Winston Churchill and Social Reform

Author

Patrick Winston Kelso

Date of Award

2006

Document Type

Undergraduate Thesis

Department

History

First Advisor

Fred Laurenzo

Relational Format

Dissertation/Thesis

Abstract

The purpose of this Senior Honors Thesis is to examine the role of Winston Churchill in regards to social reform in Twentieth Century Britain. Although many books have been written on Churchill’s life, few specifically speak to his role in domestic politics. Often times Churchill’s role as Prime Minister during World War II overshadows his lengthy parliamentary career. This study will attempt to explain the role Winston Churchill played i__ domestic politics in respect to social reform and the rise of the British welfare state. Biographies, academic journal articles, books, memoirs, speeches, archival material, as well as books by the subject have been used to gather information to provide a thorough investigation of the subject matter. During his career Churchill held many key positions within the British government. Both his actions and inactions help to explain where he stood in terms of social reform and his views on the role of government within society. This thesis covers three periods of Winston’s Churchill’s life tracing his involvement in social reform throughout his political career. His father’s political ideology, the political climate of the day, and the ever-changing industrial society are some of the major issues which affected Churchill s domestic politics. This thesis seeks to explain the rationale behind a man who spent his early years as a Liberal reformer and his latter years as a Conservative statesman. This work also seeks to examine the motivation and evaluate the genuineness of Churchill’s work in respect to social reform suggesting that although sometimes convenient for political purposes his interest in this sphere was real and contributory to the British society.

Recommended Citation

Kelso, Patrick Winston, "Winston Churchill and Social Reform" (2006). Honors Theses. 2360.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/2360

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