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| '''Ramsay !MacDonald''' was a [[UnitedKingdom/LabourParty|Labour]] politician, member of the [[UnitedKingdom/Parliament|Parliament]], and [[UnitedKingdom/PrimeMinisters|prime minister]] of the [[UnitedKingdom/Democratization|United Kingdom]]. | '''Ramsay Mac``Donald''' was a [[UnitedKingdom/LabourParty|Labour]] politician, member of the [[UnitedKingdom/Parliament|Parliament]], and [[UnitedKingdom/PrimeMinisters|prime minister]] of the [[UnitedKingdom/Democratization|United Kingdom]]. |
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| !MacDonald was a founder of the [[UnitedKingdom/LabourParty|Labour Party]] in 1900. | Mac``Donald began doing electioneering work for [[UnitedKingdom/KeirHardie|Hardie's]] '''Independent Labour Party''' ('''ILP''') in 1894. He stood for several [[UnitedKingdom/Parliament|Parliamentary]] elections, none of which he won. |
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| He was briefly chair of the party until being forced out for his opposition to [[WorldHistory/WorldWar1|World War 1]]. He opposed the war as well as the reparations and restrictions placed on [[Germany/Democratization#Weimar_Republic|Germany]] afterwards. | In 1900 he was elected secretary of the new '''Labour Representation Committee''' ('''LRC'''), a precursor to the [[UnitedKingdom/LabourParty|Labour Party]]. In this position, he negotiated the '''Lib-Lab Pact''' with [[UnitedKingdom/Liberal|Liberal]] '''Herbert Gladstone'''. The Liberal Party agreed to not contest several boroughs, enabling Labour to win 29 seats in the 1906 general election. Mac``Donald was one of those elected. In 1911 he became leader of the PLP. He opposed joining [[WorldHistory/WorldWar1|World War 1]], but the party itself moved to support the [[UnitedKingdom/HerbertHenryAsquith|Asquith]] government. Mac``Donald therefore resigned as leader in 1914. |
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| [[UnitedKingdom/StanleyBaldwin|Baldwin]] called snap elections in late 1923; the [[UnitedKingdom/ConservativeParty|Conservatives]] however lost their majority. His government then lost a vote of confidence in January, enabling Mac``Donald to form the first Labour government with [[UnitedKingdom/LiberalParty|Liberal]] supply and confidence. The government was toppled by the so-called '''Campbell Case'''. '''J. R. Campbell''', editor of '''Workers' Weekly''', published in July 1924 an article encouraging servicemen to mutiny. After Mac``Donald had the criminal indictment against Campbell withdrawn, a motion of censure was introduced. Mac``Donald declared defeating the motion a vote of confidence. When it passed overwhelmingly, he called snap elections. Held in October, Baldwin led the Conservatives to win a commanding majority. Following the May 1929 elections, Mac``Donald again formed a minority government with Liberal supply and confidence. In response to the '''Great Depression''', he aimed to implement budget cuts and keep the gold standard. His cabinet mutinied against his policy proposals, and he planned to call snap elections, but he was instead persuaded to form a coalition government with the Conservatives. The '''Invergordon Mutiny''' nonetheless forced him to abandon the gold standard. While the coalition proved effective and popular, Labour itself lost seats in the 1931 general elections. In 1935, amid failing health, Mac``Donald swapped positions with Baldwin, serving in the coalition now as '''lord president'''. He retired in 1937 and died shortly thereafter. |
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=== First Term === The 1923 general elections saw [[UnitedKingdom/StanleyBaldwin|Baldwin]] lose his majority. In January 1924, he further lost a vote of confidence, leaving !MacDonald to form a minority government with [[UnitedKingdom/LiberalParty|Liberal]] supply and confidence. He advocated for the German side with [[France/EdouardHerriot|Herriot]]. For example, he negotiated for an end to the occupation of the Ruhr. |
Mac``Donald opposed the reparations and restrictions forced on [[Germany/Democratization#Weimar_Republic|Germany]] through [[WorldHistory/WorldWar1|Versailles]]. He negotiated with [[France/EdouardHerriot|Herriot]] to, among other concessions, end to the occupation of the Ruhr. |
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| The '''Campbell Case''', which dealt with a vote to censure the Workers' Weekly for encouraging servicemen to mutiny, led to the downfall of this government. [[UnitedKingdom/ConservativeParty|Conservatives]] proposed the measure and a Labour amendment was proposed as well. !MacDonald declared defeating the vote as a vote of confidence; the Labour measure carried and !MacDonald dissolved Parliament. The October 1924 elections handed Baldwin a commanding majority and !MacDonald entered the opposition again. === Second Term === After the May 1929 elections, !MacDonald again formed a minority government with Liberal supply and confidence. With the Great Depression quickly unfolding, !MacDonald wanted to keep the gold standard by making severe fiscal cuts. His cabinet mutinied and refused to implement such a budget. In August 1931 he sought to dissolve [[UnitedKingdom/Parliament|Parliament]], but was persuaded to instead form.a unity government. He was successful in reaching across the isle to form a new coalition. Four Conservatives served in the new cabinet, including Baldwin. He attempted to keep the gold standard by making severe fiscal cuts. This led to the '''Invergordon Mutiny''', forcing finally an abandonment of the standard. The 1931 general election saw great popularity for the unity government, but Labour itself was greatly diminished. The Westminster Statute of 1931 granted Dominion status to [[Canada]], [[Australia]], [[NewZealand|New Zealand]], and [[SouthAfrica|South Africa]]. ---- == Legacy == In 1935, amid failing health, !MacDonald swapped cabinet positions with [[UnitedKingdom/StanleyBaldwin|Baldwin]], becoming the lord president of the council. He retired in 1937 and died shortly thereafter. |
He was an advocate for [[UnitedKingdom/DevolvedGovernment#Northern_Ireland|home rule]]. The '''Westminster Statute''' in 1931 granted dominion status to [[Canada]], [[Australia]], [[NewZealand|New Zealand]], and [[SouthAfrica|South Africa]]. The [[Ireland/Democratization#Irish_Free_State|Irish Free State]] officially held that England had already ceded the right to govern Ireland, so technically this statute was never adopted there, but dominion status was similarly offered. |
Ramsay MacDonald
Ramsay MacDonald was a Labour politician, member of the Parliament, and prime minister of the United Kingdom.
Contents
History
MacDonald began doing electioneering work for Hardie's Independent Labour Party (ILP) in 1894. He stood for several Parliamentary elections, none of which he won.
In 1900 he was elected secretary of the new Labour Representation Committee (LRC), a precursor to the Labour Party. In this position, he negotiated the Lib-Lab Pact with Liberal Herbert Gladstone. The Liberal Party agreed to not contest several boroughs, enabling Labour to win 29 seats in the 1906 general election. MacDonald was one of those elected.
In 1911 he became leader of the PLP. He opposed joining World War 1, but the party itself moved to support the Asquith government. MacDonald therefore resigned as leader in 1914.
He returned as party leader in 1922.
Baldwin called snap elections in late 1923; the Conservatives however lost their majority. His government then lost a vote of confidence in January, enabling MacDonald to form the first Labour government with Liberal supply and confidence.
The government was toppled by the so-called Campbell Case. J. R. Campbell, editor of Workers' Weekly, published in July 1924 an article encouraging servicemen to mutiny. After MacDonald had the criminal indictment against Campbell withdrawn, a motion of censure was introduced. MacDonald declared defeating the motion a vote of confidence. When it passed overwhelmingly, he called snap elections. Held in October, Baldwin led the Conservatives to win a commanding majority.
Following the May 1929 elections, MacDonald again formed a minority government with Liberal supply and confidence.
In response to the Great Depression, he aimed to implement budget cuts and keep the gold standard. His cabinet mutinied against his policy proposals, and he planned to call snap elections, but he was instead persuaded to form a coalition government with the Conservatives. The Invergordon Mutiny nonetheless forced him to abandon the gold standard.
While the coalition proved effective and popular, Labour itself lost seats in the 1931 general elections.
In 1935, amid failing health, MacDonald swapped positions with Baldwin, serving in the coalition now as lord president. He retired in 1937 and died shortly thereafter.
Policies
MacDonald opposed the reparations and restrictions forced on Germany through Versailles. He negotiated with Herriot to, among other concessions, end to the occupation of the Ruhr.
He spoke in favor of general disarmament in the League of Nations.
He established diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union. He negotiated a treaty that would have guaranteed the bonds issued by Imperial Russia to British citizens in exchange for a new loan to the Soviet government. This treaty was received by Parliament overwhelmingly negatively.
He was an advocate for home rule. The Westminster Statute in 1931 granted dominion status to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. The Irish Free State officially held that England had already ceded the right to govern Ireland, so technically this statute was never adopted there, but dominion status was similarly offered.