Twentieth Century

• Provide examples of the emergence orthe welfare state in early 20th century Britain.

  Liberal party won the election of 1906 -> 2 left wing parties (liberal and Labour)

  -interested in working class representation and social reform

  Stages of the Rise of the weltare state:

  1907: Introduction of free school meals

  1908: Introduction of pension schemes 

  1911: national insurance bill (against unemployment or sickness)

  • Turn away trom the Victorian belief in "individual responsibility"
• Describe the impact of the First World War

  • First World War: 1914-1918 (called „The Great War“)

  • High number of casualties (many death and wounded)

  • widespread distrust in military campaign

  • 1918: Women gained the rights to vote

  • New territories in Middle East & Persian Gulf (25% of world)

  • 1926: Imperial Conference —> established Commonwealth (own government and equal status) only for white colonies
• What was Britain‘s policy during the Second World War?

  Prime Minister Chamberlains „appeasement policy“ —> focusing on non-violent negotiation in order to prevent conflict

  „Peace of Our Time“ —> famous quote after signing a peaceful agreement with Hitler

  September 1939: Hitler’s Invasion of Poland – Britain declared war (3rd of September)

  1940 Churchill took over: harshly criticizing Chamberlain‘s policy for ‚surrendering‘ to the Nazis
• What was Britain‘s policy during the Second World War?

  War was omnipresent

  Britain soon “only opponent left” who could defend and save Europe (British propaganda) --> therefore GB poured all their financial resources and

  manpower into the war (substantial financial support by Canada and the commonwealth dominions)

  Long-term effect: imperial status of Britain = weakened, not strong enough to defend

  colonies (e.g. lost Singapore in 1942 to Japan)
• Describe the domestic policy of Great Britain after the end of the Second World War.

  Winner of the war but massive dept > rationing of food, clothes, petrol, etc.

  Welfare state: Social Security funded by central taxation, maternity benefits, child allowance, old age pensions, ...

  Nationalisation of major industries (coal, railway. ...)

  1948: Introduction of NHS - free medical provision for all

  1944: Butler Education Act > free secondary school system for all
• Explain how the status of Great Britain as a 'world power' changed after 1945

  Status as one of the "great three" questioned

  1945 Challenges:

  • End of intimate relationship with the White Dominions
  • End of power in India
  • Dependence on the US for help
  • Power of Soviet Union

  1947: Annus horribilis (year of bad luck and misery: Indian independence, economic crisis)
• 1956: Suez Crisis 

  Britain, France, and Israel secretly invading the Suez Canal 

  World opinion turned against GB —> harsh realisation that they were no longer in 

  charge of world politics on their own 

  • Decolonisation Movement  
  • Decline of Power 
  • Legacy of the British Empire 

  British Empire was only a tiny part in global history 

  • New prestige in the Colonies because of peaceful giving of Independence 
• What remains?

  • Territorial damage (slavery, wars, …)
  • Industrialisation
  • Lingua Franca
• What is meant by ‘Devolution’ and how did (does) it affect the United Kingdom?

  Definition: transferral of power from a centralised source to local regions (decentralisation) 

  —> granting more autonomy to Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland  

  • 1997: Scottish Referendum 
  • 1998: Good Friday Agreement between Irish and British governments to have a devolved 

  system of government for Northern Ireland