How Did Winston Churchill's Impact On British Society

Winston Churchill

“But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, ‘This was their finest hour’” (Their finest hour). World War II was one of the scariest time periods in European History. Democracy in Europe collapsed in almost every major country, and it looked as if Adolf Hitler was going to take over the whole continent and destroy its rich history of democracy. However, through the

Although Churchill was out of government for a decade, he was appointed to his former role of first lord of the Admiralty and to the war cabinet the very day Britain declared war on Nazi Germany on September 3, 1939 (Winston Churchill). This showed how much confidence the British people and government had in him, despite some of his past failures. A vote of no-confidence in Neville Chamberlain later that year resulted in Churchill becoming the prime minister, and Britain effectively placing its future in his hands. Although Britain was on the defensive when he was put in office, Churchill still attacked his enemies through his memorable speeches, which he is most famous for. Many say Churchill’s words won the war, and Churchill himself recognized their power: “Of all the talents bestowed upon men, none is so precious as the gift of oratory. He who enjoys it wields a power more durable than that of a great king”(Did Winston’s). He “took the English language and sent it into battle,” and used stirring and emotional speeches to rally the people of England and keep morale high (Taylor). Without Churchill to keep the country going, many believe Britain would’ve surrendered to Germany, and Europe wouldn’t have had a single democracy left. However, Churchill convinced the government to fight the Battle of Britain, a term he coined in one of his famous speeches, and Britain ended up winning the battle and retaining its freedom. Churchill was one of the biggest reasons that his country won the war, and the hope he brought to his people during the most desperate times was vital to Britain’s success. Many call him the greatest Briton of all time, and for good reason. Churchill, although he lost the election right after the war, stayed in politics for a while “and made his famous ‘Iron Curtain’