A* notes for chapter 2 of OCR A Level History: Britain 1930–1997 written by a Cambridge student. These notes include every piece of content you need to get full marks in your history exam.
Why was Churchill out of office for so long, 1929-1939?
o Germany had become a threat to European peace.
o Japan intent on creating new empire and threatening China.
o Italy ruled by expansionist leader.
o Spanish Civil War and Communist Russia was imprisoning/killing large numbers of own
people.
o Europe and USA suffering economic depression.
• Churchill in conflict with own party and leaders. Took up unpopular causes and spoke
about them in reckless ways = isolated.
• In time of radio and cinema more people voted. Politicians addressed meetings through
radio = Churchill’s style of speaking seemed old-fashioned.
• 1931- issue were economic. Investors and markets needed calm, confident, united gov. =
Churchill would be unhelpful.
• Cons remembered pre-war speeches attacking Cons views on House of Lords + Irelamx.
• Churchill made wrong decision of returning Britain to the ‘gold standard’ in 1925 as
‘chancellor of exchequer.’ (—> Britain had to leave in Sep 1931)
• Cons, Lab and Lib formed National gov. in 1931 – no room for Churchill.
• Wall Street Crash personally affected Churchill - wiped out investments and savings – had
to write for a living, e.g. book on his ancestor Marlborough
India- Political opinion thought negotiating with Indian nationalists and Gandhi would
be wise. Churchill wanted uncompromising opposition to any move to make India
independent.
King Edward VIII- Didn’t command respect of many Cons politicians/voters. Wanted
to marry twice divorced American that was unpop. Churchill supported him out of
loyalty to the throne.
Rearmament- Public against war and there was weak economy. Churchill urged
rearmament and won little support.
Concessions to Hitler- Public wanted an appeasement policy with Hitler, wanted to
prevent war with Germany. Churchill wanted to resist German expansion and opposed
the appeasement policy.
Appeasement Policy = Germany to take over German-speaking areas of Czechoslovakia in
1938.
What were Churchill’s views on India?
• Churchill had served in India as young officer
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