Between Two Wars Part 4 Great Britain, France and their Colonies

Economic Woes The War cost Great Britain its position of being the world’s leading economic power The Cost of the war emptied British Banks, US Banks became the Financial leader While Great Britain focused on the war the US and Japanese companies took over many markets worldwide that had been British

Economic Crisis 1926 Coal Miners strike for better wages It spreads On May 4 it becomes a “General Strike” Workers walk off the Job Services and production halt! By December it fails 1927 Parliament passed the “Trade Disputes Act” Which makes General Strikes illegal

Labour, a New Party While the “General Strike” failed workers in Great Britain strengthened a new political party… Labour The Labour party controlled parliament in 1924 and 1929 and grew gradually stronger From now on British politics would be: Conservative vs Labour

The Empire Great Britain continued to control a vast empire but some parts became independent Canada and Australia became independent peacefully through the political process 1931 The Statute of Westminister forms the “Commonwealth of Nations” A “club” for Britain and its former colonies

Ireland 1916 The Easter Uprising is brutally crushed 1921 Southern Ireland is given “Dominion” Status but is still subject to British rule The “Irish Free State” Radicals revolt and in 1932 De Velera became president and Ireland truly independent

France France was worse off than the UK Half its young men are dead (18-32) Many cities and towns have been destroyed during the war Because of debt bridges, roads, railways, factories could not be easily rebuilt Coalition Governments were formed and failed… In 1936 A socialist coalition passes many laws benefiting worker and farmers