The response to economic challenges 1951-1979 Flashcards
The post war consensus can be characterised in the beliefs in what?
- Keynesian economics.
- A mixed economy.
- Nationalisation of major industries.
- The National Health Service.
-Commitment to full employment. - A welfare state in Britain; social security and national insurance.
- Introduction of nuclear weapons.
Why did WW2 set the stage for consensus?
- Proved ministers from rival parties could work together & that a broad agreement on key policies could be reached.
- Success of collectivism- an approach where certain problems are tackled by taking away some rights for the common good.
The war changed the role of the government- what was the state forced to do?
Forced the government to take more control- Emergency Powers Act of 1940.
Why did WW2 set the stage for consensus?
A more mixed economy- where the government used
- rationing
- the Essential Work Order
- Conscription and censorship
- All in a bid to engage Britain in a total war- by 1945, 1/3 of citizens were taking in war-related work.
What was the Beveridge Report- 1942?
Report- envisioned a welfare state that could care for a person throughout their entire life.
Ideas- hugely popular- sold 635,000 copies.
Who promised to implement the Beveridge report?
- Labours promise to fulifil report- was a huge contributing factor in them winning the election.
- Popularity created a “sea change” in British politics & rival parties to Labour Party couldn’t ignore its popularity if they wanted to be the party of government.
Why did Labour win by a landslide in the 1945 General Election?
Leadership
Campaigns
Policies
Public mood
Why did Labour win by a landslide in the 1945 General Election?
(Leadership?)
- Attlee portrayed himself as a ‘man of the people’.
- During WW2- Attlee had managed the home front, showing that himself and the Labour party were capable leaders.
Why did Labour win by a landslide in the 1945 General Election?
(Campaigns?)
- Labour broke off wartime coalition after war to force an election, campaigned on the slogan ‘let us face the future’ & campaign posters centred around the British people- with pictures of women & soldiers accompanied by the text ‘Labour for him’ or ‘Labour for her’.
Why did the Conservatives campaign lack Labour’s campaign?
Churchills campaign = lacklustre, was so confident in his victory after winning the war- Conservative slogan ‘lets finish the job’, Churchills spiteful ‘Gestapo’ speech- seen as distasteful & poorly judged.
Why did Labour win by a landslide in the 1945 General Election?
(Policies?)
- Labour promised to implement policies of the Beveridge Report (extremely popular).
- Churchill- rejected the report & did not have a clear strategy for post war recovery.
- Labour’s manifesto seems more specific, ambitious, detailed and thought through.
Why did Labour win by a landslide in the 1945 General Election?
(Public mood?)
- Public- wanted a change after the harsh war years.
- They associated the Tories with the high unemployment of the 20s & 30s and failed appeasement.
Attlee Government 1945-51
What were some of the key achievements/ policies that show a development in welfare?
- The 1944 Education Act
- The 1945 Family Allowance Act
- The 1946 National Insurance Act
- The 1946 National Health Service Act
- The Industrial injuries Act
- Nationalised key industries
- More housing
- Means testing abolished.
- Improved education.
What did the 1944 Education Act do?
- Introduced universal secondary education split into three parts- Grammar, Modern and Technical schools.
- It also created a Government Minister for education & raised the school leaving age to 16 by 1973.
What did the 1945 Family Allowance Act do?
Gave money to support those with children (child benefits).
