The First World War (1914-1918)

Background and Early 20th Century Britain:

1. Early 1900s Britain was a time of optimism and progress.
2. The country was a global superpower with a vast Empire, a strong navy, and a successful industrial economy.
3. Social reforms were introduced, including:
   1. Old-age pensions
   2. Financial support for the unemployed
   3. Free school meals
   4. Workplace safety laws
   5. Town planning rules to prevent slums
   6. Better support for mothers and children
4. Parliamentary salaries were introduced, enabling wider participation in public life.
5. Local government became more democratic.

Outbreak of War:

1. War began after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria on 28 June 1914.
2. This triggered a chain reaction among the European powers.
3. Underlying causes included:
   1. Nationalism
   2. Militarism
   3. Imperialism
   4. Division of Europe into two major alliances

Global Conflict:

1. The war lasted from 1914 to 1918, primarily centred in Europe.
2. It involved countries around the world.
3. Britain was part of the Allied Powers, including - France, Russia, Japan, Belgium, Serbia, and later Greece, Italy, Romania, and the USA
4. British Empire contributions:
   1. Over 1 million Indians fought; about 40,000 were killed
   2. Soldiers also came from the West Indies, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada

Opposing Side/ Central Powers included:

1. Germany
2. Austro-Hungarian Empire
3. Ottoman Empire
4. Bulgaria

Impact and Aftermath:

1. The war resulted in millions of deaths and injuries.
2. British casualties exceeded 2 million.
3. The Battle of the Somme (July 1916) alone caused 60,000 British casualties on the first day.
4. The war ended at 11:00 am on 11 November 1918, with a victory for Britain and the Allies.

Partition of Ireland

Home Rule Promise:

1. In 1913, the British government promised 'Home Rule' for Ireland. This meant Ireland would have its own parliament but remain part of the United Kingdom.
2. Home Rule Bill introduced in Parliament.
3. Strongly opposed by Protestants in Northern Ireland, who threatened armed resistance.

Delays and Rising Tensions:

1. First World War delayed implementation of Home Rule.
2. Irish Nationalists grew impatient.
3. In 1916, the Easter Rising took place in Dublin — an armed uprising against British rule.
4. Leaders of the rising were executed under military law.

War and Division:

1. A guerrilla war followed between Irish Nationalists and British forces.
2. In 1921, a peace treaty was signed.
3. In 1922, Ireland was officially partitioned:
   1. Northern Ireland: 6 mainly Protestant counties, remained part of the UK
   2. Rest of Ireland: Became the Irish Free State (later a republic in 1949)

Ongoing Conflict – ‘The Troubles’:

1. Many in both parts of Ireland opposed the division.
2. Some wanted a unified, independent Ireland.
3. This disagreement led to decades of violence, known as 'the Troubles', especially in Northern Ireland.
4. The conflict was between:
   1. Unionists/Loyalists (wanted to stay part of the UK)
   2. Nationalists/Republicans (wanted full Irish independence)

The Inter-War Period (1919–1939)

Post-War Improvements:

1. The 1920s saw improved living conditions for many people in the UK.
2. Public housing improved and new homes were built in towns and cities.
3. However, in 1929, the Great Depression began, affecting the global economy.

Economic Impact:

1. Mass unemployment occurred in parts of the UK.
2. Traditional heavy industries (e.g. shipbuilding) were badly affected.
3. Meanwhile, new industries developed:
   1. Automobile and aviation industries expanded.
   2. As prices fell, those with jobs had more disposable income.

Social and Technological Change:

1. Car ownership doubled - From 1 million to 2 million between 1930 and 1939.
2. Many new houses were built, supporting urban development.

Cultural Growth:

1. A time of cultural blossoming in Britain:
   1. Prominent writers: Graham Greene, Evelyn Waugh.
   2. Influential economist: John Maynard Keynes, who introduced new economic theories.

Media and Broadcasting:

1. BBC began radio broadcasts in 1922.
2. In 1936, the BBC launched the world’s first regular television service.

The Second World War (1939–1945)

Background:

1. Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933.
2. Aimed to:
3. Overturn the Treaty of Versailles (post-WWI conditions).
4. Expand German territory.
5. Germany rearmed and began invading nearby countries.

War Breaks Out:

1. Britain followed a policy of appeasement, trying to avoid war.
2. War began in 1939 after Germany invaded Poland.
3. Britain and France declared war on Germany.

Main Sides:

1. Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, and Japan.
2. Allied Powers: UK, France, Poland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa (later joined by the USA and USSR).

Invasion of Western Europe:

1. Hitler had already taken Austria and Czechoslovakia.
2. Then invaded Belgium, the Netherlands, and France in 1940.
3. Allied troops were trapped and evacuated from Dunkirk:
   1. Over 300,000 soldiers rescued in a combined naval and civilian boat effort.
   2. Known as the “Dunkirk spirit” – unity and courage in crisis.
4. Winston Churchill became Prime Minister in 1940 and led Britain during the war.

The Battle of Britain (1940):

1. Hitler planned to invade Britain, but needed air superiority.
2. German Luftwaffe attacked Britain in an air campaign.
3. British RAF successfully defended:
   1. Key aircraft: Spitfire and Hurricane.
   2. Known as the Battle of Britain – a turning point in the war.

The Blitz & The Blitz Spirit

1. The Blitz refers to the German aerial bombing campaign during the summer of 1940 in World War II, where Nazi Germany targeted British cities like London, Coventry, and Liverpool. The goal was to break British morale and cripple the country’s war effort.
2. Despite the widespread destruction, the British public showed remarkable resilience. They continued to support the war effort, helped each other, and remained determined. This resilience became known as the “Blitz Spirit”.
3. The Blitz Spirit represents courage, unity, and the refusal to give up, even in the face of hardship.

Winston Churchill (1874–1965)

1. Born to a political family; served as a soldier and journalist before becoming an MP in 1900.
2. Became Prime Minister in May 1940 during Britain’s darkest hour in WWII.
3. Known for his refusal to surrender and his inspirational leadership.
4. Lost the 1945 General Election, but returned as PM in 1951.
5. Served as MP until 1964, died in 1965, and was given a state funeral.
6. Voted “Greatest Briton of all time” in 2002.
   

Churchill`s Famous wartime speeches

1. “Blood, toil, tears and sweat” – First speech as PM (1940)
2. “We shall fight on the beaches...” – After Dunkirk evacuation (1940)
3. “Never... was so much owed by so many to so few” – Battle of Britain (1940)

Global Conflict During WWII

1. Asia-Pacific:
   1. Japan defeated the British in Singapore and occupied Burma, threatening India.
   2. USA entered the war after the attack on Pearl Harbour (December 1941).
2. Eastern Front:
   1. In 1941, Hitler invaded the Soviet Union in the largest military attack in history.
   2. Despite initial success, German troops were repelled by the Soviets – a major turning point in the war.
3. Turning the Tide:
   1. Allied victories in North Africa and Italy weakened Axis control.
   2. With American support and Soviet resilience, the Allies were strong enough to launch a massive invasion of Europe.
4. D-Day – 6 June 1944:
   1. Allied troops landed in Normandy, France.
   2. Following victory on the beaches, the Allies pushed through France and into Germany.
   3. Germany surrendered in May 1945 – end of war in Europe.
5. End of the War in Asia:
   1. August 1945: USA dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
   2. Japan surrendered shortly after, ending WWII completely.

Ernest Rutherford and Atomic Bomb

The atomic bomb was developed through the Manhattan Project, with contributions from scientists including Ernest Rutherford, who first split the atom in the UK.

Alexander Fleming (1881–1955)

1. Born in Scotland, later moved to London as a teenager.
2. Became a qualified doctor and focused on medical research.
3. In 1928, while researching influenza, he discovered penicillin – the world’s first antibiotic.
4. Howard Florey and Ernst Chain later developed penicillin into a usable drug.
5. By the 1940s, penicillin was in mass production, saving countless lives, especially during WWII.
6. Awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine (1945) alongside Florey and Chain.
7. Penicillin is still widely used today to treat bacterial infections.