The National Government (T1) Flashcards
What happened in the October 1931 election?
- The National Government won by a huge majority
- It was the Conservatives within it who won the vast majority of seats
Why did the vote for the Labour Party slump?
As many voters believed the party was putting its own interests and those of the unions before showing national interest.
What was MacDonald’s premiership (1931-1935) dominated by?
Dominated by the economic challenges caused by the Great Depression.
What did the MacDonald government do towards the threat of fascism in Europe?
Made some moves to rearm, at the same time it had to deal with the threat of fascism at home.
What was the economic policy of MacDonald’s National Government?
Implemented spending cut, and public sector pay cuts of 10%.
What happened after this pay cut in public sector?
Felt to be so harsh that it led to a mutiny in the Royal Navy at the naval base of Invergordon.
What other economic policies did the National Government implement?
- Introduced a limited number of tariffs.
- By 1933, the end of the Gold Standard and low interest rates had begun to stimulate an economic recovery.
What happened in the National Government in 1935?
Ramsey MacDonald was replaced by Stanley Baldwin after being isolated in government.
What happened to the Labour Party by the 1930s?
Managed to reorganise itself and become the official opposition to the government.
Who was the new leader of the Labour Party?
Clement Attlee
How many seats did the Labour Party gain in the 1935 General Election?
Gained 154 seats
What did this seat gain indicate about the Labour Party?
The Labour vote was rapidly recovering from the slump in votes in 1931.
What was happening in the 1930s with political ideas?
Was an increase in support for extreme ideas on both the far left and far right.
How much did the membership of the BUF grow to?
By 1934 the British Union of Fascists had 50,000 members
How did membership in Communist parties grow?
The Communist Party only had 9,000 members but throughout the 1930s organised the National Unemployed Workers’ Movement.
Who was Oswald Moseley?
A Labour MP who was inspired by the seemingly charismatic dynamic economic policies of Mussolini’s Italy.
What did Mosley do in 1932?
Drew all the fascist organisations in Britain together to form the British Union of Fascists (BUF).
What was the impact of the BUF?
Impact on political system overall would prove to be negligible, but briefly presented a challenge to law and order.
What did the National Government do to fight against this threat?
Passed the Public Order Act in 1936.
What did the Public Order Act 1936 do?
Banned groups from wearing uniforms and requiring permission for marches and demonstrations.
What happened to Moseley’s group after 1936?
Never became a threat to the National Government and his movement began to decline.
What did the popularity of Moseley’s group?
There were significant numbers who did not believe that the National Government was capable of working at the height of the depression.
How did Hitler’s appointment in Germany impact Britain?
Caused public opinion to divide between rearmament and disarmament.
What were people attracted to?
Organisations such as Peace Pledge Union, and the League of Nations Union that supported peaceful resolution to conflicts.
Why were people attracted to peace unions?
Due to the traumatic memories of the previous war.
What was the Peace Ballot and Pledge?
In 1934, millions of householders were asked their opinions on war and security.
What was the result of the Peace Ballot and Pledge?
Made it clear that they supported the idea of ‘collective security’.
What was the view of the British public towards Germany?
Arms races and secret treaties were responsible for WW1, not just Germany.
How did Britain rearm?
- The RAF was increased to 40 squadrons
- The British Army was reorganised
- The Royal Navy was expanded
- The munitions industry was developed in partnership with private capital.
What was Baldwin’s manifesto for his third premiership (1935-7)?
He pledged new homes, jobs and government help for the most economically deprived parts of the country.
What was the opposition of the Labour Party like during Baldwin and Chamberlain’s premierships?
The opposition Labour Party continued to be divided on the question of peace and security.
What did the left of the Labour Party believe towards rearmament?
Believed that rearmament made war more likely not less.
What did the centre of the Labour Party believe towards rearmament?
Led by Clement Attlee, argued that collective security would make war impossible, and rearming unsuccessful.
When was the abdication crisis?
In Jan 1936, when King George V died, a constitutional crisis took place.
Who took over from King George V and why was this a problem?
- After George V’s death his eldest son Edward VIII inherited the crown.
- His many affairs was known by the government.
Why was Edward’s affairs an issue at this time?
- Public attitudes towards sexual morality in the 1930s was very conservative.
- Having an hier to the throne behaving in such a manner would have brought the monarchy into disrepute.
What was the issue after Edward’s coronation?
Rumours circulated about a relationship with an American divorcee, Wallis Simpson.
What was the problem with Edward’s marriage to Wallis Simpson?
In Nov 1936 he informed Baldwin and Baldwin replied that the marriage would be seen by many in Britain as morally unacceptable.
What were the attitudes towards the marriage?
The British cabinet and the Dominions rejected even a morganatic marriage.
What did Edward VIII do after this abdication crisis?
He chose to abdicate on 11 December 1936, making way for his brother, George VI.
What did Labour do after Hitler broke the TOV?
Labour opposed the threat of economic sanctions against Germany.
What was the attitude of the National Government after Hitler broke the TOV?
Was divided between taking action and backing down.
Who was Neville Chamberlain?
Often associated with the policy of appeasement of Hitler, to try and prevent an outbreak of war.
What was the Munich Agreement of September 1938?
Granted nearly all of Hitler’s demands and allowed him to annex the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia.
What did Chamberlain do after this Munich Agreement?
Chamberlain returned to England promising ‘peace for our time’.
What happened in 1939?
Hitler attacked Poland, and in Sept 1939 Chamberlain declared war on Germany.
What was Chamberlain’s premiership (1937-40) like?
During a period of economic recovery, falling unemployment and stable prices.
What was the main problem that Chamberlain’s National Government faced?
- The breakdown of international order made war increasingly likely.
- Antiwar movement in Britain was growing in strength, made rearmament more difficult.
What did the National Government allow Hitler to do?
Allowed a series of concession to Nazi Germany, as Hitler continued to tear up the TOV.
Why was Chamberlain replaced in April 1940?
A bungled British attempt to save Norway from German invasion and Norway’s subsequent occupation by Germany.
What happened after the Norway error?
Chamberlain narrowly won a vote of no confidence but recognised it in real terms as a defeat.
What did Chamberlain do on May 9?
Attempted to form a new coalition government but the Labour Party refused to serve under him.
Who took over as Prime Minister after Chamberlain?
Churchill, who came to power on the same day Germany invaded France.
What was Churchill’s wartime cabinet like?
Was a mix of Conservative, Labour and Liberal politicians.
What part of Labour did Churchill use in his cabinet?
Included Labour politicians mainly from the centre and right of the party.
What was Churchill’s premiership (1940-45) like?
German successes brought about a new political crisis in government as some ministers considered whether or not to make peace.
What was Churchill’s attitude towards Germany?
Churchill called a meeting of the whole cabinet arguing that Britain would be a ‘slave state’ if it agreed to German terms.
Why did Churchill use the centre and right of the Labour Party?
He believed they were ready to place the national interest over party politics.
How did Churchill’s premiership end?
Served under him until the war ended in May 1945.
What was the issues Britain faced after WW2?
Social, cultural and political changes were accelerated by the pressures of total war.
