Political Stability and extremism 1918-1939

Question 1

Who changed the official identity of Ireland in 1937 and how?

Answer 1

-De Valera and PM of Irish Free State unilateraly decalred independence of Eire

Question 2

To what extent did Ireland lead to instability?

Answer 2

-Anglo-Irish relations tense as De Valera had cut Ireland’s treaty links to GB in 1920s and faced a treade embargo from GB
-However, no return to violence in the likes of 1918-1921

Question 3

How many communist MP’s were elected in the IWYs and when?

Answer 3

-1 in 1924
-1 in 1935

Question 4

Name the organisation the CPGB set up to represent the unemployed and state how many members it contained?

Answer 4

-National Unemployed workers’ movement (NUWM)
-50,000-80,000

Question 5

Explain the relevance of the Jarrow March in terms of both radicalism and stability?

Answer 5

-Marched from Jarrow which experienced 60% unemployment and protested about unemployment and gave a petition to the PM
-They then returned to Jarrow and Jarrow returned to the National Govt. MP
-No real challenge to the political system

Question 6

How many copies of the Daily worker were sold daily?

Answer 6

-80,000 per day

Question 7

What did the Labour party refuse to allow in its relationship with the CPGB

Answer 7

Affiliation

Question 8

Name the Act of parliament that outlawed political violence or the advocacy of revolution?

Answer 8

Incitement to Disaffection Act 1934

Question 9

Name the newspaper and the headline that indicated establishment support for the BUF (Britain’s union of Fascists)?

Answer 9

-Daily Mail
-“Hurrah for Blackshirts”

Question 10

Name 2 public events, both involving violence, associated with the BUF?

Answer 10

-1934: Olympia rally
-1936: Battle of Cable Street

Question 11

What does the Olympia rally and the battle of cable street illustrate with regard to stability and crisis?

Answer 11

-BUF was composed of violent thugs
-active opposition to the BUF
-2 days in total = no real challenge and minor instability

Question 12

How many members did the BUF have in 1934 and how many in 1935?

Answer 12

-1934: 50,000
-1935: 5,000

Question 13

Did the BUF run for parliament or for local councils?

Answer 13

-Neither

Question 14

Name the act of parliament designed to suppress military-style, extra-parliamentary activity and explain how it did this and affected the BUF?

Answer 14

-The Public Order Act 1936
-It banned the wearing of political uniforms (the facists Blackshirts) and controlled public meetings

Question 15

Name 2 characteristics of the BUF and its politics that contributed to its failure as a popular force?

Answer 15

-political antisemitism, association with Hitler and cult of Moseley and violence
-It did nit attempt to seek political representation

Question 16

What is the chronological order of the governments of 1918-1939?

Answer 16

1) Coalition Government (1918-1922)
2) Conservative (Nov. 1922- Dec 1923)
3) Minority Labour (Dec. 1923-October 1924)
4)Conservative (October 1924- May 1929)
5) Minority Labour (May 1929-October 1931)
6) National Government (October 1931-1935)
7) National Government(1935-
- 2 Governments in 1930s; 5 in 1920s

Question 17

Did the Labour Government achieve a majority government in 1918-1939?

Answer 17

No

Question 18

Identify the percentage of total votes cast for a) The conservatives in 1931 &1935, The national Government in 1931 and the CPGB in 1924 & 1931?

Answer 18

a) 1931 = 55.2% and 1935 = 53.7%
b)67%
c)1924 = 0.3% and 1931 = 0.1%

Question 19

When did the general strike take place and how many workers went on strike?

Answer 19

-1926
-3m workers went on strike

Question 20

How long did the general strike last and to what extent dies the duration of the strike show stability or crisis?

Answer 20

-9 days
-Serious instability but was short-lived

Question 21

How many violence incidents took place in the general strike and is it an example of radical challenge or relative stability?

Answer 21

• 3000 threatened or actual incidents but mostly peaceful
• working conditions motivated strike , not political reasons
  -relative stability as strike failed

Question 22

Name the strike-breaking organisation and explain whether it is an example of forces of stability?

Answer 22

-organisation for the maintenance of supplies (OMS) was made of M/C volunteers who helped to break the general strike - forces supporting status quo and stability

Question 23

How did the government and its supporters in the media portray the general strike at the time and was this accurate?

Answer 23

-As an attack on an elected constitutional government
-No, strike in support of miners who faced cuts in wages and increase in working hours

Question 24

Using statistics, describe the decline in strikes after 1926?

Answer 24

-Average number of workers involved in industrial action stood at 2.75m in 1926
-In 1929-39, number steeply declined to 308,000

Question 25

Why did strikes decline in the 1930s?

Answer 25

-Trade Dispute act -defeat of the general strike and miners -severe loss of union funds after 1926 -mass unemployment disincentivized striking

Question 26

Name the act of parliament designed to suppress industrial militancy and explain how it mainly achieved this?

Answer 26

-Trade Disputes Act 1927 which outlawed sympathy strikes

Question 27

What happened in 1929 and how did it lead to the fall of the Labour government elected in 1929?

Answer 27

-Wall street crash in 1929 -This led to public spending cuts and the cabinet could not decide the extent of the cuts on unemployment benefits

Question 28

What socio-economic problem did British society suffer form throughout the IWYs?

Answer 28

-Mass unemployment

Question 29

Identify who and what was the Geddes Axe and the May Commitee?

Answer 29

-Geddes Axe was the name of the committee led by Geddes which recommended huge cuts to public spending during the coalition government of 1918-1922 -May led a committee in 1930 appointed by the government to investigate public spending which also recommended huge cuts in govt spending.

Question 30

Identify the domestic reforms of the Labour govt in 1923?

Answer 30

Wheatley's housing act and some reform of welfare benefits

Question 31

What was the main objective of the Labour government in 1923?

Answer 31

-To appear moderate by not doing anything radical in govt. -This is so they could be trusted with governance and so they were not linked with socialism

Question 32

When did the abdication crisis take place?

Answer 32

1937

Question 33

What did the abdication crisis illustrate about the nature of the constitutional government?

Answer 33

-Constitutional government was strong as King Edward accepted his abdication after Baldwin threatened to end his government -Supporters and opponents of Edward believed in the monarchy just differed over the identity of the monarch and there was no republicanism