Edward VII and George V: British History

Accession of Edward VII (1901-1910)

• Edward VII ascended to the throne in 1901 at age 59 after Queen Victoria's death.
• As Prince of Wales, he was the longest-serving heir apparent and enjoyed a leisurely life, traveling extensively.
• He traveled to places like North America and India.
• Edward VII modernized the British fleet and army during his reign.
• He fostered stronger relationships with European leaders, excluding his nephew, Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany.
• The Edwardian Age, his reign, saw societal changes, including the rise of socialism.
• His reign concluded in 1910, succeeded by his son, George V.

The Third Great Era of Reform

• Edward VII’s reign was distinguished by significant social reforms.
• The Liberal Party secured a decisive victory in the 1906 general elections, holding power until 1915.
• Legislation was enacted to enhance the lives of the working class, including a National Insurance scheme and old-age pensions.

George V (1910-1936)

• George V became king in 1910 following the death of his father, Edward VII.
• He was not initially expected to be king; his elder brother, Albert, died in 1892.

The First World War (1914-1918)

• World War I originated from multifaceted causes, including rivalries among European powers.
• Austria and Russia competed for influence in the Balkans.
• Britain and Germany competed for naval and commercial dominance.
• The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in June 1914 triggered the war, leading to a diplomatic crisis.
• Germany's invasion of Belgium and Luxembourg led Britain to declare war on Germany on July 28, 1914.
• Italy joined the war in 1915 on the side of the Triple Entente (Britain, France, and Russia), despite initially being part of the Triple Alliance.
• The war resulted in millions of deaths and the introduction of technologies like tanks and machine guns.
• The war lasted for four years.
• The United States joined the war in 1917.
• Germany was defeated, and the war ended in 1918.
• The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, reshaped Europe, setting the stage for future global tensions and dictatorships.

The Suffragettes

• Women in Britain lacked the right to vote in the early 20th century.
• The Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), led by Emmeline Pankhurst, was founded in 1903 to advocate for women's voting rights.
• The suffragettes used militant methods but paused actions during World War I.
• The Representation of the People Act in 1918 granted voting rights to women over 30 who were property owners.
• In 1928, women over 21 gained equal voting rights with men.

The Irish Question (1916)

• Ireland sought independence from Britain in the early 20th century.
• World War I delayed Home Rule for Ireland.
• In 1916, Irish nationalists, led by Eamon de Valera and Sinn Féin, staged the Easter Rising in Dublin.
• The Irish nationalists proclaimed the Irish Republic during the Easter Rising.
• British forces suppressed the rebellion after a week of fighting.
• Ireland eventually gained independence, creating the Irish Free State in 1922.
• The Irish Republic was formally established in 1948.

Industrial Decline and the General Strike of 1926

• Britain's economy and industries, especially coal mining, declined after World War I.
• Miners' wages were reduced in 1926, leading to a general strike on May 3, 1926.
• The strike paralyzed the transport network and halted food deliveries.
• The government intervened quickly, deploying the army and special police forces.
• The miners' strike ended in defeat by November 1926.
• The Trade Disputes Act of 1927 made general strikes illegal.

The Great Depression and Crisis in the 1930s (1929)

• The Great Depression, starting with the Wall Street Crash of 1929, caused widespread economic hardship.
• Unemployment reached about three million in Britain, particularly in industrial areas like northern England, Wales, and Scotland.
• The southeast of England experienced some prosperity with increased house building and consumer spending.

The British Commonwealth of Nations (1931)

• After World War I, the self-governing dominions of the British Empire sought greater independence.
• These dominions included Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa
• The Balfour Declaration of 1931 and the Statute of Westminster recognized the complete independence of these nations.
• These nations maintained their relationship with Britain under the Crown.
• India was excluded from this declaration, leading to tensions and eventual independence in 1947.

The Age of Conflicts (1901-1949)

• Edward VII succeeded Queen Victoria, marking the Edwardian Age.
• Before becoming king, he was Prince of Wales.
• When he ascended to the throne, he modernized the army.
• The Edwardian Age was characterized by less seriousness compared to the Victorian Era.
• Changes during this period paved the way for social reforms, including socialism.
• Land taxes were implemented.
• Pensions were founded to support those too old to work.
• His reign ended in 1910, succeeded by his son George V.
• WWI ended the British Belle Epoque and industrial growth in America, causing unrest due to declining industrial activities.
• The BBC went on air for the first time in 1922.
• The Times, The Daily Telegraph, and The Daily Mail were published for the first time.
• The first Labourist government in England was established in 1924.
• Italy had the march on Rome, and Russia's revolution ended.
• The United States became a leading industrial power, but this led to worker and environmental exploitation.

The First World War (1914-1918)

• Several factors caused the war, including rivalry between Britain and Germany.
• Germany allied with Austria-Hungary and Italy, while France allied with Russia.
• Britain initially pursued "Splendid Isolation" but formed a pact with France to support each other in case of attack.
• England joined the war on August 4, 1914.
• The immediate cause was the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip.
• Germany invaded Belgium and Luxembourg, forcing Britain to intervene on July 28, 1914.
• Italy entered the war in May 1915, betraying Austria.
• The United States joined the war in April 1917.
• New weapons, including tanks, airplanes, machine guns, and gas, were used during the war.
• A ceasefire was announced on November 11, 1918, at 11 o'clock.
• The Treaty of Versailles, a peace treaty, was signed in 1919.
• The League of Nations, without Germany and America, aimed to prevent future conflicts in Europe.
• Many war survivors suffered from shell shock (PTSD).
• Anna Coleman Ladd created masks for disfigured people to help them feel comfortable in public.
• The patriotism felt during the war gradually faded.

The Suffragettes

• The Women’s Social and Political Union (WSUP), led by Emmeline Pankhurst, was founded in Manchester in 1903.
• The WSUP was a union of women protesting for their rights, known as suffragettes.
• During the war, the WSPU called off its militant action to face Germany.
• In 1918, they obtained "The Representation of the People Act," granting voting rights to women over 30 who were property owners.
• The franchise was extended to women over 21 in 1928.

The Irish Question

• The British Government promised "Home Rule" to Ireland in 1914, but it was postponed due to the war.
• Impatient with Britain, a group of rebels led by Eamon de Valera staged the "Easter Rising" in Dublin.
• The rebels took control of central buildings and proclaimed the "Irish Republic" unilaterally.
• British forces quelled the uprising after a week.
• Despite the executions, the Irish were determined to gain independence.
• Michael Collins founded the Irish Republican Army in 1919.
• The Irish Free State was created in 1922 after years of bloody conflicts (became Ireland in 1937).
• The six counties of Ulster decided to remain part of the United Kingdom.

The Situation After the War

• Britain experienced economic and industrial decline after the Great War.
• Industries faced worse conditions, with high unemployment and low wages for long hours.
• The Trades Union Congress announced a general strike to begin on May 3, 1926.
• The strike paralysed England due to widespread participation.
• The government used police and the army to manage the drastic situation.
• The strike lasted one week, but miners continued until November.
• The Trade Disputes Act in 1927 made general strikes illegal.
• Industrial towns in the north of the UK faced crisis due to underdevelopment in heavy industry.
• The south of England prospered, enhancing production of houses, domestic appliances, and cars.
• In 1931, the Balfour Declaration recognized the complete independence of self-governing Dominions.
• These Dominions sought independence and control over their resources.
• India was not mentioned in the Declaration, leading to conflicts with Britain.
• The Indian National Congress fought for independence.
• Gandhi organized a civil movement, resulting in India’s independence in 1947.
• The Great Depression led to the emergence of fascist or totalitarian political movements, with figures such as Hitler and Mussolini.
• These individuals were initially seen as potential solutions to the economic depression.
• Francisco Franco established a fascist dictatorship in Spain in 1939.

America After WWI

• A group advocated for maintaining high moral standards, leading to the "Prohibition Act" in 1920.
• The Prohibition act made the production, consumption, and selling of alcohol illegal.
• The twenties are known as the Roaring Twenties, characterized by jazz, new dances, and fashion changes.
• Women's dresses became shorter, looser, and more practical.
• In 1920, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution allowed women to vote.
• Henry Ford invented the assembly line, making affordable cars (model T cars) possible.
• The Wall Street Crash occurred on October 24, 1929, ruining many people.
• The causes include laissez-faire economics, overproduction, credits, tariffs/taxes, and overspeculation.
• The Wall Street Crash led to the Great Depression, an economic crisis.
• Dust storms worsened the situation by damaging agriculture.
• The US government decided to stop imports to tackle the crisis.
• Roosevelt established national parks to safeguard the environment.
• His policy, known as "The New Deal," improved the American economy.
• He placed regulations on the stock market, banks, and businesses.
• The New Deal offered assistance to the humble and unemployed.
• Roosevelt also abrogated the Prohibition Act.

Overview of the reigns of Edward VII and George V, including social reforms, modernization of the British military, and impact on international relations. Touches on the Edwardian Age and the rise of socialism. Edwards VII was succeeded by his son, George V, in 1910.