Was Chamberlain brave or a coward?

Learning objective – to examine the arguments for and against the policy of appeasement through cartoons
I can describe the arguments of appeasement and the features of the cartoons.
Level 4
I can explain the arguments of appeasement using the cartoons as evidence.
Levels 5 and 6
I can explain and analyse the arguments for and against appeasement using cartoons and my own knowledge.
Level 7

 Neville Chamberlain was the leading politician in Britain during the 1930’s.
 He was Prime Minister between 1937 and 1940.
 He was a popular leader at the time but now seen as a complete failure because of his failed policy of appeasement.

What was the policy of appeasement?
 The policy of appeasement means that you decide to give someone most of what they want to keep them happy.
 By doing this you hope that they will be satisfied and stop making demands.
 This is how Chamberlain decided to deal with Hitler.

Why did Chamberlain follow the policy of appeasement?
 One of the reasons why
Chamberlain was so popular in the 1930’s was his commitment to avoid war.
 He had lived through the
Great War and had close family killed in it.
 His speech in 1938 summed up Chamberlain’s feelings .....

What were Hitler’s demands in 1938?
 Hitler had already secured a union with Austria in 1938 when he turned his attention to Czechoslovakia.
 Hitler demanded the Sudetenland – a military rich area of Czechoslovakia that bordered Germany and contained over a million German speaking people.
 Czechoslovakia turned to Britain and
France for help.

How did Chamberlain respond to
Hitler’s demands?
 Chamberlain met Hitler three times in
September 1938.
 Eventually an agreement was reached in
Munich in the face of many expecting war at any time.
 An agreement was signed that declared
Hitler could have the Sudetenland so long as he would stop demanding territory.
 Chamberlain returned to Britain a hero declaring he has secured ‘Peace in our time’

What were the consequences of the
Munich agreement?
 The Munich agreement only postponed war as Hitler was now convinced that Britain and France would not stand up to him.
 It seriously
Czechoslovakia.
weakened
 It gave everyone time to arm themselves.
 The British realised they had been fooled and it destroyed Chamberlain’s career.

What are the arguments for appeasement?
 Germany deserved a fair deal.
 Fear of another war.
 Fear of communism.
 Britain needed time to prepare for war.
 At the time, appeasement was what the British people wanted.

What are the arguments against appeasement?
 Encouraged Hitler to be more aggressive.
 Allowed Germany to grow stronger.
 Convinced Russia that Britain and
France were weak.
 It gave Hitler time to continue to rearm.
 The Munich Agreement was a complete failure.

Which cartoon is the most convincing? Explain your answer in no more than 100 words.