Unit 1

Question 1

What was India’s involvement in ww2 ?
What was ‘Quit India’

Answer 1

During WW2 India played a big role within the British Empire. The quit India movement was group led by Mahatma Ghandi to end British rule in India

Question 2

What was the role of Baldwin and the Arch Bishop of Canterbury, in the abdication?

Answer 2

-The A of C was strongly against the marriage and viewed in unacceptable to marry a divorcée.
-A of C was Osmo Lang
-Baldwin told Edward that the public would not accept Wallis a queen

Question 3

What was the view of the press about the abdication

Answer 3

The British press knew very little of the relationship however in America it was very publicised and viewed as a scandal

Question 4

What was Churchill’s opinion Vs Conservative opinion

Answer 4

Churchill believed the marriage should take place however this same belief was not shared with government or conservatives who disapproved of the marriage

Question 5

What was the relationship between Edward and Wallis Simpson

Answer 5

Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson wished to marry one another

Question 6

Give opinions on the marriage of Churchill, Beaverbrook, Rothermere

Answer 6

Churchill- Edward should be allowed to marry Wallis, Churchill was part of the king’s friends ( support network for the king) Churchill believed Edward should have the right morganatic marriage. Other politicians believed this was unprofessional of Churchill

Beaverbrook- Saw no problem with the marriage despite being in the aristocracy

Rothermere- Honoured Edward ( ally with Lord Oswald Mosely a pro-nazi

Question 7

What was Ghandis background role and influence

Answer 7

Ghandi trained in a London law school. For 21 years in S.Africa Ghandi made a non-violent civil rights group. Ghandi helped campaigns for women’s rights and became a leader of National Indian Congress (1921). Ghandi brought anticolonial nationalism to Indians and in 1930 wanted Britain to leave India by 1942. Ghandi was then imprisoned in A.Africa

Question 8

What were the roundtable conferences

Answer 8

The roundtable conferences were held in London between 1930/32. They were used to discuss constitutional reforms within India and we’re attended by those involved in British Indian relations

Question 9

What happened to Randolph Churchill in the 1935 by-election

Answer 9

Randolph announced he would stand in the 1935 election as an ‘independant conservative’. Randolph wanted to act against the Liverpool Conservatives who had controlled the city for approximately a generation. Ther term “whiteballed” came from Liv.Con. leader Sir Thomas White

Question 10

What was the Indian white paper (1933)

Answer 10

The white paper proposed legislation to eliminate Indian status. Based upon federation, responsibility and safeguards which came about as a result of the first roundtable conference

Question 11

What was the government of India act (1935)

Answer 11

An act passed by British Parliament (received royal assent August, 1935) which was the longest act that British parliament ever enacted by British Parliament (till 1999). It’s aim was to create further provision for the government of India Act based on Simon Commission Report, Round Table Conferences and Report of the Joint select committees

Question 12

What were the 1919 Rowlatt Acts, Montagu Chelmsford measures, Amristar

Answer 12

The act of 1919 introduced Diarchy in provinces and provincial governments were divided in clear cut terms
-Rowlett commission proposed a reform of jail’s/prisons and a royal amnesty of political prisoners
-Edwin Montagu “sooner or later there must be peace restored between Government of India and these men”
-Chelmsford + Montagu, saw the act as a major turning point- central assembly selected by Indian elites and officials selected by colonial government provincial councils appointed officials (Indian and British)

Question 13

what was the Cripps mission of 1942

Answer 13

Failed attempt in late March 1942 by the British Government to secure full Indian Cooperation and support for their efforts in World War II.
The mission was headed by senior minister Stafford Cripps
Start date: 22nd March 1942

Question 14

What was the Bengal Famine

Answer 14

The Bengal Famine was a famine in Bengal in 1943. The military escalation and production led to mass inflation. Around 2.1-3.8 million people died, particularly in rural areas. Disease transmission and mass starvation dramatically increased.

Question 15

What was the partition 1947

Answer 15

The partition of India was the division of India and Pakistan according to the Indian Independence Act passed by British Parliament on July 18th 1947.
Set to take effect on the 15th August the transition was rushed and was met with violence.
15,000,000 Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims were rushed across different democratic borders.

Question 16

Why was Churchill out of office for so long

Answer 16

Conflict with his own party. Spoke about unpopular causes (India & Edward). Churchill was out of touch in the way he did so as well in the age of radio and cinema politicians had no need to attend big public meetings anymore. By 1931 there were economic issues with the Great Depression. The country needed a united and confident government. Many people didn’t trust Churchill for his previous mistakes such as Gallipoli in WW1 and his decision as Chancellor of the Exchequer to enter into the Gold Standard in 1925 although Britain had to leave in September 1931.

Question 17

Churchill’s views on India

Answer 17

Like the Victorians he believed that India was the jewel in the crown. This attitude may be as a result of serving as a young officer in India. Churchill also took the view that the British rule prevented the domination of Hindu elites over Indian Muslims and ensured the end of barbaric practices and meant that there was social and economic progress. Churchill believed in racial superiority. Churchill was bitterly opposed to Indian Independence dismissing the Round Table conferences 1930-32 as well as Ghandi. Churchill was isolated from moderate conservatives due to his extreme racist views. Churchill wished India well when the Government of India acts were passed in 1935/37.

Question 18

When did Edward VIII abdicate

Answer 18

December 1936

Question 19

Edward’s reputation

Answer 19

Edward had been seen as neurotic and unstable. H e had a reputation as a playboy and his lifestyle was less respectable than his father’s.

Question 20

Edward’s marriage

Answer 20

Edward wished to marry Wallis who was a 2x divorcee. She was not accepted by the Church of England proposals of a morganatic marriage were also dismissed. A morganatic marriage required support from parliament’s in Britain and self-governing dominions, the cabinet did not give approval

Question 21

Stanley Baldwin’s views

Answer 21

Baldwin told Edward that the public would not accept Wallis as Queen

Question 22

Churchill’s views

Answer 22

Churchill was in a minority position and a member of ‘The King’s Friends’ who supported the monarch due to personal loyalties and chivalry. Churchill misjudged the mood of the House of Commons and made a speech in support of the King that was shouted down. Churchill again was out of touch with current society.

Question 23

Churchill and rearmament

Answer 23

Churchill spoke of the dangers of the Nazi regime and the breach of the Treaty of Versailles as well as worries over air-power and being defenceless. He issued his journalism to issue warnings and the need to rearm. Churchill had a pre 1914 mentality in opposition to Germany.

Question 24

Financial crisis and rearmament

Answer 24

The financial situation meant that it was necessary to have cuts in gov. expenditure. They did not have enough money to help support Brits as well as rearm.

Question 25

Views on League of Nations

Answer 25

Many people believed in the LoN and thought that they should be the deciders on international debates and worldwide negotiations rather than individual countries and their armed forces.

Question 26

Hitler’s rearmament

Answer 26

When Hitler’s policies became increasingly aggressive the government did increasingly rearm. Many believe the government acted at the right time.

Question 27

German expansion

Answer 27

March 1938, Germany annexed Austria going directly against the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler aimed to take the Sudetanland in Czech as well. By March 1939 Germany occupies Bohemia and Moravia which dismembers the defenceless Czech state.

Question 28

Chamberlain’s actions in appeasement

Answer 28

Chamberlain flew to see Hitler without the LoN in attempt to avoid making a decision about joining the war. Mussolini four-power conference in Munich September 1938 Chamberlain asked Hitler to sign a peace treaty.
Churchill believed it was moral cowardice to give in to Hitlers aggression and that Britain had shown weakness and that they needed to stand up against Nazi aggression.

Question 29

Why did Churchill become Prime Minister in 1940

Answer 29

Chamberlain asked Churchill to become a member of an inner war cabinet- First Lord of the Admiralty after Germany invades Poland in 1939.
1940 Norway Campaign failure Churchill only seen responsible for his apology and increases his standing. Chamberlain seen to be at blame.
Support for Chamberlain in a vote in May 1940 only just goes in his favour after the failure in the Norway campaign. Chamberlain in ill health and pressured to step down.
King, King Mother and Chamberlain wanted Halifax however Halifax did not wish his title to change. Royalty disliked Churchill over the abdication crisis. Most conservative MP’s didn’t want Churchill.
Labour refused to serve Neville Chamberlain and refused to back anyone other than Winston Churchill.
On 10th May 1940 Winston Churchill was appointed.