Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat

Throughout “Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat,” Churchill invokes the importance of national unity as a cornerstone of his argument in favor of war and his government. A coalition government is itself a symbol and statement of national unity, so Churchill’s very invocation, by nature, reflects this theme. In his opening words, Churchill explicitly equates his new government with the concept of national unity, observing that it has been formed per the collective “wish and will of Parliament and the nation” (Paragraph 3), and the War Cabinet in particular represents “the unity of the nation” (Paragraph 3). As much from his academic expertise as a historian as from his first-hand experience leading troops and conducting politics during the First World War, Churchill was intimately familiar with the vital role that national unity plays in determining a nation’s ability to wage war successfully.

Churchill changes how he positions himself in relation to his audience in order to communicate different aspects of the importance of national unity. His uses of singular first person are couched in hedging language, augmenting his portrayal of himself as a humble servant to the nation: “I hope” occurs three times in the speech, complemented by “I trust” and “I would.” He also uses singular first person to note, all within his first paragraph, that he “received His Majesty’s commission,” has “completed the most important part of this task,” and is “submitting a further list to His Majesty to-night” (Paragraph 1). He demonstrates, by his own actions and tone, how an individual may contribute to building national unity.

In contrast, Churchill’s uses of the plural first-person pronouns “we,” “our,” and “us” prompt not only a sense of unity and camaraderie but also a sense of mutual forward momentum. In other words, he demonstrates the importance of national unity in terms of what unity can allow the nation to achieve. These plural pronouns, which occur almost exclusively in the final paragraphs, outline the present circumstances in terms that make clear why Churchill “feel[s] entitled to claim the aid of all” (Paragraph 4). Everyone in the “British Empire,” including Churchill’s past political opposition, is equally entangled in the global situation: “we are in the preliminary stage of one of the greatest battles in history […] we are in action at many other points […] we have to be prepared” (Paragraph 3). Churchill thereby encourages his audience to stand alongside him rather than in the implied isolation of opposition. He creates a sense of camaraderie and community between members of the British nation as a whole and presents the war as a matter of collective survival.

Chamberlain, Churchill’s predecessor to the role of prime minister, was forced to resign from office due to his inability to inspire national unity. A motion of no confidence from the opposition during the Norway Debate split the House and greatly diminished both the Conservative majority and Chamberlain’s ability to lead parliament. The further refusal of the Labor leadership to serve in a coalition under Chamberlain’s leadership was the final nail in his administration’s coffin. It was evident then that if Churchill wanted his own term of office to be successful, he required the unilateral support and confidence of parliament. It was consequently of vital importance that the new government be legitimized by the passing of a motion of confidence.

Churchill closes the speech with a heartfelt appeal for the Members of Parliament to endorse his government in the name of national unity: “I say, ‘come then, let us go forward together with our united strength.’” (Paragraph 6). This call to action ultimately bore fruit when, after his speech, the House of Commons voted unanimously in support of the coalition government.