Britain at War

The Politics of Britain at War

How did the war affect the developments of British politics?

• Total war meant greater state control over people’s lives
• Liberals’ traditional values challenged – individual freedom, peace, censored press, conscription, duties on imports, food rationing, limitations of free movement within Britain
• 1914 Defence of the Realm act, granted state power over civilians
• Parties put aside differences and worked together

Why was a coalition formed in 1915?

• Parties agreed to truce for good of nation
• War effort would be run on agreeable terms for all parties
• Failings of Asquith’s leadership – munitions crisis, Gallipoli campaign
• Conservatives demanded government shake up
• Asquith accepted and formed coalition to keep peace within Britain
• Needed help to run effective war time government

Why were the Conservatives eager for a coalition, but many Liberals opposed to it?

• Allowed them back into power without general election after 10 years outside
• Fearful of loss in general election as patriotic nation could vote Liberal again in support of war effort
• Would make Liberals appear weak
• Upset Liberals, seen as compromise in position and Liberal values by allowing opposition into shared power

What was Lloyd George’s new contribution to the war effort?

• Moved from exchequer to minister of munitions
• Aimed to produce more ammunition, as huge criticism of Asquith’s leadership
• Outstanding success, machine guns rose from 1330 in 1914 to 250,000 in 1918
• By 1918 amount of shells had exceeded demand
• Lloyd George used experts from industry to help govern production

What circumstances led to Lloyd George becoming war minister?

• Frustrated with military leaders, felt wrong strategies were being used through deployment of massive forces in the Western Front
• Lord Kitchener (War Secretary) killed at sea travelling to Russia
• Lloyd George was supposed to be on board, but stayed behind to deal with aftermath of Easter rising in Ireland

Why was the overthrow of Asquith such a significant political development?

• Lloyd George believed himself only one capable of running war council
• Asquith unwilling to allow infringement of powers as Prime Minister
• Lloyd George had backing of all but one national newspaper giving him power
• Conservatives supported Lloyd George - Caused division of Old and New Liberals
• Lloyd George Prime Minister but had no political power as reliant on Conservatives to stay in power
• Asquith ceased to be Prime Minister but stayed as leader of Liberals, opposed to Lloyd George

What role did the Conservatives play in ousting Asquith from office?

• Refused to stay loyal to Asquith
• Without Conservatives turning against Asquith Lloyd George could not have become Prime Minister

What special contribution did Lloyd George give to the war effort as Prime Minister?

• Refused to accept anything other than victory
• Raised morale of nation and troops
• Persuaded admiralty to adopt convoy system to protect supply ships coming to Britain

Why were Lloyd George’s relations with military chiefs so strained?

• Generals objected to civilian politician deciding war strategy
• Lloyd George believed military should be answerable to government
• Came down to battle of who should be in charge of war effort Government or military

In what ways did Lloyd George abandon traditional parliamentary government?

• Increased number of Conservatives to point he was only Liberal on war cabinet
• Centralised the government
• Moved away from traditional government
• Became almost dictatorship
• Barely attended parliament
• Detached his group of outside experts from scrutiny of elected parliament members

How did Lloyd George overcome the political challenge he faced in 1918?

• General Maurice sought to pass blame for failure to win breakthrough of Western front
• Maurice said had fewer men than Lloyd George claimed
• Asquith supported Maurice
• Lloyd George lied and said he had received quoted figures from Maurice
• Was so convincing in speech won vote of no confidence in coalition easily
• Showed no chance of reunification of two sides of Liberals while Asquith and Lloyd George were in charge

What was the political importance of the Coupon election?

• Was a victory for Conservatives, after euphoria of war victory
• Masked victory by Lloyd George remaining as Prime Minister
• Lloyd George dependent of Conservatives to stay in power
• Permanently destroyed Liberals as opposition