THE TWENTIES AND THE THIRTIES (1918-l939)
The rapid rise of the Labour Party as a consequence of
the war, whose leaders were members of the middle classes, the People Act, were
entitled all men over 21 had the right of vote and at women were granted
suffrage, but they had to be over 30 years of age and property owners.
Ireland
was unrest. During the war the Irish volunteers had organised a rebellion on
Easter Monday 1916 and proclaimed an Irish republic. The rebellion was crushed.
In 1919, the Irish volunteers became the IRA (Irish
Republican Army) an prepared for Civil War. The war
ended with the establishment of the Irish Free State
in 1921. In
1949 there was the official proclamation of the Republic of Ireland.
In India, GANDHI started
a non-violent protest against the British Government.
All over Europe and America a serious crisis, known as
the "depression", was taking place.
Germany,
under Hitler's leadership, was preparing to regains its position in Europe, by force if necessary.
In England,
Edward VIII announced his intention to marry a divorced American woman, meeting
the opposition of all parties. He therefore abdicated and was succeeded by his
brother GEORGE
VI.
