Britain, 1870s-1960s. Final Exam Review. Part one (30%) Compare and contrast the meaning and significance of two terms chosen from the following list. Each comparison should identify each term by explaining what it is, locating it in time or place and indicating its historical significance. Be sure and argue some form of connection (be it one of similarity, contrast, chronology, cause, effect, etc.).
I will put six to eight of the following terms on the test:
Victorian Empire (ARNSTEIN, chs. 9-10)
--Joseph Chamberlain, Boer War, Home Rule, Sinn Fein
Liberalism versus Socialism, 1890-1914 (ARNSTEIN, chs. 11-12); W. Speck, A Concise History of Britain, ch. 5
--Liberal Unionists, "Khaki election"
--T.U.C., James Keir Hardie, Taff Vale Case
--David Lloyd George, "The People's Budget," Parliament Act of 1911
The Killing Front, 1914-1918 (ARNSTEIN, chs. 13-14)
--dreadnought, Western Front, battle of Gallipoli, trench warfare, General Douglas Haig, "lost generation"
The Long-Weekend and the Slump, 1918-1935 (ARNSTEIN, chs. 15 & 17)
--"Coupon election," Paris Peace Conference, John Maynard Keynes
--Easter Rebellion, Home Rule Act
--Ramsay MacDonald, Stanley Baldwin, Neville Chamberlain
--National Government, Means Test, the dole
Britain's War, 1935-1945 (ARNSTEIN, ch. 18-19)
--appeasement, Munich Crisis
--Winston Churchill, "miracle of Dunkirk," Battle of Britain,
--Grand Alliance, battle of El Alamein, D-Day
--War Coalition, Clement Attlee, Beveridge Report, Butler Education Act
--nationalization, National Insurance Act, National Health Service Act
The People's Peace and I'm all Right Jack, 1945-1960s (ARNSTEIN, chs. 19-20)
--Mahatma Gandhi, Socialist Consensus
Part II (30%) From a group of four Prime Ministers (between Herbert Henry Asquith and Harold Macmillan) choose two and write a brief essay in which you compare:
(1) their qualifications before entering the chief office,
(2) their domestic policies or achievements,
(3) their military or diplomatic achievements.
Provide evidence.
Part III (40%) Write a well-considered essay answering one out of two of the following questions. Be sure to refer to and to explain the significance of specific events, persons, and ideas when appropriate. [For up to 5% extra credit on your final grade, write an essay answering the second question.]
1) “In both Imperial and Foreign Policy, Britain's greatest successes since 1900 have come from embracing appeasement and compromise and opposing or delaying conflict. Conversely, Britain's greatest disasters, despite initial appearances to the contrary, have come from rushing into conflict with foreign or colonial foes.” Comment on the truth or falsity of this statement, using at least two examples in both imperial and foreign policy since 1900.
2) “The British Welfare State has been expanding steadily since 1900, and is as much a Liberal and Conservative achievement as it is a Labour one.” Discuss the validity of this statement. Be sure to define the Welfare State and to note specific policies and acts by different governments that helped create (or dismantle) this Welfare State.
3) To what degree does Robert Graves, Good-Bye to All That reveal the issues of the first quarter of the twentieth century that will affect Britain in the next two quarters (up to, say, 1965)? Using at least two examples from his pre-war coverage, two from his wartime coverage, and two from his post-war coverage, write an essay which suggests the issues that Graves thinks were most important for Britain, especially domestic Britain, before 1925. Be sure to relate his examples to specific incidents, ideas, etc., in the general history of the Isles. Then, if possible, suggest the degree to which these issues remained a factor after 1925.