British History- British Extremism in the IWYs

What was the global context to British Extremism?

Extremism was spreading rapidly across continental Europe while it remained quite tame and repressed in the UK

Which events from 1914-1939 under the topic of industrial relations suggested a growth of British extremism?

The formation of the Triple Alliance, the 1926 General Strike, Black Friday, the Jolly George strike -- militant trade unionism

What was the Jolly George strike and what did this suggest about the political sympathies of the British working class?

Jolly George was when workers refused to work on a ship sending arms to Poland to fight against Russia-- this suggested that workers had socialist/Russian sympathies

What were the motivations behind the Red Clydeside strike?

Working hours and exploitation by employees

What was Red Clydeside?

A Glasgow strike turned into a street-riot with people flying the red flag symbolic of socialism-- shows syndicalism

How long did the 1926 General Strike last for? Did ALL workers stop striking at the end of the strike?

9 days-- the miners continued striking for 7 more months

How was the 1926 General Strike resolved?

Baldwin entered discussions with the TUC which concluded with the TUC agreeing for the strikers to return to work w/ no guarantee of better pay or conditions

What did the 1927 Trade Disputes Act do?

It curbed the threat of the general strike by making sympathetic strikes illegal

What did the Liberals and Conservatives worry about Labour coming into government in 1923? Was this fear confirmed?

That they would be radical socialist government-- they obviously weren't this, v moderate and longing for a reputation of responsibility

Which Labour Chancellor subverted expectations for radical socialism with economic orthodoxy?

Phillip Snowden and his model Gladstonian budget

What was the only industry that Labour nationalised during the IWYs?

London Transport

In what year was the abdication crisis?

1937

What was the background of the 1937 abdication crisis?

Edward VIII became king but married an American divorce, 77 MPs (including Baldwin) told him he can't marry her

What was the outcome of the abdication crisis and what did this signal about the British political system?

In the end Baldwin succeeded in getting Edward VIII to abdicate, showing the strength and stability of the constitutional monarchy/parliamentary sovereignty

Which economic conditions of the IWYs curtailed potential for extremism?

Rising real wages, economic realignment-- there was economic upturn from 1934

What was the nature of the 1936 Jarrow March protesting unemployment and poverty?

It was non-violent and based on a petition (disproves extremism)

Did the National Government win over 50% of the vote and what did this indicate about public opinion?

They collectively won over 50% of the vote suggesting that people wanted stable and effective government

What were the UK's main extremist groups/parties of the IWYs?

The British Union of Fascists and the Communist Party of Great Britain

How did the 1929 WSC disillusion the British public with mainstream politics?

The WSC brought into question the credibility of capitalism due to unemployment and the system failing

Which communist nation funded the CPGB?

The USSR

Which letter scandal suggested the Labour had socialist sympathies?

Zinoviev (revolution)

Which newspaper initially supported the BUF?

The Daily Mail

Which form of direct action did the CPGB influence in Glasgow, Birmingham and East London?

They organised rent strikes in these areas through influencing the local governments

What was the name of the CPGB's newspaper and how many copies did it sell daily?

'The Daily Worker' sold 80,000 copies daily

What was the name of the social movement related to unemployment led by the CPGB?

National Unemployed Workers Movement

How many members were part of the National Unemployed Workers Movement?

50,000

How many members did the BUF have by 1934?

50,000 members

How did the Battle of Cable Street challenge British extremism?

It was anti-fascist counter demonstration

How was the CPGB limited in its parliamentary success?

It only returned 1 MP in 1924 and 1935

How many CPGB MPs were elected in 1945?

2

What was an example of Labour refusing to affiliate itself with the CPGB?

Labour refusing to join the 'Popular Front' alliance with then

How did the government curtail extremism with the terms of the 1934 Incitement to Disaffection Act?

It meant that anyone advocating revolution can be prosecuted

How did WW2 impact the popularity of the BUF?

They were already a very fringe group with small support, but because they were associated with Hitler due to using similar methods, they became even more unpopular with the British public

By 1935, what had the membership of the BUF declined to?

It had 5000 members by 1935

When did the Daily Mail withdraw its support for the BUF?

1934

What did the 1936 Public Order Act do?

It controlled the nature of public meetings and banned political uniforms (the BUF had uniform)

How was the CPGB less of a threat to political stability than the BUF?

It was still parliamentary, attempting to work within democracy

Why did the working class not vote for the CPGB?

Labour monopolised working class politics-- taking all their votes

Which orator led the BUF?

Oswald Mosley

Which European fascists did Mosley style himself and the BUF after?

Mussolini and Hitler

How did communism appear in relation to facism and why?

The Communists appeared the only ones willing to fight facism-- USSR steping in to support Spain against fascism

Did Ramsay McDonald support the 1926 General Strike?

No-- he didn't want to be associated with that