THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
1906 General election
Tories  discredited by Boer war  lost
Liberal party  won
They wanted to make social reforms without revolutionary changes
 heavier land taxes
 the House of Lords refused
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1911 PARLIAMENT ACT
money bills could become law without the House of Lord's consent
their veto on other bills was restricted to a maximum of 2 years
duration of Parliament reduced from 7 to 5 years
this system is still operating.
SOCIAL REFORMS
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1905 UNEMPLOYED WORKMEN'S ACT
Local authorities were obliged to offer jobs to the unemployed
And to guarantee them a minimum sum in case of unemployment
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1909 THE INVALID AND OLD AGE PENSION ACT
non contributory pensions were provided for those over 70
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1908 COAL MINES REGULATION ACT
the 8-hour working day was introduced for the first time
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1908 LABOUR EXCHANGE ACT
Labour exchange were set up nation-wide
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1912 NATIONAL INSURANCE ACT
workers were insured against sickness and unemployment.
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(A cura di Angelica Grassi)
FIRST WORLD WAR - THE GREAT WAR 14 - 18
Europe was divided into two rival camps:
TRIPLE ALLIANCE
Germany Austria Italy
Hungary Turkey Bulgaria
TRIPLE ENTENTE
Britain France Russia
USA 1917
1914 the Austrian Archduke Francis Ferdinand killed in Sarajevo
Russia defended Serbia
Germany defended the Austro Hungarian Empire
Great Britain declared war because
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Germany invaded Belgium, a neutral territory, to attack France
The powerful German fleet was a challenge to British sea power.
Germany tried to extend her influence over the Balkan states so:
- Russia had her outlets to the Middle East cut off
- British control over India and Egypt was in danger
The British relations with Russia were much improved.
The people were told that it would defend the weak against the strong, fighting for
democracy and freedom.
There was an upsurge of patriotism from Ireland and the Dominions.
They showed an impressive unity. The opposition to war from pacifists in the liberal
and labour party was silenced.
The king changed his surname from Hanover to Windsor
At first there were only volunteers, then with the MILITARY SERVICE ACT 1916 all
men from 18 to 41 were enrolled. Women took men's civilian jobs.
Contingents were sent from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa
German troops were better equipped and trained and they had a clear plan of attack
but they were organised for a brief conflict
It was a long and exhausting trench warfare: it caused forced immobility and passivity
of soldiers in the trenches.
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England was unprepared for the terrible destructive artillery, machine guns, tanks, gas,
shells, chemical weapons, aeroplanes, submarines. 'shell shock' caused terror, anguish,
immobility to combat.
Germany attacked neutral ships and USA entered the war
Germany surrendered in 1918
1919 PEACE TREATY OF VERSAILLES - LEAGUE OF NATIONS - UNITED NATIONS
It aimed to establish collective security by reducing armaments and by acting as an
arbitrator in international disputes. It attempted to maintain the status quo after the war.
But it failed because the USA wanted to be isolated, Soviet Russia was hostile and
Germany and Russia had not been invited to join.
1930 Italy, Japan and Germany did not respect the agreement
1946 after the Second World War it was replaced by the United Nations
CONSEQUENCES OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR
9.000.000 casualties
800.000 in Great Britain
The new type of warfare and the enormous number of casualties swept away old codes
of heroism and honour, beliefs and long accepted ideals:
the war seemed only an absurd slaughter.
It
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radically changed the social structure of the nation:
transfer of wealth to new classes (war-profiteers)
made the Communist Revolution in Russia possible
paved the way for the rise of dictators: Hitler and Mussolini
British economy damaged:
- 40% of the merchant fleet destroyed ---> great damage to trade
- fall in the value of money (inflation)
- rise in taxation
- decline in industry: increased production during the war  contraction
- loss of machinery
- oil and hydro-electric power
- development of industry in USA Japan India
- unemployment and scarcity of housing
emancipation of women  1830 suffrage to women, 1928 all women over 21
at first unemployment had disappeared with a consequent increase in incomes, anyway
the standards of living of the working classes had improved remarkably
trade unions became more important
new habits were widespread: cigarette smoking, cinema, gambling, use of
contraceptives, decline of organised religion.
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POST-WAR YEARS
The rise of the Labour party, in 1924 there is the first Labour government.
The Liberal Party had almost disappeared.
1926 GENERAL STRIKE
the only one in GB, against the reduction of miners' wages. it lasted 10 days.
The trade union leaders called it off for fear of a revolution.
The miners went on for 6 months then they went back to work.
1929 WALL STREET CRASH the crisis began in USA but extended throughout Europe.
Causes
 effective foreign competition: iron, steel, textile industry   USA Japan
 unwise speculation
 coal export   oil, hydro-electric power
 war had damaged the merchant fleet
 widespread unemployment
 war expenses on income: 1914 = 6%; 1918 = 25%
1930 GREAT DEPRESSION: a terrible hardship for the working classes
(3 million people unemployed)
but at the end of the 30s
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industrial and agricultural production increased
heavy industry was reorganised
housing and food were improved
new industrial sectors developed: electricity, plastics, artificial fibres, motor vehicles
families were considerably reduced  more money
chain stores were created with advertising, hire-purchase
THE CONSUMER SOCIETY changed lifestyles irrevocably.
Henry Ford and "the American dream"
He invented mass production --> lower costs --> greater sales
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the conveyer belt and assembly line
production 24 hours a day 8 hours on a system of shifts  wages doubled
Detroit: Model T 1910 20.000 cars, 1913 250.000 cars
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THE DOMINIONS
after the First World War nationalist feelings developed rapidly and independence
movements came into being because
 they didn't want to be involved in a war
 they had developed a self-government
1926 Imperial Conference:
they became autonomous communities in the Commonwealth of Nations
1931 the Commonwealth was established definitely
INDIA
Mahatma Gandhi (sanscrit "great soul") was trained as a lawyer in London and served in
the Boer war. He was a vegetarian, practised abstinence and simplicity of life to be free
from tyranny of material possessions. He wore a homespun cloth to favour a revival of
the local manufacture of cotton goods and always used Indian words and images.
He led a movement for freedom, he preached a doctrine of "passive resistance" and
"non-co-operation". There were several years of "civil disobedience" and sporadic
episodes of violence. Indians refused to co-operate and to buy English products.
1935 GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT a federation of self-governing provinces
1948 England left India and two independent states were born India (Hindu religion)
Pakistan (Moslem rel.)
SPANISH CIVIL WAR 36-39
The elections saw the success of socialists and communists.
The army rebelled and the conservative forces supported Franco.
Massive aids came from Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy.
Only intellectuals ( Orwell, Hemingway) and URSS defended democracy but lost the war.
The dictatorship lasted until 1975.
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SECOND WORLD WAR
Conservative government
EDWARD VIII and Mrs Wallis Simpson (1936) abdicated for a scandal
GEORGE VI (1936 - 1952)
1933 Japan withdrew from the League of Nations.
Hitler withdrew too and re-established military conscription. After IWW impossible
conditions were imposed on Germany, there had been a terrible economic crisis and the
Nazi party got the power.
1936 Italy conquered Abyssinia--> she was expelled from the League
England followed a non-intervention policy
1938 Germany annexed Austria, then Czechoslovakia and Poland.
France and England formed a coalition and declared war.
USA were isolated but sent them war material.
Russia signed a pact of non-aggression with Germany (Molotov - Ribbentrop).
The war had more popular support. It was the people's war.
It had to be fought to defend democracy.
1940 Germany invaded Denmark, Norway, Holland, Belgium and France.
W. CHURCHILL (conservative) led a coalition government.
The radio was an instrument of propaganda:
the was a closer contact between state and citizens.
An heterogeneous fleet evacuated the defeated British military force (about 335.000
men) from Dunkirk in France.
Italy declared war.
France capitulated.
Germany prepared the invasion of England.
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July -October 1940 THE BATTLE OF ENGLAND
RAF Royal Air Force (Spitfire) against Luftwaffe. There were raids every night. England
has a radar system and an infra-red system for detecting the enemy in darkness.
160 bombers dropped 200 tons of bombs every night.
On 15 Oct. with a full moon 410 bombers dropped 538 tons, killed 400 men and started
900 fires in London  there was a new town planning after the war.
Government controls, conscription, rationing and air raids brought everyone into the firing
line, "home front". Women served in particular branches of the armed forces.
Winter made the invasion impossible.
"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many so few".
W. Churchill, speech of 20 Aug. 1940
1941 Hitler attacks Russia: they advanced to Stalingrad.
Heroic resistance of the Russians and destruction of cities.
Germany and Italy withdrew.
Japan bombed Pearl Harbour drawing the USA into war.
1942 British general Montgomery won Rommel at El-Alamein.
1943 The Allies invaded Italy. They reached the north in 1945.
6 - 6 - 1944 Deliverance Day. The Allied invaded Normandy.
Gen Montgomery and Heisenhower liberated Paris.
1945 Americans and Russians met at the Elbe.
Japan surrended after Hiroshima and Nagasaki
110,000 civilians died immediately
England had lost 300,000 soldiers and 60,000 civilians.
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POST-WAR YEARS
Labourist government
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welfare state
a state which assures the people a compehensive system of social services, "from the
cradle to the grave". Government policies were decisively influenced by new socialist
ideas (the Fabian society, the Trade Unions).
The structures associated with the Victorian Poor Law were replaced by a new
system in which the government and state administration took great responsibility for
the prevention of poverty.
The term was coined at first to contrast Hitler's warfare state.
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policy of nationalisation:
Bank of England, coal industry, British railways, electricity, gas, public transport.
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1944 EDUCATION ACT
School compulsory and free from 5 to 15 (now 16)
and universities with grants for poor students.
 1946 NATIONAL INSURANCE ACT
State assistance in case of unemployment, sickness, retirement pension, maternity etc.
 1946 NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE ACT
provided free medical and hospital services to all residents.
* 19 Death penalty was abolished
ELIZABETH II (1952 1951 - 1964 Conservative government
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1956 SUEZ CRISIS
Suez Canal was property of G.B. Nasser nationalised it.
France and English troops were sent to force Egypt to maintain international
obligations. War was imminent but the USA and URSS opposed and the troops were
retired.
1964 - 1979 Labourist government
1973 Great Britain entered the EEC
1979 - 1997 Conservative government Thatcher, Major
Most of the State owned industries were denationalised
1990 Iraq occupied Kuwait (member of the UN)
1991 Jan. the war lasted 40 days. G.B. played an important part.
1991 FALKLAND CRISIS. a brief war against Argentina. G.B. won.
1992 G.B. entered in the Maastrict agreement.
1997 -
Labourist government Blair
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