History, 1914–39

World War. I

George V succeeded his father in 1910. The great European powers were aligned in two opposing groups—the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hunary, and Italy) and the Triple Entente (Great Britain, France, and Russia). When World War I started in August, 1914, Great Britain entered as an ally of Belgium, France, and Russia.

Although the Allies won the war, Europe's economy was shattered. Decline in British trade and in employment was severe. From 1916 to 1922 David Lloyd George, a Liberal, was prime minister. Under him suffrage was extended to women, southern Ireland became the Irish Free State, and Egypt gained independence.

Years of Stress

From 1923 to 1937 Stanley Baldwin, a Conservative, and Ramsay MacDonald, of the Labour party, alternated in the office of prime minister. The nation faced a series of crises. Trade did not improve, and there were crippling labor strikes. In 1931 the Commonwealth of Nations, which eventually replaced the empire, was formed. In the same year Britain went off the gold standard. George V died in 1936 and was succeeded by his son, Edward VIII, who abdicated within a year in favor of his brother, George VI.

In 1937 Neville Chamberlain, a Conservative, became prime minister, and through a policy of appeasement attempted to save his nation and Europe from the war for which Nazi Germany was preparing. His policy failed; Germany invaded Poland in 1939 and Britain declared war.