Chapter Four, Parliament, 1900-1910 Summary and Analysis

Churchill is finished with the armed services for the moment and is elected to the House of Commons on February 14th as a Conservative who benefits from the public enthusiasm for the Boer War. Churchill is giving powerful speeches at the time and despite the Conservative defense of the British Empire's expansion against the Liberals, Churchill is skeptical of continuing to expand British Imperial holdings at the expense of its commercial power and the risk of war with Continental European powers.

At the same time, Churchill is an ardent supporter of free trade at a time when it is becoming less popular with increased German and American economic power. He also increasingly comes to support anti-poverty policies. Both of these changes cause him to go over to the Liberal Party. While risky, Churchill wins his...