Why was Churchill out of office in the decade 1929-39?

• He was from an aristocratic family. His Grandfather was the Duke of Marlborough and his father was a leading Consevative political leader
• He had been a proffessional soldier serving in India  and the Sudan before entering politics in 1900, though he only joined the liberals in 1904
• He quickly became a minister in 1905. He was in the caibinet by 1908 and then home secretary by and first Lord of Admirality 
• He played a le\ding role in the social reforms before 1914 and then was influential in WW1 before a failed attack on Turkey in 1915  led to his resignation.
• After a brief spell in the army in France, he was back in government in 1917 as minister for munitions.
• He served in Lloyd George's coalition government from 1918 to 1922 and then re-joined the Conservatives as Chancellor of the Exchequer 1924-29.

• Supported the Social Reforms and believed the government had a duty to help the poor
• He opposed any threat to Britain
• He was a strong believer in the British Empire and was determind to defend it
• He supported the First World War, first by wanting to knock out Turkey by a daring attack, then by bringing up British arms production as minister of munitions 1917-1918. He served on the western front in person in 1916.
• He bitterly opposed Communism.
• He opposed any threat to the monarchy or british constutution.

• Many saw him as someone who had betrayed his party by joining th Liberals
• His support for the use of troops against striking miners in south Wales in 1910 made him unpopular with many in the Labour movement.
• His support for the poorly planned attack on Constantinople in the Gallipoli Landings in 1915 made him widely distristed.
• He was seen as an extreme opponent of communism becuse of his support for a war against new communist Russia (1917).
• His decision to return Britain to the Goold standard in 1925 whilst he was Chancellor of the Exchequer and was was critisisted by many economic experts as it made exports dearer.
• He was an extreme opponent of trade unions becuse of his opposition to the General Strike in 1926. 

• Outspoken, self Confident and often contriversial 
• Ambitious and enjoyed being in control
• Admired for his writings and for his speeches
• He loved the House of Commons and relished debates
• He had a gift for encouraging strong friendships, but also had bitter enemies
• He had a wide variety of intersts and enthusiasms 

India -The bulk of political opinion held that negotiating with the Indian nationalists and their high-profile leader Gandhi was necessary and wise. Churchil believed in uncompromising opposition to any move to make India more independent.

The abdication of King Edward VIII - The behaviour of David, Prince of Wales, who became King in 1936 as King Edward VIII, did not command the respect of many Conservative politicains and voters. His desire to marry a twice-divorced American woman was widely unpopular, but it was supported by Churchill out of loyalty to the throne.

Rearmament - When public opinion was clearly against war and the economy was weak Churchilll urged rearmament and won little support.

Concession to Hitler - Churchill made it clear that Britain asould resist Germany's expansion. He opposed the appeasment policy of the government which allowed allowed German-speaking areas of the state of Czechoslovakia in 1938 after threats of war. As the horrors of the First World War were still vivid memory, the idea of Britain going to war to prevent Germany ruling over German-speakers was unpopular among many British people and politicians.