Jeremy Neidert April 10th, 2013 History 102 Professor Riker Winston Churchill Winston Churchill was known

not only by his clear and concise reasoning but by the rhetoric in which he used to lighten the hearts of an entire nation during one of the most horrifying wars that this Earth has seen. Churchill played a major part in World War II from identifying the enemy to leading Britain on as Prime Minister to a long but glorious victory over Nazi Germany. Churchill proved that he could be successful past his lousy school records with his determination and spirit. Raised in an aristocratic family, Winston took after his father to begin his military career, which led him to a correspondent position and eventually to become a Member of Parliament. After switching parties within Parliament twice, he eventually was given the position of Prime Minister. Through these years he formed heavy influence on the people of Britain by keeping the resistance to the Nazis alive as World War II was increasingly imminent. Churchill formed a private cabinet consisting of himself, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin to secure the United States and the Soviet Union as Allies. Early in Winston Churchills life, his family and power attributed to many successes. Churchill was born, on November 30, 1874 into the inner circle of Victorian society and yet began life as an outsider, as he was to remain for much of his career. His family, of which the second duke of Marlborough was the head, was one of the greatest in England (18). Churchill did poorly at two of his schools, proving to be a rebellious student but was sent to Harrow School. Upon entering Harrow, Churchill joined the rifle club to begin his road to the military.

After a rough experience at schooling, Churchill also had trouble passing the entrance exam for the British Royal Military College, finally entering on his third try. At this time of his life he was independent and his relationship was distant with his parents. His father died when he was 21 but he still had barely known him. Churchill gained military experience quickly as he served in the India but eventually moved to war reporting after writing small excerpts for the Daily Telegraph. While reporting on the Boer War in South Africa he was taken as a prisoner but escaped, traveling over 300 miles in Portuguese territory back to Britain. When he got back, his writing career started as he reported on the war and his miraculous escape. With this new reputation and interest that the general public had in him, he began to work harder to secure a position in the Parliament. The ambition had possessed him, of course, since the death of his father, and perhaps earlier, but had been unachievable without reputation or money. His military exploits had won him a reputation (56). After a few tries, he was elected by a narrow margin to take a seat in the House of Commons as a Conservative for Oldhelm. Following his fathers footsteps, he felt a need for social reform but had to seek so by switching floors to the Liberal Party. During this time he was appointed to the Prime Ministers Cabinet and met his wife Clementine Hozier and after a short time they were married. Over his time in the Prime Ministers Cabinet, he reinforced Britains Navy and Royal Navy Air Service by modernizing the technology and the war ships. While being so close and influential under the current Prime Minister David Lloyd George, for a short time Churchill was even appointed the Minister of War and Air but his Libertarian Party failed him during his Election to Parliament, so he crossed the floor again back to the Conservative Party. During this time in the Conservative Party, Churchill began leading Britain towards a time of rearmament and became a member of the Military Coordinating Committee as the growing threat of the Nazi Germany increased.

Although Churchills Wilderness Years haunted him while he lost momentum and determination, Clemmie always stayed by his side through his pneumonia, depression and getting hit by a car in New York. Churchill spent this time as a writer and a speaker around the world and was viewed as an extremist with little connection to the people during this time but kept a close eye on Hitler and the resistances morale. He spent these years writing A History of English Speaking People and traveling as he maintained a clear footing within the Parliament. Soon after war was declared with Germany, Churchill was elected as Prime Minister without as much as a warning. On May 10 Chamberlain tendered his resignation to King George VI. Asked to name his successor, he advised that it must be Churchill. His advice was constitutionally binding, and that evening Winston went to Buckingham Palace and returned as Prime Minister (129). As soon as he became Prime Minister, be formed a coalition of leaders and placed many intelligent and skilled leaders in key positions. As he became Prime Minister, his influence rapidly grew and his rhetoric would soon be known by all. He warned of the imminent Battle of Britain as well as fought to keep the Nazi resistance alive. Churchill also formed the legendary Big Three to form an alliance with the United States and the Soviet Union at the time to keep Germany in check. As the War calmed down, the people of Britain seemed to see him only as a war time leader and he was defeated in the general election. While dismissed from his power as Prime Minister, Churchill stayed on his feet and preformed speeches about the valiant battles as well as the famous Iron Curtain speech, showing the post war separation in Europe. Along with his devout hatred of the Nazi Party, Churchill also condemned the Bolshevik Party in the Soviet Union of communists. With his continuing influence after the war, he was yet again appointed back as the Prime Minister in 1953 but resigned as his health and age caught up with his spirit in 1955.

Works Cited Keegan, John. Winston Churchill. New York, Penguin, 2002