Britain Transformed: Politics- National Government 1931-39

Question 1

Why were MacDonald and Snowden’s viewed as traitors by the Labour Party in1931

Answer 1

Because they agreed to cuts in unemployment benefits, which split the Labour Cabinet. They cooperated with the Conservatives and Liberals to form a National Government, and were expelled from the Labour Party.

Question 2

What happened to the Labour Party after MacDonald formed the National Government?

Answer 2

The Labour Party went into opposition under new leader Arthur Henderson.

Question 3

What political group did MacDonald create after being expelled from Labour?

Answer 3

He created the National Labour Committee to support the National Government.

Question 4

How did the National Government perform in the 1931 election?

Answer 4

It won a huge majority. The Conservatives gained the most seats, and MacDonald remained PM.

Question 5

What happened to Labour’s vote share in 1931?

Answer 5

Labour’s share of the vote plummeted, as they were seen as divided and self-interested.

Question 6

What dominated MacDonald’s second premiership?

Answer 6

Economic challenges resulting from the Great Depression.

Question 7

Who held the real power in the National Government despite MacDonald being PM?

Answer 7

The Conservative Party.

Question 8

What was the general foreign policy stance during MacDonald’s leadership?

Answer 8

Moves toward rearmament began due to threats in Europe and fascist movements at home.

Question 9

What controversial cuts did the National Government implement?

Answer 9

A 10% cut in unemployment assistance and public sector pay, which caused a mutiny at Invergordon Naval base.

Question 10

What trade-related policy was introduced in 1932?

Answer 10

The Import Duties Act introduced tariffs on some imports.

Question 11

What major monetary move happened in 1931?

Answer 11

Britain left the Gold Standard.

Question 12

What was the result of the government’s economic policies by 1933?

Answer 12

Economic recovery began, boosting the government’s popularity.

Question 13

Who replaced MacDonald as PM in 1935?

Answer 13

Stanley Baldwin.

Question 14

What did the Labour Party do in response to being in opposition during the 1930s?

Answer 14

It reorganised and rebuilt itself under the leadership of Clement Attlee.

Question 15

How did Labour perform in the 1935 general election?

Answer 15

It gained 154 seats, showing a strong recovery from its 1931 collapse.

Question 16

Why did extremist ideologies grow during the 1930s?

Answer 16

Many lost faith in liberal democracy during the Great Depression and turned to fascism or communism.

Question 17

Who founded the British Union of Fascists (BUF)?

Answer 17

Oswald Mosley in 1932.

Question 18

What inspired the BUF?

Answer 18

Mussolini and later Hitler.

Question 19

What were the BUF’s beliefs?

Answer 19

Authoritarianism, anti-communism, and some anti-Semitism.

Question 20

How many members did the BUF have by 1934?

Answer 20

Around 50,000.

Question 21

Who were the Biff Boys?

Answer 21

The BUF’s paramilitary group that used violence against opponents.

Question 22

What was the Battle of Cable Street (1936)?

Answer 22

A violent clash between BUF members and anti-fascist protesters.

Question 23

How many members did the Communist Party of Great Britain have by 1934?

Answer 23

About 9,000 workers.

Question 24

What movement did the CPGB support?

Answer 24

The National Unemployed Workers Movement.

Question 25

Who supported communism intellectually in Britain?

Answer 25

Some Fabians like Sidney and Beatrice Webb, admiring Soviet economic success.

Question 26

What law was passed in 1936 to curb fascist activity?

Answer 26

The Public Order Act – it banned political uniforms and gave police more control over demonstrations.

Question 27

What was the impact of the Public Order Act on the BUF?

Answer 27

It limited their activities significantly, and their influence declined after 1936.

Question 28

Why did Britain initially support disarmament?

Answer 28

Due to trauma from WWI, pacifist public opinion, economic problems, support for the League of Nations, and the belief that Germany had been treated too harshly.

Question 29

What was the Peace Pledge Union?

Answer 29

An anti-war group founded by Father Dick Shepard; over 100,000 pledged opposition to war.

Question 30

What was the 1935 Peace Ballot?

Answer 30

An opinion poll showing 11 million supported collective security and peace.

Question 31

What was the World Disarmament Conference?

Answer 31

A 1932–34 international effort that failed when Germany withdrew in 1933.

Question 32

What showed that Germany was a growing threat in the 1930s?

Answer 32

Hitler rearmed Germany, reoccupied the Rhineland in 1936, and later annexed Austria and the Sudetenland.

Question 33

Why did the Disarmament Conference fail?

Answer 33

Countries refused to cooperate and Germany withdrew in 1933.

Question 34

How did events in Asia and Africa weaken the League of Nations?

Answer 34

Japan invaded Manchuria (1931), and Italy invaded Abyssinia (1935), both without serious consequences.

Question 35

What other major international events encouraged rearmament?

Answer 35

The Spanish Civil War (1936–39) and the growing risk of a European war.

Question 36

What technological developments encouraged British rearmament?

Answer 36

Investment in aircraft, radar, and air defences.

Question 37

When did Britain begin rearming?

Answer 37

From 1934 onwards.

Question 38

How did Britain rearm?

Answer 38

-RAF expanded to 40 squadrons -British Army reorganised -Royal Navy expanded -Munitions industry supported with private capital

Question 39

What was Baldwin’s stance on armament?

Answer 39

He preferred international agreements that limited arms but allowed countries parity.

Question 40

How was Labour divided on rearmament?

Answer 40

• The left believed rearmament made war more likely • The centre (led by Attlee) supported collective security and felt rearmament was unnecessary • Events like the Abyssinian Crisis made collective security seem ineffective

Question 41

What policy is Chamberlain most known for?

Answer 41

Appeasement – avoiding war by making concessions to Hitler.

Question 42

Give examples of Chamberlain’s appeasement:

Answer 42

• Allowed reoccupation of Rhineland (1936) • Allowed Anschluss with Austria (1938) • Signed the Munich Agreement (1938) allowing Hitler to take the Sudetenland

Question 43

What phrase did Chamberlain use after Munich?

Answer 43

“Peace for our time.”

Question 44

What event marked the failure of appeasement?

Answer 44

Hitler invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia in March 1939

Question 45

What was the Polish Guarantee (1939)?

Answer 45

Britain pledged to protect Poland if it was attacked, marking a policy shift.

Question 46

How did Chamberlain handle military spending?

Answer 46

He misjudged the costs: -Increased spending by £120 million in 1934 (as Chancellor) -By 1937: £1.5 billion, still underestimated.

Question 47

What was the ‘Phoney War’?

Answer 47

The period after Britain declared war in September 1939 but before major fighting, ending with a failed attempt to save Norway in April 1940.