Churchill’s wilderness years 1929-1939
Britain in 1929 -Labour Government:
● Ramsey MacDonald PM, elected in 1929 General election
● Golden age of socialism, anti-conservative sentiment
-Economy:
● High unemployment
● History of General strikes under conservatives
● 1929 Wall Street Crash and great depression
-Churchill:
● Renegade in conservative party
● WW1 reckless and failed gallipoli campaign
● 1925 was chancellor of the exchequer, returned Britain to gold standard, wrong decision
● Wall Street Crash wiped out his investments and savings, had to be a journalist for a living
● Left out of national government formed in 1931
Churchill’s views on -British rule in India:
India ● Indian people wanted self governance, increased pressure towards Britain
● Gandhi leader and figurehead, led peaceful protests
● Britain introduced repressive (increased police powers) and reformist (local councils had
control over internal matters) measures
● 1919 Gandhi led mass campaign, 400 killed
● 1930, Indian Salt March, led by gandhi against the salt tax, led to various arrests including his
● Britain introduced Government of India act 1935, taking effect 1937, allowed self-governance
-Churchill’s views on India
● Took imperialist view, India ‘crown jewel’ or empire
● Had served in India as a young officer
● Believed India had to be protected to maintain empire
● Believed in Anglo-Saxon racial superiority, Indian’s barbaric
● Churchill extremely opposed to independence gathering pace after 1918
● Self-governance elsewhere in empire, his view was prejudice
● Issued public statements against self-governance, isolated him from conservative party,
especially 1935
Churchill’s views on -Abdication of Edward VIII 1936
the abdication crisis ● Previous king George V was dignified, supporter of the war effort, personal life closed
● David (Edward VIII), playboy reputation and had an irrespectable person life
● David had served in WW1 however
● In love with american divorcee Wallace Simpson, caused problems since he was head of
Church of england as king
● Was forced to either abdicate or to break off relations with Simpson
● Dec 1936 abdicated, placing his brother George VI in power
-Churchill’s view on the abdication
● Took minority position, supported the King’s abdication
● Bulk of parliament showed distaste towards the abdication
● Churchill more imperialist view, older kings more well known for raucous behaviour, modern
Britain had a more moral outlook
, Views on German rearmament -Rearmament and expansionism
and expansionism ● Hitler broke the ToV by introducing forced conscription, 1935, and remilitarising
the Rhineland, 1936
● Britain more concerned over French actions against Germany than Germany itself
● Germany left League of Nations in 1933, so body unable to stop Germany
● Britain tried to limit it by agreement, Anglo-German Naval Treaty 1935 allowed
development of German navy until 35% size of British fleet
● Expansionism by Germany after rearmament, started with 1938 Anschluss
● Hitler made advances to Czechoslovakia, if invaded would mean European war
due to French and Soviet alliances
● Chamberlain eventually made the Munich Agreement in 1938 with Hitler,
guaranteeing no more expansionism
-Churchill’s views on rearmament and expansionism
● Viewed Hitler’s regime as dangerous and a threat to peace, rise of Germany
would cause an imbalance of power
● Churchill part of the government who issued the ToV
● Imperialist, felt that Britain historically defended Europe against domination
● Worried about Hitler building up air force and navy, could compete with Britain
● Churchill believed British rearmament vital to stop Germany, against popular
opinion who thought an arms race would cause mass tension, financial crisis also
in Britain, would require a lot of money
● Even Churchill supported British disarmament in the 1920s after WW1
● Churchill known for speaking in alarmist terms, reduced his credibility
Views on appeasement -Appeasement to Germany
● Favoured by Chamberlain and many others, avoid war through negotiation
● Chamberlain’s foreign policy was about preemptive appeasement rather than
reactionary war
● Felt he needed to proactively seek appeasement, did not rely on collective
security from the League of Nations
● Felt Germany had legitimate grievances which could be negotiated
● Many felt WW1 could’ve be avoided with appeasement policies in 1914
-Churchill’s views on appeasement
● Opposed appeasement, viewed Hitler as unable to reasoned with
● Viewed Britain must build up strong defences and alliances
Views on the Munich -The Munich Agreement and failures
Agreement 1938 ● Chamberlain signed a treaty with Hitler demanding personal consultation before
expansionism, a compromise not a stop
● In theory would allow more time for rearmament in Britain
● Viewed as a great victory ‘peace in our time’
● Hitler ignored agreement however, a series of occupations happened from 1938,
incl Czechoslovakia in 1939, ending in Poland in September
-Churchill’s views on the Munich Agreement
● He gained credibility after agreement was broken
● Wanted to war with Germany in 1938, partake in European affairs
● Viewed as moral cowardice to give into aggression and allow a foreign
superpower to take control of Europe
-Others’ views after the German invasions
● Prospect of war becoming realistic, Churchill’s position became less unrealistic
● Britain made guarantee to Poland to intervene if invaded
● After Invasion churchill called upon to be part of war cabinet, and war declared
● Churchill ceased to be an outsider, became first lord of admiralty, same position
as in 1914
Britain in 1929 -Labour Government:
● Ramsey MacDonald PM, elected in 1929 General election
● Golden age of socialism, anti-conservative sentiment
-Economy:
● High unemployment
● History of General strikes under conservatives
● 1929 Wall Street Crash and great depression
-Churchill:
● Renegade in conservative party
● WW1 reckless and failed gallipoli campaign
● 1925 was chancellor of the exchequer, returned Britain to gold standard, wrong decision
● Wall Street Crash wiped out his investments and savings, had to be a journalist for a living
● Left out of national government formed in 1931
Churchill’s views on -British rule in India:
India ● Indian people wanted self governance, increased pressure towards Britain
● Gandhi leader and figurehead, led peaceful protests
● Britain introduced repressive (increased police powers) and reformist (local councils had
control over internal matters) measures
● 1919 Gandhi led mass campaign, 400 killed
● 1930, Indian Salt March, led by gandhi against the salt tax, led to various arrests including his
● Britain introduced Government of India act 1935, taking effect 1937, allowed self-governance
-Churchill’s views on India
● Took imperialist view, India ‘crown jewel’ or empire
● Had served in India as a young officer
● Believed India had to be protected to maintain empire
● Believed in Anglo-Saxon racial superiority, Indian’s barbaric
● Churchill extremely opposed to independence gathering pace after 1918
● Self-governance elsewhere in empire, his view was prejudice
● Issued public statements against self-governance, isolated him from conservative party,
especially 1935
Churchill’s views on -Abdication of Edward VIII 1936
the abdication crisis ● Previous king George V was dignified, supporter of the war effort, personal life closed
● David (Edward VIII), playboy reputation and had an irrespectable person life
● David had served in WW1 however
● In love with american divorcee Wallace Simpson, caused problems since he was head of
Church of england as king
● Was forced to either abdicate or to break off relations with Simpson
● Dec 1936 abdicated, placing his brother George VI in power
-Churchill’s view on the abdication
● Took minority position, supported the King’s abdication
● Bulk of parliament showed distaste towards the abdication
● Churchill more imperialist view, older kings more well known for raucous behaviour, modern
Britain had a more moral outlook
, Views on German rearmament -Rearmament and expansionism
and expansionism ● Hitler broke the ToV by introducing forced conscription, 1935, and remilitarising
the Rhineland, 1936
● Britain more concerned over French actions against Germany than Germany itself
● Germany left League of Nations in 1933, so body unable to stop Germany
● Britain tried to limit it by agreement, Anglo-German Naval Treaty 1935 allowed
development of German navy until 35% size of British fleet
● Expansionism by Germany after rearmament, started with 1938 Anschluss
● Hitler made advances to Czechoslovakia, if invaded would mean European war
due to French and Soviet alliances
● Chamberlain eventually made the Munich Agreement in 1938 with Hitler,
guaranteeing no more expansionism
-Churchill’s views on rearmament and expansionism
● Viewed Hitler’s regime as dangerous and a threat to peace, rise of Germany
would cause an imbalance of power
● Churchill part of the government who issued the ToV
● Imperialist, felt that Britain historically defended Europe against domination
● Worried about Hitler building up air force and navy, could compete with Britain
● Churchill believed British rearmament vital to stop Germany, against popular
opinion who thought an arms race would cause mass tension, financial crisis also
in Britain, would require a lot of money
● Even Churchill supported British disarmament in the 1920s after WW1
● Churchill known for speaking in alarmist terms, reduced his credibility
Views on appeasement -Appeasement to Germany
● Favoured by Chamberlain and many others, avoid war through negotiation
● Chamberlain’s foreign policy was about preemptive appeasement rather than
reactionary war
● Felt he needed to proactively seek appeasement, did not rely on collective
security from the League of Nations
● Felt Germany had legitimate grievances which could be negotiated
● Many felt WW1 could’ve be avoided with appeasement policies in 1914
-Churchill’s views on appeasement
● Opposed appeasement, viewed Hitler as unable to reasoned with
● Viewed Britain must build up strong defences and alliances
Views on the Munich -The Munich Agreement and failures
Agreement 1938 ● Chamberlain signed a treaty with Hitler demanding personal consultation before
expansionism, a compromise not a stop
● In theory would allow more time for rearmament in Britain
● Viewed as a great victory ‘peace in our time’
● Hitler ignored agreement however, a series of occupations happened from 1938,
incl Czechoslovakia in 1939, ending in Poland in September
-Churchill’s views on the Munich Agreement
● He gained credibility after agreement was broken
● Wanted to war with Germany in 1938, partake in European affairs
● Viewed as moral cowardice to give into aggression and allow a foreign
superpower to take control of Europe
-Others’ views after the German invasions
● Prospect of war becoming realistic, Churchill’s position became less unrealistic
● Britain made guarantee to Poland to intervene if invaded
● After Invasion churchill called upon to be part of war cabinet, and war declared
● Churchill ceased to be an outsider, became first lord of admiralty, same position
as in 1914
