Failure Of Political Extremism Flashcards
(9 cards)
Why was there an increase in support for communism in the 1920’s
- failure of the general strike- increase in radical activity
- mass unemployment led to support
- Russian revolution
- initial membership was around 2500
- feelings against hitler and sympathy for the left wing republic led to an increase in membership- by 1939- was around 16,000
Failure of communism
- threat was exaggerated but he zinoviev letter, said they were involved in the general strike
- membership was too low to be a revolutionary threat
- Labour Party- Macdonald committed to being more moderate to help the progressive, long term agenda of the party in establishing political legitimacy, so would not help or work with communists, so not accepted by many working class
Rise of fascism
- British union of fascists, led by Oswald Moseley following being influenced by Mussolini
- created in 1932
- focused on fear by using violent tactics
- working class men admired Moseley who was a good, persuasive speaker and gave them hope
- unemployment- failure of the national government to deal with this, lowered morale, made people more desperate to listen to extremist ideas
- fascism successful in Italy and Germany
Describe the battle of cable street
- October 1936
- fascists gathered at the royal mint and headed towards Jewish east end
- they were met by around 100,000 anti-fascists who erected barricades in cable street
- in the ensuing fighting, 100 people were injured and about 100 were arrested
- public opinion did not support such deliberate provocations such as a march
- led to a loss of legitimacy
Impact of the battle of cable street
- government response minimised the impact of political extremism
- took a clear policy towards incidents that were likely to provoke public order and this action was strategic
- public order act 1936 was passed
- this banned processions which were an integral part of facsimile and banned the wearing of political uniforms
- gave police new powers to ban meetings and processions
- rallies were an integral part of facism- so came as a major blow to Moseley party
- uniform- could no longer distinguish themselves as ‘authority figures’, lessening their influence and legitimacy
Other evidence of the strategic action of the government
- 1934 incitement to disaffection act- this was against anyone threatening violence or revolution
- extended police powers to search for seditious literature
- army could not join fascist societies
Weakness of political extremism- leadership
- Moseley had ineffective leadership
- did not have a coherent strategy for the party
- nor did he capitalise on the threat of capitalism
- London rally in east end (battle of cable street) lord rothermere withdrew support
- rothermere was head of the daily mail, which used to run pro black shirt articles
- without publication to appear to a wider audience membership fell to 5000
- lack of critical support led to the failure of political support
Failure of extremism- opposition
Growing opposition and discontent towards the threat of war from Nazi Germans. Fascists became distrusted at the onset of war as possible enemy agents and Moseley was imprisoned
same pattern happened with stalins call in 1934 for a common front against fascism which did not lead to signficiant coooperant with labour or the trade unions
Opposition meant they did not have support from the same type of foundational bases such as the working class which fascism had depended on in other countries to survive.
Failure of extremism - economy
- economic recovery under the national government began to happen.
- Increase in employment, new industries, living standards and growing wealth meant many were satisfied with the government
