Arthur Neville Chamberlain Essay -- essays research papers fc

CHAMBERLAIN AND calmingWhen studying Arthur Neville Chamberlain, it is at least as important to understand his personality, as well as his political achievement. The set up Minister of Great Britain between 1937 and 1940, he was an intensely idealistic man, one who believed that he alone could bridgework the gap between Germany and the rest of the World. His subsequent policies of appeasement towards Nazi Germany, a insurance based upon pragmatism, fear of war, or moral conviction that black market to the acceptance of diplomatically imposed conditions in lieu of warfare, forever characterized Chamberlain as a most central figure at the diplomatic crossroads leading towards World War II. Chamberlains father, Joseph, had been the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, so young Neville found himself subjected to strong political opinions throughout his youth. He worked his way through the ranks of British government, becoming a Member of Parliament in 1918, and going on to become Chancellor o f the Exchequer in the discipline Government headed by Ramsay MacDonald for much of the 1920s. Chamberlain finally rose to the office of Prime Minister in 1937. His lifetime dedication to politics made him a shrewd politician, but his relatively rapid success could also be viewed as a contributing particularor towards his developing overconfidence. Chamberlains clashing on foreign affairs was vast and direct upon his rise to power. He changed the foreign policy dynamic from a slow and passive policy of non-intervention, to a much more pro-active policy of appeasement. Chamberlain believed that Germany had been badly treated by the Allies after it was conquered in World War I. Therefore, he thought that the German government had legitimate grievances, and that these needed to be addressed. By agreeing to some of the demands being made by Adolph Hitler of Germany and Benito Mussolini of Italy, he earnestly believed that he could avoid a European war. Chamberlains enthusiasm, convi ction in his beliefs, and the fact that he would not listen to criticism, led him to act appeasement with a nearly unlimited spirit. This would perk up been noble had it not been for another bother which was also caused, in part, by Chamberlains enthusiasm to pursue appeasement. In his rush to stamp his name on the appeasement process, Chamberlain was too burning to foster good relations with Germany and her allies. To this ... ...ains decision to actively pursue appeasement were, initially, his own expectations of himself, and his need to be the man seen as trustworthy for appeasing Germany. Secondly, Chamberlains believed that Britain needed time to recover, both economically and militarily from the last war. Thirdly, his own views of war and his naivety in foreign affairs certainly affected his decision, though not to the extent commonly believed. In any event, he certainly allowed Hitler more input than he should have had when it came to the Sudetenland, and he badly misju dged the threat posed by both Hitler and Mussolini. That cannot be denied. What can also not be denied is that the extra year that Chamberlain gave the democracies to take a crap may well have been the difference between victory and defeat for the Allies.BibliographyChamberlain and appeasement British policy and the coming of the Second World War. by R. A. C. Parker, (Robert Alexander Clarke), 1927- Basingstoke Macmillan, 1993. Neville Chamberlain. by Wikipedia Encyclopedia. http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neville_ChamberlainNeville Chamberlain. by Sparticus Educational. http//www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/PRchamberlain.htm