Britain after World War I

The war caused great changes in domestic affairs, political and social life of Britain. By the end of the war British government controlled most of the major sectors of the British economy with new Ministries being created. The new warfare industries employed many women, and their help in industry, agriculture and medicine could hardly have been overestimated. After the war, in 1918, British women over thirty got the right to vote. The right to vote was also given to men aged 21, so the number of voters doubled. As the result of these changes the Labour Party won fifty-seven seats in Parliament in 1918. In 1924 the first Labour government was created. After this victory the Liberal Party almost completely disappeared.

In Britain the war caused a great increase of taxes – from 6 to 25%. The workers, dissatisfied with worsening of living conditions, gathered for serious strikes, growing all over the country. The government had to break these strikes and force men back to work. The situation worsened in 1926, when Britain faced the General Strike, which lasted nine days and involved half a million workers. The government had to use the army and police to force the strikers to surrender. The strike left a lasting impression on the British – for half a century it was widely remembered and discussed.

In 1929 the New York Stock Exchange crashed causing a serious economic crisis known as the Depression in Europe and America. The crisis in economy was gradually overcome by 1935, much due to the development of motor and heavy industries. By this time the plans of German Nazi leader Adolph Hitler to strengthen his positions in the world became clear, the British government invested large sums of money into the industries producing weapons, aircraft and war equipment. These measures gave jobs to many people.

After the war the structure of the British Empire changed. In Ireland, which was the part of the Empire, the Republican Party appeared. This party demanded a full independence from Britain. In 1921 the British government agreed to give independence to southern Ireland, though Ulster, the northern Irish territory, remained united with Britain. In 1937 Southern Ireland was declared a republic.

In 1926 the Imperial Conference recognized the autonomy of the British dominions, later this agreement was formalized in the Statute of Westminster. By this statute each dominion was given equal rights in the Commonwealth of Nations, though each dominion still recognized the British monarch.

The best spoils of victory in World War I were secured by the USA, which after the war became the world`s creditor. This fact strengthened the antagonism between two nations. The position of the world leader was now almost taken by the USA. In foreign affairs Britain took part in the creation of the League of Nations – a new institution aimed at fostering cooperation among the nations and checking the competition that might lead to war. Later this institution proved to be not sufficient. At that time Britain provided the policy of appeasement. That policy meant that Britain remained neutral to German`s claims for supremacy, but this policy failed when Hitler started to make approaches to Poland. It was clear that a new war would soon begin. Though Winston Churchill tried to plan the rearmament, the progress was very slow – Britain had great deficiencies of tanks, aircraft and ships. When the war broke out in May 1940, British government was led by Winston Churchill, who led the country through the war.