prime Minister?
Winston Churchill replaced Chamberlain as Prime Minister.
What was the National government intended to be?
The National government was meant to be a temporary solution to the national crisis of economic depression.
Why did the National government last for 14 years?
It held the centre ground while extreme political parties failed to attract support.
Who founded the British Union of Fascists (BUF)?
Oswald Mosley founded the BUF after becoming disillusioned with democracy.
What was the BUF’s ideology?
The BUF was racist and anti-Semitic.
What event is known as the Battle of Cable Street?
A BUF march through East London turned into a violent clash in October 1936.
What was the outcome for Mosley and the BUF after the war?
Mosley was imprisoned for three years, and the BUF was banned.
How successful was the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB)?
The CPGB gained one MP in 1924 and 1935, and two in 1945, with a maximum of 0.4 percent of the vote.
What was the CPGB’s relationship with Soviet Russia?
The CPGB had placed the needs of Moscow ahead of Britain, opposing the war until Hitler attacked Russia in June 1941.
What significant political changes occurred during the Second World War?
A War Cabinet was set up, new ministries were created, and the Emergency Powers Act gave wide-ranging powers to the government.
What role did Churchill take on during the war?
Churchill took the post of Minister for Defence as well as Prime Minister.
What was Churchill’s most significant success as a leader?
His maintenance of domestic morale and purposefulness through inspirational speeches.
