After World War I ended, Britain went through some big changes. These changes from 1918 to 1939 helped shape the way the country was run.
Changes in Voting Rights
- Representation of the People Act 1918: This important law allowed all men over 21 and women over 30 who owned property to vote. Because of this, about 8.4 million women got the right to have a say in elections. Later, in 1928, the voting age for women was lowered to 21. This was a big step towards equal rights for men and women in politics.
New Political Parties
- Growth of the Labour Party: After the war, people were unhappy due to social and economic problems. This made the Labour Party become more popular. In the 1924 and 1929 elections, Labour became a major party with Ramsay MacDonald as the first Labour Prime Minister in 1924. This showed a shift from the old Liberal Party being in charge to Labour taking the lead.
Economic Problems
- Great Depression: The worldwide economic crisis in the late 1920s hit Britain hard. There was high unemployment and many people were upset. This situation made more people want the government to step in and help, which changed what the government focused on.
New Political Groups
- Rise of Socialist and Extremist Parties: Many people were disappointed with the usual political choices. This disappointment helped groups like the British Union of Fascists (BUF) to form. Oswald Mosley started the BUF in 1932 as a response to what he saw as failures of the current political parties.
Social Movements and Activism
- Women’s Rights Movement: During this time, women’s groups kept working hard for equal rights and social changes. Organizations like the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) worked to set the stage for future movements for women's rights.
Political Unrest Before WWII
- Minority Governments and Coalitions: The political situation in Britain became more unstable. There were many minority governments and coalitions that made it hard to get things done. This confusion and lack of strong government led to problems that would come into play in World War II.
In short, after World War I, Britain saw important changes like more people being allowed to vote, the rise of the Labour Party, economic struggles, new political groups forming, and increased activism for social change. Together, these events transformed the political scene in Britain during the years between the two world wars.