Why did Britain and France follow a policy of Appeasement in the 1930s?

Great Britain Followed a policy of appeasement 1935: Signed naval agreement 1935-1938: gave H what H wanted Neville Chamberlain (P.M. 1937-40) most associated w/ appeasement Many British, including politicians, favored policy Reasons why H better than communism, greatest fear USA won’t support us standing up to Hitler Britain’s Empire not supporting tough talk Must not repeat horrors of WWI Britain’s armed forces not ready for war Domestic econ depression higher priority H is right, T of V too harsh. (G) will be peaceful after T of V restrictions are lifted

Followed a policy of appeasement

1935: Signed naval agreement

1935-1938: gave H what H wanted

Neville Chamberlain (P.M. 1937-40) most associated w/ appeasement

Many British, including politicians, favored policy

Reasons why

H better than communism, greatest fear

USA won’t support us standing up to Hitler

Britain’s Empire not supporting tough talk

Must not repeat horrors of WWI

Britain’s armed forces not ready for war

Domestic econ depression higher priority

H is right, T of V too harsh. (G) will be peaceful after T of V restrictions are lifted

What was wrong with appeasement? Some obvious risks, and some hindsight ‘Ohs!’ Encouraged H to gamble Gamblers gamble more when they win Put too much trust in H’s promises Hitler, trustworthy?!? READ Mein Kampf ! Allowed (G) to grow too strong (G) did not stop at parity It scared USSR (G) eastward expansion no secret (READ Mein Kampf !) Appeasement sent clear message to Stalin: Uncle Joe, you’re on your own! Thank you for your promises of peace! Ja, but I schpell it P-I-E-C-E … A little piece of Poland, a little piece of France …

Some obvious risks, and some hindsight ‘Ohs!’

Encouraged H to gamble

Gamblers gamble more when they win

Put too much trust in H’s promises

Hitler, trustworthy?!? READ Mein Kampf !

Allowed (G) to grow too strong

(G) did not stop at parity

It scared USSR

(G) eastward expansion no secret (READ Mein Kampf !)

Appeasement sent clear message to Stalin: Uncle Joe, you’re on your own!

A cartoon by David Low from the London Evening Standard , 1936. This was a popular newspaper with a large readership in Britain. What does the artist think that appeasement will lead to? Most people in Britain supported appeasement Write a letter to the London Evening Standard justifying appeasement

David Low cartoon commenting on the Anschluss , 1938

Activity: Why Appeasement? Review reasons why Britain followed a policy of appeasement. Make notes under the following headings to summarize why Britain followed a policy of appeasement: Military reasons Economic reasons Fear Public opinion other Use your notes to help you to write a short paragraph to explain in your own words how each of these reasons influenced the policy of Appeasement

Review reasons why Britain followed a policy of appeasement.

Make notes under the following headings to summarize why Britain followed a policy of appeasement:

Military reasons

Economic reasons

Fear

Public opinion

other

Use your notes to help you to write a short paragraph to explain in your own words how each of these reasons influenced the policy of Appeasement