Britain 16 Flashcards
(10 cards)
: Why was Edward VIII popular before becoming King?
He toured the empire as Prince of Wales and visited depressed mining areas like in Wales, famously saying “something must be done
Q: Why was Wallis Simpson considered unsuitable as Queen, and why did this cause a crisis?
She was American, twice-divorced, and had no aristocratic ties. The Church of England (led by the King) didn’t accept divorce, creating a constitutional crisis.
How did PM Baldwin respond to Edward VIII’s proposed marriage?
Baldwin refused both the marriage and Edward’s request for a public speech on a morganatic marriage. Most MPs supported Baldwin over the King.
: How did the abdication crisis end, and who supported the King?
A: Edward abdicated in 1936; his brother George VI became King. Supporters like Churchill, Lord Beaverbrook (Daily Express), and Lord Rothermere (Daily Mail) formed the “King’s Party.”
Who founded the British Union of Fascists (BUF) and how did it grow?
Founded in Oct 1932 by Oswald Mosley after visiting Mussolini’s Italy. BUF had 50,000 members by 1934 and support from Lord Rothermere.
Why did BUF support decline by 1935?
Lost Rothermere’s backing after Olympia Rally violence (1934), no MPs elected, Battle of Cable Street backlash, and only 5,000 members left by 1935.
How and why did the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) grow in the 1930s?
: Inspired by Soviet communism; attracted workers, youth, and unionists. Membership doubled in the 1930s.
What showed the growing influence of the CPGB in society?
Daily Worker newspaper sold 80,000/day; Left Book Club had 50,000 members by 1939. Some communist MPs were elected to Parliament.
How did the British government and Labour movement contain extremism?
1934 Incitement to Disaffection Act: could prosecute anyone calling for a revolution
1936 Public Order Act: banned political uniforms
Labour moderates like Ernest Bevin rejected communism and the Popular Front
What other factors limited political extremism in 1930s Britain?
The economy improved after 1933, BUF and CPGB were poorly led, and traditional British institutions like Parliament and the monarchy remained strong.
Stalin’s brutality and 1939 Hitler-Stalin Pact discredited communists
