UK - Britain Between the Wars 1918 to 1945

The issue of votes for women, re-surfaced after World War I ended. Women had played their part in the factories and the movement started by Mrs. Pankhurst led to a limited voting franchise for women in 1918, and full equality with men in 1928

The working class became unionized, and labour relations deteriorated (worsened). The culmination was the General Strike in May 1926, when some 2 million key workers went on strike over plans to reduce wages and lengthen working hours. The General Strike itself failed, but it did make trade unionists realize that they could not lead British workers into a class war, but that the process of winning at the ballot box would give them real power to change the country

In the 1930's Britain was focused on the continuing high unemployment at home. Then there was the shock of the abdication (refusal from the throne) of Edward VIII who wished to marry an American divorcee in 1936.

Few saw the threat of Hitler's rise to power in Germany. Germany was re-arming at a frightening rate, but Britain had neither the inclination nor the money to follow Hitler's increased spending on armaments.

Eventually Hitler's expansion went too far. The German invasion of Poland led Britain by treaty to declare war on Germany. In 1939 World War II started.

The Second World War 1939 to 1945

The British Army in Europe soon lost to the Germans, who quickly conquered most of continental Europe. After the evacuation of the British troops from Dunkirk in France back to England in 1940, Britain stood alone against Hitler. Germany tried to conquer Britain by first gaining air supremacy (state of being the leading one). However the Germans lost the Battle of Britain, the first battle to be fought solely in the air

Hitler then tried bombing Britain into submission, but failed thee to. Further afield the British 8th Army was on the retreat in North Africa, and Britain had lost to the Japanese in the Far East, with Singapore and Malaya falling the Japs were at the gates of India. At sea German U-Boats had sunk nearly 8 million tons of allied ships in 1942.

With the eventual American entry into the war, following Pearl Harbour, Britain gained vital (extremely important) reinforcements in men and supplies. The German and Japanese supply lines were at full stretch, and eventually a string of victories forced the enemy to retreat. Victory at Alamein led eventually to the Germans being driven from North Africa, and the invasion of Italy

The planned invasion of France by the allies took place in June 1944, fighting their way out from the bridgehead beaches was a bloody affair, but eventually they did, and within a year World War II was over, and Europe lay in ruins

Britain since 1945

Immediately after the end of World War II, Britain underwent enormous social change. The country was bankrupt after the war. The wartime prime minister, Churchill was voted out and a new Labour government nationalized many industries, electricity, gas, water, health. Britain took a long time to recover from the cost of war.

After a last abortive fling (throw) at being a world power - the Anglo-French invasion of the Suez Canal in 1956 - Britain began to dismantle (take apart) her Empire. Harold Macmillan's "wind of change". It was this change that caused Dean Acheson, former US Secretary of State to remark "Britain has lost an Empire, but has not yet found a role

Perhaps it was this loss of a world position that caused further changes within Britain. The Swinging Sixties brought the mini skirt and the Beetles. If Dean Acheson was worried about Britain's role, the British were not worrying, they were too busy enjoying themselves

Our Royal family became more newsworthy. The marriage of Prince Charles to Diana brought some much needed glamour to the Royal family, which was stuck somewhere in the forties. The birth of two sons "the heir and the spare" was followed soon after by recriminations and divorce. Never the less the British monarchy remains , and remains newsworthy

The 1980's were characterized by Mrs. Thatcher, the Iron Lady who started off so well, a strong leader full of good ideas. But, as with so many strong leaders came to think that she was more important than her electorate. Like the British kings and queens of old, she surrounded herself with sycophantic (flattering) advisors and courtiers, and was allowed to push through a number of completely potty (insignificant) laws like Poll Tax, that eventually brought about her fall from office. Democracy in action, in the past an absolute monarch could never have been democratically removed

Britain is still in the late 1990's searching for that role - she has never been fully committed to Europe, but cannot afford to go it alone. The search for a comfortable marriage with the rest of Europe has been long, rough and unresolved (unsolved). It will undoubtedly occupy our politicians for the next century

However the British economy is in good shape. Constitutional changes are bound to continue - though we do not have a written constitution. The House of Lords will probably be replaced by a more democratic second chamber, the jury is out on whether we will have Prince Charles as our next king, we will probably join the European monetary system late, there will probably be more devolved (given) power to the regions as well as the agreed changes for Scotland and Wales, the Irish question will remain unsolved

Britain has had a glorious and interesting past. We have lots to offer both visitors and citizens. We should learn to appreciate our past and plan for an even better future.

For overseas visitors Britain is a wonderful place to explore the past, with a little understanding of our history you will enhance your visit here.

Date: 2016-01-14; view: 928