The National Government, 1931-40

ISBN-13: 9780333691311 / Angielski / Miękka / 1999 / 288 str.

Nick Smart

Opis

The National Government that ran Britain during the 1930s has always received a very bad press. Its ultimate disgrace over the Munich crisis and the catastrophic opening phase of the Second World War sealed the fate of an experiment which had always been criticized by both Left and right and which has since made any further peacetime attempts at coalition government utterly disreputable. While not claiming that it was a success, Dr. Smart argues, however, that the National Government has been woefully misunderstood by historians who have allowed themselves to be too influenced by its much despised collapse. The Government's longevity, popularity at the polls and, in many ways, successful planning for World War II should not be ignored.

Spis treści

Acknowledgements.- Introduction.- The 1931 Settlement.- The Government of Individuals.- The 'National Appeal'.- These Tiresome Liberals.- The Greatest Landslide in British Democratic History.- Coalition Making.- Agreeing to Differ.- National Government?.- The India Bill.- Irwinism and the Simon Report.- Revolt: Phase One.- Revolt: Phase Two.- The Passage of the Government of India Bill.- The Middle Period: November 1933-December 1935.- The Status of the Opposition: Labour.- The Status of the Opposition: Fascism.- The Status of the Opposition: Lloyd George.- Mussolini to the Rescue.- The 1935 General Election.- The Primacy of Foreign Policy: Hoist with Their Own Petard.- A Pattern Established.- A Good Year for Dictators.- Three Kings in a Year.- Neville Chamberlain's National Government: The Long Honeymoon.- Eden's Resignation: The First of the Few.- Chamberlain Tightens his Grip.- Out of This Nettle Danger....- High Tide and After: Towards a General Election?.- Towards War.- Dead in the Water? September 1939-May 1940.- The Norway Debate and the Downfall of Neville Chamberlain.- Bibliography.- Index.

O autorze

NICK SMART is Senior Lecturer in History at the University of Plymouth.