1G Challenge and transformation: Britain, c1851–1964 – The Great War and its impact, 1914–1939 (A-level only) — AQA A-Level History
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1G Challenge and transformation: Britain, c1851–1964 – The Great War and its impact, 1914–1939 (A-level only) explained
The First World War reshaped British politics, catalysing a transition to a Conservative-Labour duopoly.
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Wartime unity necessitated Asquith's 1915 coalition, which fractured the Liberal Party following the 1916 crisis that elevated Lloyd George. This split proved fatal to Liberal electoral prospects. Conversely, the Conservatives used the coalition to rehabilitate their image as the party of patriotism, securing a dominant post-war position. Meanwhile, Labour's influence surged; coalition participation provided crucial ministerial experience for figures like Arthur Henderson, while expanded trade union membership and the 1918 franchise extension significantly broadened their working-class electoral base.
Political developments in the interwar years: electoral reform; Conservative and Labour governments; National governments; the abdication crisis and emergence of radical political movements, including the BUF and Communism
Interwar politics saw democratic expansion alongside economic crises. The 1928 Equal Franchise Act granted women voting parity. The era featured Conservative dominance and brief minority Labour governments, confirming Labour as the official opposition. The 1931 financial crisis triggered the National Government, a Conservative-dominated coalition providing stability during the Depression. This stability helped Britain weather the 1936 Abdication Crisis of Edward VIII with minimal damage. Despite economic hardship, radical movements like Mosley's British Union of Fascists (BUF) and the Communist Party failed to achieve mainstream success, constrained by the entrenched two-party system and the moderate consensus of the National Government.
Economic developments: increased state role in wartime; problems of the staple industries and mines; the General Strike; government finances and the Gold Standard; the Depression; economic realignment
WWI forced unprecedented state economic intervention, such as the Ministry of Munitions directing production. Post-war, staple industries like coal and textiles faced structural decline due to lost export markets. This triggered intense conflict, culminating in the 1926 General Strike after miners resisted wage cuts. Government finances worsened these issues; returning to the Gold Standard in 1925 made exports uncompetitive. The 1929 Wall Street Crash plunged Britain into the Depression, causing mass unemployment. Yet, the 1930s saw economic realignment: new consumer industries like motor vehicles thrived in the Midlands, aided by cheap money policies and protectionism.
Social developments: changes in the role of women during and after war; the condition of the working classes; regional divisions; changing attitudes in the twenties and 'the hungry thirties'; the growth of the media
WWI transformed women's roles as they entered munitions factories, aiding the 1918 enfranchisement, though many returned to domesticity post-war. Working-class conditions were defined by stark regional divisions. Workers in the depressed North endured poverty and the Means Test during the 'hungry thirties', whereas those in the South enjoyed rising real wages and new housing. Changing attitudes emerged in the twenties with looser Victorian morals, contrasting with the social documentary movements of the 1930s. Simultaneously, the growth of the media, particularly the BBC (founded 1922), cinema, and tabloids, forged a more homogenised national culture despite deep economic fractures.
Social policies: legislation and reforms in housing; education and welfare
The interwar period saw significant state intervention in social policy, driven by post-war promises and economic crises. In housing, Addison's 1919 Act established state-subsidised council housing, expanded by Wheatley in 1924 and Greenwood's 1930 slum clearances. Education reforms began with the 1918 Fisher Education Act, raising the leaving age to fourteen, though financial cuts often hindered later recommendations like the 1926 Hadow Report. Welfare provision was transformed by the 1920 Unemployment Insurance Act and Chamberlain's 1925 Contributory Pensions Act. However, the introduction of the harsh 1931 Means Test highlighted the severe limitations and social cost of state support during the Great Depression.
The condition of Ireland and Anglo-Irish relations: the Easter Rising; the Anglo-Irish War; Government of Ireland Act and Anglo-Irish Treaty; divided Ireland before the Second World War
Anglo-Irish relations deteriorated sharply following the 1916 Easter Rising. The harsh British execution of its leaders radicalised nationalism, leading to Sinn Féin's 1918 victory and the brutal Anglo-Irish War (1919–1921). To resolve the crisis, the 1920 Government of Ireland Act partitioned the island, creating Northern Ireland. The 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty then established the Irish Free State as a dominion, sparking a bitter civil war. Before the Second World War, the divided island saw contrasting fortunes: Northern Ireland entrenched unionist control, while the Free State, under Éamon de Valera, systematically dismantled the Treaty's terms, culminating in the 1937 Constitution and an economic war with Britain.
Your focus
- Analyse the reasons for the formation and collapse of the wartime coalition governments.
- Evaluate the long-term impact of the Asquith-Lloyd George split on the Liberal Party.
- Explain how the First World War enhanced the political position of both the Conservative and Labour parties.
Show all 18 objectives
- Explain the causes and consequences of the formation of the National Government in 1931.
- Evaluate the reasons for the failure of the BUF and the Communist Party to achieve mainstream political success.
- Assess the impact of the 1928 Equal Franchise Act on the British electoral landscape.
- Explain the reasons for the decline of Britain's staple industries in the 1920s.
- Analyse the causes, events, and consequences of the 1926 General Strike.
- Evaluate the extent of economic realignment and recovery in Britain during the 1930s.
- Evaluate the long-term impact of the First World War on the social and economic status of women.
- Compare the living standards of the working classes in different regions of Britain during the 1930s.
- Assess the role of the BBC and cinema in shaping British society and culture between the wars.
- Identify and explain the key housing acts passed between 1919 and 1930.
- Analyse the limitations of interwar education reforms in improving working-class social mobility.
- Evaluate the impact of unemployment insurance and the Means Test on welfare provision.
- Explain the causes and political consequences of the 1916 Easter Rising.
- Compare the provisions and outcomes of the 1920 Government of Ireland Act and the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty.
- Describe the political evolution of the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland between 1922 and 1939.
1G Challenge and transformation: Britain, c1851–1964 – The Great War and its impact, 1914–1939 (A-level only) exam tips
Marking Points
- Explain the causes and consequences of the 1916 split between Asquith and Lloyd George for the Liberal Party.
- Assess how the Conservative Party benefited from the wartime coalition, particularly in demonstrating competence and patriotism.
- Evaluate the impact of the 1918 Representation of the People Act on the electoral fortunes of the Labour and Liberal parties.
- Analyse the significance of Labour's inclusion in the wartime coalition, focusing on Arthur Henderson's role and the party's growing credibility.
- Evaluate the reasons for the formation of the National Government in 1931 and its subsequent electoral dominance.
- Assess the achievements and limitations of the first two minority Labour governments (1924 and 1929-1931).
- Analyse the reasons why radical political movements, specifically the BUF and the Communist Party, failed to gain significant electoral traction in Britain.
- Explain the political significance of the 1928 Equal Franchise Act in completing the democratic reforms of the era.
- Evaluate Stanley Baldwin's handling of the 1936 Abdication Crisis and its impact on the monarchy and government stability.
- Assess the extent of state control during WWI, noting the Defence of the Realm Act (DORA) and the creation of the Ministry of Munitions.
- Evaluate the structural weaknesses of staple industries (coal, iron, textiles) facing foreign competition and underinvestment.
- Analyse the causes and failure of the 1926 General Strike, focusing on the Samuel Commission and the Trades Disputes Act 1927.
- Explain the impact of Churchill's 1925 return to the Gold Standard on export prices and the subsequent 1931 departure.
- Contrast the devastating impact of the Depression on traditional industrial areas with the economic realignment driven by new industries in the South.
- Assess the extent of change for women, contrasting wartime employment opportunities with the post-war Restoration of Pre-War Practices Act 1919.
- Evaluate the living standards of the working classes, noting the impact of the 1934 Unemployment Act and the hated Means Test.
- Analyse the regional divisions, comparing the structural unemployment in Jarrow or Merthyr Tydfil with the consumer boom in London and the Midlands.
- Examine changing social attitudes, from the 'flapper' culture of the 1920s to the politically conscious literature of the 1930s.
- Discuss the social impact of mass media, including the role of the BBC under John Reith in shaping national identity and the immense popularity of cinema.
- Assess the impact of the 1919, 1924 and 1930 Housing Acts on working-class living standards and suburban expansion.
- Evaluate the successes and limitations of the 1918 Fisher Education Act and the failure to fully implement the Hadow Report recommendations.
- Analyse the extension of welfare through the 1920 Unemployment Insurance Act and the 1925 Pensions Act.
- Examine the social and political consequences of the 1931 Means Test on working-class communities during the Depression.
- Assess the impact of the Easter Rising and the British government's response on the radicalisation of Irish public opinion.
- Evaluate the tactics and consequences of the Anglo-Irish War, including the deployment of the Black and Tans.
- Analyse the terms of the 1920 Government of Ireland Act and the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty in establishing partition and dominion status.
- Examine the political and economic development of a divided Ireland up to 1939, including de Valera's constitutional changes and the Anglo-Irish trade war.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Use the 1918 'Coupon Election' as a concrete example of how the coalition dynamics directly impacted post-war party fortunes.
- 💡When discussing Labour's rise, link their political influence directly to the wartime growth in trade union membership and power.
- 💡Avoid narrative descriptions of the war; focus strictly on how wartime events altered political party structures and voter demographics.
- 💡Use the 1931 crisis to demonstrate the transition from traditional party politics to the National Government consensus.
- 💡When evaluating the failure of extremism, contrast Britain's political stability and economic recovery policies with the situations in Germany or Italy.
- 💡Discuss the Abdication Crisis not just as a royal scandal, but as a test of constitutional monarchy and prime ministerial authority under Baldwin.
- 💡When discussing the staple industries, always link their decline to long-term structural issues rather than just the short-term impact of the Wall Street Crash.
- 💡Use specific examples of 'new industries' (e.g., Austin Motors, Hoover) to demonstrate your understanding of economic realignment in the 1930s.
- 💡Evaluate government policies by contrasting the restrictive effects of the Gold Standard with the stimulatory effects of the 1932 Import Duties Act and cheap money.
- 💡Use the Jarrow Crusade (1936) as a specific case study to illustrate both the condition of the working classes and the stark regional divisions of the 1930s.
- 💡When discussing changing attitudes, contrast the escapism of the 1920s with the growing social awareness and political polarisation of the 1930s.
- 💡Always qualify statements about working-class poverty by acknowledging the overall rise in real wages due to falling prices during the Depression.
- 💡Link social policies to the economic context, such as how the Geddes Axe restricted educational and housing budgets in the early 1920s.
- 💡Contrast the legislative intentions of 'homes fit for heroes' with the practical realities and financial constraints of the interwar years.
- 💡Use specific legislative acts and their dates to anchor your arguments about the trajectory of welfare provision.
- 💡Trace the shift in Irish nationalism from the constitutional approach of the Irish Parliamentary Party to the republicanism of Sinn Féin.
- 💡Consider the British domestic political context, particularly Lloyd George's coalition government, when analysing the negotiation of the 1921 Treaty.
- 💡Compare the differing political trajectories of Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State during the 1930s to address the 'divided Ireland' clause.
Common Mistakes
- Error: Claiming the Liberal Party's decline was solely due to the First World War. Correction: Acknowledge pre-war structural issues and the rise of Labour, while identifying the war as the catalyst for the fatal split.
- Error: Assuming Labour immediately became the dominant party in 1918. Correction: Note that while Labour's influence grew significantly, the Conservatives were the primary electoral beneficiaries in the immediate post-war period.
- Error: Confusing the 1915 Asquith coalition with the 1916 Lloyd George coalition. Correction: Distinguish between the two, noting that the 1916 change in leadership was the specific trigger for the Liberal schism.
- Error: Stating that the National Government was a balanced coalition of all parties. Correction: Emphasise that while it contained members of Labour and the Liberals, it was overwhelmingly dominated by the Conservative Party.
- Error: Overstating the threat of the BUF and Communism to the British state. Correction: Acknowledge their visibility (e.g., Cable Street) but highlight their marginal electoral impact and the resilience of mainstream British political institutions.
- Error: Confusing the 1918 and 1928 franchise acts. Correction: Specify that 1918 gave the vote to women over 30 with property qualifications, whereas 1928 equalised the franchise for all adults over 21.
- Error: Claiming the General Strike was a revolutionary attempt to overthrow the government. Correction: Explain that the TUC called the strike purely as an industrial dispute to support the miners against wage cuts and longer hours.
- Error: Assuming the entire country suffered equally during the Great Depression. Correction: Highlight the stark regional contrasts, with severe unemployment in the North and Wales, but relative prosperity and growth in the Midlands and South East.
- Error: Stating that Britain remained on the Gold Standard throughout the 1930s. Correction: Note that the National Government was forced off the Gold Standard in September 1931, which actually helped stimulate economic recovery.
- Error: Assuming WWI permanently liberated women in the workplace. Correction: Emphasise that most women were dismissed from industrial jobs when men returned, and the marriage bar remained common in many professions.
- Error: Treating the 'hungry thirties' as a period of universal destitution. Correction: Contrast the severe poverty in depressed areas with the rising living standards, better diets, and home ownership enjoyed by those in work.
- Error: Ignoring the cultural impact of radio and cinema. Correction: Explicitly link the growth of the media to the creation of a shared national culture that helped bridge some regional and class divides.
- Error: Claiming the welfare state was fully established in this period. Correction: Describe these reforms as an extension of the piecemeal Liberal reforms, not a comprehensive welfare state like that of 1945.
- Error: Confusing the terms of the Addison and Wheatley Housing Acts. Correction: Specify that Addison (1919) made housing a local authority duty with central subsidies, whereas Wheatley (1924) increased subsidies specifically for building council houses with controlled rents.
- Error: Assuming education reforms provided universal secondary education. Correction: Note that while the Fisher Act raised the leaving age to 14, universal free secondary education was not achieved until the 1944 Butler Act.
- Error: Confusing the Government of Ireland Act with the Anglo-Irish Treaty. Correction: Clarify that the 1920 Act partitioned Ireland and created two devolved parliaments, whereas the 1921 Treaty ended the Anglo-Irish War and created the Irish Free State.
- Error: Stating that the 1916 Easter Rising had immediate widespread popular support. Correction: Note that the Rising was initially unpopular with the Irish public; it was the harsh British executions that shifted public sympathy.
- Error: Assuming the Irish Free State became a fully independent republic in 1921. Correction: Emphasise that the 1921 Treaty granted dominion status within the British Empire, which was a primary cause of the subsequent Irish Civil War.