Chapter 1

• Dates of the subject

  • 1 = 1929-40
  • 2= 1940-45
  • 3=1940-51
  • 4= 1951-64
  • 5= 1964-79
  • 6= 1979-97
• Churchill's views on India

  • Strongly against Indian independence
  • Did not understand British economic problems
  • Seen as old fashioned and racist
  • 'Striding half naked'
  • 'Beastly people of a beastly religion'
  • 'Jewel in the crown'
• Government view on India

  • Supported concessions
  • Respected Gandi
  • Seen as modern
• Repression and reformation in India

  1. Rowlatt Acts 1919 which increased police power and allowed imprisonment without trial

  2. Montagu-Chelmsford 1919 which gave locally elected councils more power over smaller matters
• Amritsar - April 1919 – Gandi in protest against Rowlatt, British troops fired on the crowd killing 400 and wounding 1200
• Churchill's views on rearmament

  • Nazi regime was brutal and he disliked its racism and violence
  • He feared a repeat of 1914 when Germany tried to threaten the peace
  • Churchill was there at the signing of the TOV and he was scared of a German Airforce
• Government view on rearmament

  • Economy was the main problem
  • Arms race against Germany could be seen as threatening
  • Listened to the anti-war public movement
  • They had put in place the 10 year plan meaning spending on defence was lowered since the chance of war was low
• Churchill's views on appeasement

  • Strongly against it
  • Didn't put his faith in the League of nations
  • Wanted war with Germany
  • He knew if we gave Hitler some of Czech he would only use it and not stop there
• Government view on appeasement

  • Supported it and the League of nations
  • Advised British generals to avoid war
  • Chamberlain never really liked it he just wanted to buy time for war
• Churchill's views on abdication


  • Supported the marriage
  • He was part of the 'King's friends'
  • He was heckled when making a speech in the House of Commons in support
  • He misjudged the opinion of the people, Empire and Government
• Government view on abdication

  • Didn't support the marriage
  • Wallis was twice divorced going against Christianity
  • She was probably infertile
  • She was older
• Norway 1940


  1. Germany wanted ores from Sweden and could only do this by going through Norway

  2. Nazi's started preparing for this on the 1st March 1940

  3. Chamberlain finally to lay mines on the 28th March

  4. 8th April mines began to be laid

  5. 9th April the Nazi's invade

  6. 9ths June Norway was surrendered to the Nazi's
• Reasons why Norway was such a failure

  • Campaign was poorly managed (no skies whereas the Nazi's had them)
  • Not enough men were sent
  • Poor communication
  • Not all the mines were laid in time
• There was a vote of no confidence and 281 said stay 200 said leave, 40/200 were Tory and another 40 abstained from voting. This was too close for Chamberlain so he stepped down
• Positives and negatives of Chamberlain

  • Pos= Admiration & respect from most of the party
  • Neg= Had terminal cancer
  • Lost support from Norway
• Positives and negatives of Halifax

  • Pos= Kings favourite
  • Experienced since he was foreign secretary
  • Neg= Refused job due to losing title of Lord really he didn't think we were gonna win the war
• Positives and negatives of Churchill

  • Pos= Seen as a leader
  • Neg= Poor war record such as Norway and Gallipoli
  • Racist/old fashioned