8. The first half of the 20th century (1901–1945): From isolationism to appeasement. The changing status of Ireland.

splendid isolation

• A British foreign policy in the 19th century where Britain avoided formal alliances and focused on its empire and navy.

• It worked while no one threatened Britain’s global dominance.

why splendid isolation ended?

• Germany grew stronger (army + economy) and started competing for colonies and sea power (e.g. building a large navy).

• Britain no longer felt secure staying isolated.

Why Britain entered the WW1?

• In August 1914, Germany invaded neutral Belgium as part of the Schlieffen Plan to quickly attack France.

• Britain had pledged to protect Belgian neutrality, so it declared war on Germany

WWI (years)

1914-1918

Easter Rising (1916):

• Irish nationalists staged a rebellion in Dublin, hoping for German support.

• Britain crushed the rebellion, but it increased support for Irish independence.

Sinn Fein party

main group of the Eater rising in 1916

Battle of Marne

BR + FR stopped initial push by GR on FR

Naval war

• Royal navy won Jutland

• kept GR in the port and cut off their supplies

Warfare (konflikt, boj) composed of:

• trench networks

• complex defences with barbed wire

• machinegun

Dardanelles Campaign (1915–1916)

• Britain (under Churchill) tried to break through Ottoman defences to reach Russia.

• Massive failure, heavy losses for British, ANZAC troops.

WWI started bc of

• the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the spark that set off the chain reaction.

• Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia → allies joint → other countries → world war

Post-war reforms:

• Fourth Reform Act (1918)

• Fifth Reform Act (1928):

• Trade Disputes Act (1927)

Fourth Reform Act (1918)

• Gave the right to vote to all men over 21 and women over 30 who were householders.

Fifth Reform Act (1928)

• Gave equal voting rights to both men and women aged 21 and over.

Trade Disputes Act (1927)

• Aimed to restrict the power of trade unions, passed after the General Strike of 1926, in which coal miners were protesting poor pay and working conditions.

Major strikes:

• 1921 coal strike

• 1926 general strike

irish affairs

• 1916 - easter rising

• 1919 - Sinn Fein

• 1921 - Anglo-Irish treaty

• 1922 - 1923 - Irish Civil war

• 1937 - irish new constitution

• 1948 - Ir cut ties with BR and became independent

Anglo - irish treaty

created Irish free state in 1922

Irish civil war

pro-treaty people X radical republicans

Versailles Treaty (1919)

• agreement that officially ended WW I between Germany and the Allied Powers

Phoney War (1939-1940)

time when no major battles occurred

The Battle of Britain: 1940–1941

• Germany tried to gain air superiority to prepare for an invasion of Britain.

• The Royal Air Force (RAF), using RADAR and international pilots, successfully defended British skies.

• The Blitz failed to break British resistance.

• Germany eventually turned attention to the Soviet Union

The Lend-Lease Act

allowed the US to supply Britain and the USSR with weapons and goods (paid later)

Atlantic Charter (1941

• Churchill & Roosevelt outlined shared war aims and post-war vision.

What were the main issues that Conservatives faced at the start of the 20th century?

• Boer Wars and failure to solve the Irish question

• Strikes

• Joseph Chamberlain's failed tariff reforms

What significant event happened in Britain in 1906?

The Liberals won a victory, governing in an alliance with the Labour Party.

What was the significance of the Parliamentary Act of 1911?

• Reduced the power of the House of Lords.

• Gave more freedom to trade unions.

• Army and navy reorganized.

What social change was introduced in Britain during the early 1900s regarding women?

The militant suffragette movement, led by Mrs. Pankhurst, campaigned for women’s suffrage (the right to vote).

What was the Home Rule Bill and its impact?

• Introduced in 1912-1914 to solve the Irish question.

• The Bill was delayed by the outbreak of WWI.

Why did Britain abandon its policy of “splendid isolation” in the early 20th century?

• Due to Germany’s emergence as a strong military power, challenging Britain and France.

• Britain had to form alliances to avoid isolation.

What was the Anglo-Japanese Alliance of 1902?

An alliance formed between Britain and Japan to counteract the growing threat of Germany.

What was the Entente Cordiale?

• Signed in 1904 between Britain and France.

• It marked the end of centuries of rivalry and the beginning of closer cooperation.

What was the Anglo-Russian Agreement of 1907?

It settled colonial disputes between Britain and Russia and was part of the buildup to the Triple Entente.

What countries were part of the Triple Entente?

• Britain, Russia, and France.

• They faced off against the Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey.

What were the key hotspots that contributed to the buildup to WWI?

• Balkans (clash of Austro-Hungarian and Russian influence)

• Alsace-Lorraine

• Morocco

Why did Britain declare war on Germany in 1914?

• Germany violated Belgian neutrality, which Britain had guaranteed.

• Britain declared war on Germany on August 4, 1914.

How did Britain’s government perform during WWI?

• Initially failed to provide firm leadership.

• Situation improved with Lloyd George’s appointment as War Premier in 1916.

What happened during the Easter Rebellion of 1916?

• Sinn Fein Party and others sought Irish independence.

• The British government crushed the rebellion, which spurred future movements for Irish independence.

What was the role of the British navy during WWI?

• Maintained maritime power, fought in global waters.

• Important battle at Jutland in 1916.

• Blockaded Germany’s supply lines.

How did warfare change during WWI?

• Trench warfare: static, defensive lines from the North Sea to the Swiss frontier.

• Weapons: Machine guns, poison gas, tanks, and aircraft.

• Notable battles: Verdun, Somme, Ypres.

What was the outcome of the Battle of Jutland?

• The Royal Navy didn’t win fully, but it forced the German fleet to stay in port for the rest of the war.

What was the Dardanelles campaign?

• A failed British attempt to break through the Ottoman-controlled straits to reach Russia.

• It resulted in heavy casualties, particularly among British and ANZAC forces

What was the key post-war reform in Britain?

The Fourth Parliamentary Reform Act of 1918: Gave the vote to all householders, men over 21, and women over 30.

What were the major industrial issues in Britain between the wars?

• Economic difficulties, mass unemployment, and industrial unrest.

• Strikes: Coal miners’ strikes (1921) and the General Strike (1926) for better conditions.

What happened during the Anglo-Irish War (1919-1921)?

• Sinn Fein declared an Irish Republic.

• Guerrilla warfare occurred, leading to the formation of the Irish Free State in 1922.

• A civil war broke out in Ireland over the treaty and Ulster remained part of the UK.

How did the global balance of power shift after WWI?

• The USA emerged as a leading global power and the world’s banker.

• Britain’s influence declined, with America taking over as the primary international power.

What was the League of Nations, and why did it fail?

• Created in 1920 to maintain international peace.

• Weakened by the absence of the US and the rise of fascism, especially under Mussolini and Hitler.

What policy did Britain follow during the Spanish Civil War?

• Britain and France followed a policy of non-intervention, remaining passive despite the growing threat from fascist regimes.

Why did Britain enter WWII in 1939?

• Germany’s invasion of Poland.

• Britain declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939.

How did Churchill contribute to Britain’s wartime leadership?

• Winston Churchill became the war leader after 1940.

• His inspiring leadership helped Britain face the German threat.

How did Britain’s homefront situation differ during WWI and WWII?

• WWII was more directly felt on the homefront.

• Air raids, food rationing, and mass evacuations were common.

• Women filled traditionally male roles in the workforce.

What was the Battle of Britain?

• A series of aerial battles between the RAF and the German Luftwaffe in 1940-1941.

• Britain successfully defended against German air attacks, preventing a German invasion.

What was the significance of the Atlantic Charter (1941)?

• A declaration by Churchill and Roosevelt outlining goals for post-war peace.

• It set the framework for Allied cooperation.

What was the turning point in WWII?

• 1942: The tide turned against the Axis powers with defeats in Stalingrad, North Africa, and the Battle of the Atlantic.

What was Operation Overlord (1944)?

• The Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944.

• This opened the Western Front against Germany.

What happened in 1945?

• The Allies crossed the Rhine, and the Soviet Union captured Berlin.

• Germany surrendered on May 7, 1945.

• Japan surrendered after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on September 2, 1945.