part 3

name the 4 gov’s during ww1

1. asquith: aug 1914-may1915

2. asquith’s war coalition: may 1915-dec 1916

3. dlg’s coalition: 1916-1918

4. peacetime coalition: 1918-1922

explain asquith’s coalition: aug 1914-may 1915

• supported by irish nationalists and conservatives which gave liberals chance to unite

• kitchener made secretary of war and other cabinet positions
  → expert at war
  → made it seem that asquith was giving up on war and didn’t support and asquith saw war as distasteful (unusual for this time)
  → makes liberals look incompatiable with war

• relied heavily on volunteers → 100,000 per month
  → given poor training and equipment

• added DORA in aug which helped liberals

how many volunteers per month in aug 1914-may 1915

100,000

when was dora introduced? what did it do?

aug 1914

• press censorship about war catasrophes like somme

• wages frozen and working hours increased

• pub opening hours reduced → most closed 9.30pm and drinks watered down

• discussing military issues publically became banned
  
  → very invasive!!!

explain asquith’s war coalition: may 1915-dec 1916

• may 1915: lack of clear stratergy, heavy casualties, severe shell shortages led to gov tensions and criticisms

• bonar law, dlg, asquith announced coalition in may
  → dlg made head of munitions and asquith kept cabinet liberal dominated

• jan 1916- passed military service act
  → conscripted unmarried men (18-41)

  → april: extended to married men (demanded by DLG)
  → criticised for being too late and not going far enough

• april 1916: easter rising
  → failure of home rule lost asquith 80 irish nationalist seats

• DLG took over as secretary of war after kitchener died

when was military service act?

january 1916

conscripted unmarried 18-41

april: married men

when was easter rising? how many seats lost?

april 1916

80

explain dlg’s coalition: 1916-1918

• became PM in 1916

• had reputation as strong, energetic and decisive leader

• felt winning war needed:

  • strong control from gov

  • efficient organisation of goods

• coalition included conservatives, liberals and labour
  → excluded asquith!!!
  → deepened divisions in liberal party and rivalry between DLG and asquith
  → many liberals refused to work under DLG
  → dlg relied heavily on conservative support which weakened authority

• 1918: maurice debate

  • asquith accused DLG of depriving army of essential reinforcements and starving troops at crucial time

  • dlg able to ride this out though

name 2 successes of DLG’s coalition

1. able to hold nerve during 1917 failures and when russia dropped out

2. succesfully organised war effort and delivered victory

explain the peacetime coalition: 1918-1922

• DLG continued to lead coalition

• faced problems like:

  • TOV

  • political and economic instability at home
    → economy, 2 mil unemployed, industrial unrest

• taxes remained high to pay for debt and reconstruction
  →angered public

• politics could go back to normal and war cabinet ended which led to coupon election in 1918

explain the coupon election

1918

• representation of the people act enfranchised all men over 21 and women over 30

• DLG returned as PM with conservative majority

• liberals (asquith) got 28 seats and asquith got his

• labour had 22% votes

• coalition liberals won
  → but become unstable and unpopular and collapsed in 1922

what does coupon election mean?

pro-war

uncouponed are anti-war and seen as unfit for office

what % votes did labour get in coupon election?

22%

how many seats did liberals get (asquith’s)

28

what did representation of people act make franchise?

21 men

30 women

name 4 reasons for liberal collapse

1. asquith failures
   → asquith was a pacifist and found war distasteful, uninvested
   → late conscription and rationing during the war
   → DLG has to come in and sort him out
   → maurice debate
   

2. dlg’s downfall
   → more on other fcs
   

3. long term issues
   → constitutional crisis led to small majority and had to use irish nationalists, which they lost after easter rising
   → switch from laissez-faire to interventionist in such an extreme way it divides the party
   → home rule divided party aaages ago and still haven’t recovered
   

4. strength of labour
   → labour becoming bigger→ 22% votes, represents WC and tories represent UP/MC
   

name 5 issues the liberals had to deal with during war

1. ministry of munitions

2. conscription

3. industrial relations

4. dora

5. post war crisis

how did ministry of munitions impact liberals

• dlg made minister of munitions (1915)

• helped gov organise labour and production of war munitions

• well received as business owners liked having these targets and deadlines

• shell production:

  • 1915: 2 mil

  • 1918: 187 mil

• companies praised ministry for allowing them to organise labour as they wanted as long as targets were met

how many shells produced in 1915 and in 1918?

• 1915: 2 mil

• 1918: 187 mil

explain conscription and its impact on liberals

• 1916: 2.3 volunteers
  → so many they couldn’t be equipped

• conscription seen as anti-liberal

• 1916: military act- all men 18-41 to enlist

• 750k men able to get out of conscription by being in reserved trades- some entered just to avoid

• increased public support as people felt it was needed

how many volunteers by 1916?

2.3 mil

how many men able to get out of conscription?

750,000

explain industrial relations and its impact on liberals

• full control of industrial relations to prevent strikes

• men left jobs to fight and were replaced by women and unskilled workers

• workers couldn’t leave without certificate of agreement which tied down workers

• good for employers as they can treat as they wanted but bad for workers

• not laissez faire- unhappy

• workers protested with go slows

• banned striking in munitions factories
  → 1917: 200k workers involved in strikes

how many workers involved in strikes in 1917 despite ban?

200k

explain dora and its impact on liberals

• aug 1914

• brought in without parlimentary debate

• anything seemed to benefit enemy=criminal offence

• rules on other fc

• successful with rationing, no protests

• many people continued on as normal

• pub landlords carried out lock ins to support incomes

explain the post war crisis and the impact on liberals

• continued to control due to economic crisis

• 1919: 32 mil days lost to strikes → even police striked

• 2 mil unemployed after demobilisation

• many feared bolshevik revolution
  → DLG launched ‘hands off russia’ campaign

• unions started to kick back against repression

• wages decreased in mines as well when they went back to private ownership
  → mine workers wanted state control but gov refused which led to lock out
  → gov had to use emergency powers to send troops in

• lots of battles between police and workers with no concessions
  → e.g. 900k people demonstration in glasgow over cutting working hours

how many days lots in strikes in 1919?

32 million

how many unemployed post war?

2 mil

how many protested in glasgow over working hours being reduced?

900k

how did the gov cooperate with trade unions?

• necessary during war to prevent strikes

• DLG made agreements with TUs to maximise output of war materials

• TUs expected to work closely with employers in return for state control over profits, rent and safeguards workers could return after war
  → enhanced role of tus and showed gov acknowledgement of importance

what did ministry of munitions control during the war?

prices, wages, output and profits

when was food rationing introduced? by who?

1918 after german ships sunk supplies

department of food production

on meat, butter and sugar

name 4 reasons DLG was to blame for his own downfall

1. heavily reliant on con support
   policy of fusion was to create party which would be a coalition of liberals and conservatives
   → failed and liberals saw it as a betrayal
   → liberals expelled DLG as a result which left him even more dependent on conservatives
   

2. chanak incident
   more on other fc
   

3. gedes axe
   chose to cut gov spending by £24 million from military, health and welfare
   

4. selling knighthoods and places in HoC
   not illegal but very shady and suggested corruption
   → became illegal in 1923

how much was cut on spending in gedes axe?

£24 million

when did selling knighthoods/places in HoC become illegal?

1923

explain the chanak incident

• british navy became involved in chanak and DLG told commander to use force against turks if necessary

• did not consult with colleagues and misread public views (now anti-war)
  → seen as liability and corrupt and so major attack was launched on him

• led to carlton club:

  • chamberlain tried to win support for him there

  • meeting ended with 185-88 to end coalition so DLG resigned

what was the result on the vote to end the coalition?

185 end

88 continue

name 4 reasons DLG wasn’t to blame for his downfall

1. sinn fein
   won 73/81 irish seats and refused to go to london parliament
   → revolutionary and led to further IRA violence
   

2. homes for heroes
   failed due to high construction costs making the homes too expensive, going back on the promises he had made
   

3. unemployment
   4 mil came back from war and needed immediate support/work which couldn’t be provided
   → 2 mil unemployed
   

4. strikes
   1919: 32million days lost to strikes
   1921: 86 million days lost
   fear of bolshevik revolution

how many days lost to strikes in 1921?

86 million

name the three govs from 1922-1929

1. baldwin’s conservative gov- 1922-1923

2. first labour gov- 1923-1924

3. baldwin’s second ministry- 1924-1929

explain baldwin’s conservative gov

• 1922-1923

• 1923- won general election with 258 seats
  → labour gained 40 (rapid growth)

• wanted protectionist tarriffs to address unemployment
  → liberals wanted free trade and had enough seats to influence who took office when labour wanted free trade

how many seats did labour gain in 1923?

40

explain first labour gov

1923-1924

• macdonald

• had support from liberals DLG

• based on and funded by trade unions

• had people with war experience leading (confidence)

name 3 strengths of first labour government

• turned down requests from communists in britain and avoided looking close to soviet union
  → had anti-bolshevik view in britain

• passed social reforms like wheatley’s housing act, old age pensions and unemployment benefits

• had 4 main principles of:

  • minimum wage/48 hour week

  • democratic control over industry

  • tax rich to pay for social improvements

  • invest in common good

name 2 limitations of first labour gov (1923-24)

• liberals withdrew support after 10 monts

• seen as ‘too soft on communism’ after offiically recognising USSR as a state
  → zinoviev letter: head of communist international showed support of labour
  → published in daily mail (turned out to be fake)

why did labour gov 1923-1924 end?

• conservative and libs passed vote of no confidene

• voted again in general election: conservatives won 412

explain baldwin’s second ministry

1924-1929

• 21 acts through
  → built 1 mil homes, maternity care, reforms of local gov to end poor law

• dealt well with trade unions and general strike

• churchill was accused of contributing to economic problems through gold standard

name 5 reasons conservative gov failed 1924-1929

1. poor leadership

2. lack of concern for working class

3. franchise

4. opposition

how did poor leadership lead to downfall of conservatives 1924-1929?

• poor tactics in 1929
  → e.g. introductory legislation on rates in 1928
  → party thought it would be popular but backfired, had a weak campaign and not charismatic
  
  

• tories had been losing by-elections and lost 15 MPS
  → party had been demoralised and baldwin didn’t know how to help
  → still felt that due to large majority they would succeed- e.g. chamberlain was convinced they’d succeed
  

• baldwin decided to make his lack of ideas key aspect of his campaign so he wouldn’t look like DLG with broken promises

how many MPs lost by conservatives from 1924-1929?

15

explain how lack of concern for working class led to downfall of conservatives by 1929?

• tried to emphasise class unity and play down divisions between WC and MC
  → out of touch by 1929

• underestimated extent of unemployment and impact on voters

• gold standard-1925 → general 1926

explain how extension of franchise led to conservative downfall in 1929?

• tories passed equal franchise act (1928) which gave all women over 21 right to vote

• 1924 election- increased number of constituenies with 3 way fight to 450 now
  → franchise increased 33%

explain how opposition led to conservative downfall in 1929

• passed anti-union law in 1927 after general strike
  → reduce power of trade unions
  → led to support of labour

• DLG returned to lead liberals and they were better funded
  → 1929: stood 150 more candidates

• dlg announced new programme in 1929
  → we can conquer unemployment
  had detailed plans with baldwin didn’t

how many more candidates did liberals stand in 1929?

150

explain electoral reforms by DLG

• representation of the people act- feb 1918

• enfranchised all adult men over 21
  → inevitable after sacrifice in war, couldn’t be denied say

• enfranchised women over 30 who were ratepayers or married to ratepayers
  → out of fear suffragettes would revert back and reward for hard work
  → excluded most young women who had actually worked

• also redistributed seats to reflect population changed
  → further uncertainty

• voting was to take place one day rather than several to prevent corruption

name 3 impacts of representation of the people act

• february 1918

• 2 million men added, 6 million women
  → unknown party affiliation

• only 25% people in armed forces

• increase in labour votes → up to 2.4 million

what % people in armed forces could vote after 1918 reform?

25%

how much increase in labour vote after 1918 reform?

2.4 mil

explain electroal reforms by conservatives

• equal franchise act: april 1928

• cincreased electorate by 5 mil, put women on same terms as men
  → women outnumbered men by 2 mil

• universal adult suffrage

how much did equal franchise act increase by?

5 mil

women outnumbered men by 2 mil

explain macdonald’s second labour gov

• 1929- labour formed minority gov (relying on DLG again)

• labour mps felt they could focus more on actual reforms than post war

• passed reforms such as:

  • greenwood housing act-1930
    cleared 750,000 slums- replaced with modern homes

  • coal mines act- 1930
    tried to ensure better pay for miners and more efficent pits

  • amended unemployment insurance act to give gov power to create public work schemes and help unemployment

how may slums cleared in greenwood housing act?

750,000

why was the second labour gov limited?

depression ended any major plans for reform for reform
→ unemployment rose from 1 mil to 2.5 by

macdonald had to make cuts to wages and unemployment benefits
→ cabinet couldn’t agree on this choice so macdonald chose to resign
→ however, king george v placed him as head of national gov

how much was uemployment in 1930?

2.5 mil

explain labour control of the national government

• macdonald- 1931-1935

• conservatives and liberals happy to let him lead over this but labour accused him of abandoning working man

• macdonald formally expelled→ supported national labour party

• new cabinet:

  • 4 conservatives

  • 3 labour

  • 2 liberals

• 1931- election called with each party putting own programme forward
  → conservatives won but they allowed macdonald to stay PM

how many conservatives, labour and liberals in national gov?

conservatives: 4

labour: 3

liberals: 2

explain collapse of macdonald’s national gov?

called election in 1935 and lost seat

stepped down and gave role to baldwin

when did baldwin take over? when did chamberlain?

baldwin: 1935

chamberlain: 1937

name 6 successes of national gov

1. economy did recover
   did recover from depression but was limited and mainly in midlands/south
   → where new industries were
   

2. unemployment fell
   fell by ½ by 1939
   → average economic growth rates were higher than 20s
   more in work = lower pricing = more demand
   

3. new industries grew
   motor vehicles, aircraft, chemicals
   → output of cars doubled from 1929-1939
   → first 100 car introduced→ morris minor
   

4. staple industries grew slowly
   steel production was higher than 1928
   → rearmament over nazi germany allowed for new and old industries to increase
   → 1000 new ships built
   

5. abdication crisis
   dealt with it well
   

6. munich conference
   chamberlain organised it and policy of appeasement was seen as a success
   ‘peace for our time’
   

how much did unemployment fall by in 1939

½

explain car stats during national gov

doubled output by 1939

£100 car introduced- morris minor

how many new ships built under rearmament?

1000

name 2 failures of national gov

1. cut in spending
   10% cut in unemployment benefits and introduced means test
   cut gov spending on wages, benefits, etc
   → reduced demand for goods and services and led to unemployment rising also unpopular
   

2. abandoned gold standard
   1931
   did allow to make exports cheaper so helped ease impact
   however, other countries also left GS and introduced protectionist tariffs so effectiveness reduced
   → exported to empire but nowhere else

when were the national govs?

1931-1939

explain 3 threats to stability to national gov

1. abdication crisis- 1936

2. communism/CPGB

3. fascism/BUF

what was the abdication crisis?

• king george died in 1936 → who was a uniting figure during WW1 and 20s

• concerns appeared since his successor, edward VIII was:

  • immature and irresponsible

  • little respect for constitutional constraints → e.g. interfered in politics

  • overly sympathetic towards ordinary people (worried elites)
    → visiting depressed areas and criticising gov

  • intended to marry simpson who was 2 time divorcee
    → monarch is head of church of england and so not appropriate

what was baldwin’s response to the abdication crisis?

• made it clear marrying wallis would be unpopular and gov wouldn’t accept marriage
  → likely lead to constitutional crisis

• weaken power and respect for monarchy

• baldwin threatened to resign and leave country without gov if he ignores

• choose country or wallis

when did the abdication crisis end?

december 1936

edward decided to abdicate
→ king george vi followed

give 3 strengths of the abdication crisis

1. avoided major constitutional crisis

2. preserved stability of monarchy and gov

3. allowed for more suitable and stable king to rule

4. quickly resolved without violence or long term instability

5. edward’s speech accepted decision as his alone which reduced blame on gov and reassures public

give 3 limitations of abdication crisis

1. many felt sorry for edward and thought gov was out of touch with society

2. seen as abandoning duty as monarchy and prioritising happiness over national responsibility
   → damaged rep short term of monarchy

3. conflict between gov and king which could’ve easily worsened

4. he became very close nazism after leaving england

what were the aims of communism?

• classless society

• common ownership of property

• strikes and trade unions to overthrow capitalism

• establish workers state (working class hold power)

explain founding of communism

• 1920- CPGB

• small party (peaked at 15,000)

• influence disproprtionate to membership
  → conservative party would exagerrate size of CPGB to weaken labour

how many did communist party peak at?

15,000

name 3 strengths of the CPGB

1. influence in trade unions
   worked with TUs during times of unrest
   communist held leadership roles in TU branches especially coal mining and engineeing
   encouraged strikes and resistance to respond to wage cuts
   supported general strike and encouraged to resist even after ended
   → not able to though showing lack of power
   

2. growth during depression
   3 mil unemployed
   led to poverty and dissatisfication with gov
   but still only peaked at 15,000
   

3. popularity in national unemployed workers movement (NUWM)
   heavily influenced by communists
   led hunger marches in response to unemployment
   demonstrations against unemployment and means test

how many unemployed during depression?

3 mil

name 3 limitations of CPGB

1. small membership
   only peaked at 15,000
   labour had millions
   won almost no seats and had no influence really
   

2. rejected by labour
   refused as they didn’t wanna be associated with USSR
   → politically isolated
   worsened by zinoviev letter (1924 which was published before the election to damage labour’s rep, leading to conservative win)
   

3. gov controlled
   use of MI5 survaillance and arrested activists when neccessary
   limited activity and attempts at uprising

when was the zinoviev letter?

1924 before election

explain the emergence of fascism

• 1932- british union of fascism→ mosley

  • former conservative and labour MP

  • left labour due to frustration with unemployment policies and founded BUF after meeting M

  • authoritairian, charismatic, propaganda, violence

why was fascism popular?

• economic crisis → want for strong leadership

• unemployment and budget cuts

• fear of communism rising

• appeals to MC and WC

name 3 strengths of BUF/ fascism

• 50,000 members- 1934 at peak

• daily mail support and published supportive articles
  → increase in popularity

• high profile rallies → e.g. olympia (1934) with 1000s attending
  → promoted mosley, mobolised supporters and showed strength

when was olympia rally?

1934

how many members of BUF at peak?

50,000

name 6 limitations of BUF

1. fell to 5,000 members in 1935
   → late 1930s, people associated to nazism
   

2. never got any MPS or local councillors
   

3. violence lost respect from public
   → stewards at olympia violently attacked hecklers
   → held violent clashes with police
   → lost support from daily mail after olympia so lost legitimacy and
   

4. not british enough- conflicts with democracy and freedom
   

5. public order act (1936)
   banned political uniforms (blackshirts) which restricted marches and demonstrations of strength

what did BUF members fall to?

5000

when was public order act? what did it do?

1936

banned political uniforms (blackshirts)

restricted marches and demonstrations of strength

name 3 reasons extremism didn’t pick up in england

1. no humilation at tov

2. strong tradition of democratic

3. effective gov response

4. lack of support

name 5 economic issues after ww1

1. 3.3 billion debt from ww1 alone

   → 5 mil per day (2 mil provided by USA)

2. gedes axe made cuts to welfare

3. 2 mil unemployed

4. 35 mil days lost in strikes

5. 7.7 bil debt overall (used to be 650 mil)

what was debt after ww1? how much borrowed?

£3.3 bil
5 mil per day→ 2 mil from USA

how much debt overall? how much did it used to be?

7.7 bil

650 mil