1951-1964

Question 1

What was the result of the 1951 election?

Answer 1

Conservatives won with a majority of 17 despite gaining fewer votes than Labour due to the first-past-the-post system.

Question 2

What was the Conservatives’ majority in the 1955 election?

Answer 2

60

Question 3

What slogan helped the Conservatives in the 1959 election?

Answer 3

Life is better with the Conservatives, don’t let Labour ruin it.

Question 4

What was the majority for Labour in the 1964 election?

Answer 4

4

Question 5

What was the main domestic policy accepted by the Conservatives?

Answer 5

Post-war consensus including commitment to NHS, an aim of full employment, collaboration with trade unions, and a mixed economy.

Question 6

What did the 1951 Conservative manifesto pledge regarding housing?

Answer 6

To build 300,000 houses annually.

Question 7

What was the aim of the Clean Air Act of 1956?

Answer 7

To reduce smog.

Question 8

What was the outcome of the Wolfden report in 1957?

Answer 8

Suggested legalising homosexuality but was rejected.

Question 9

What did the Homicide Act of 1957 achieve?

Answer 9

Reduced the number of death penalties.

Question 10

When did rationing end?

Answer 10

1954

Question 11

What was the government strategy to control inflation during the period?

Answer 11

Stop-go economics.

Question 12

What did Thorneycroft’s monetarism propose?

Answer 12

Limit wage increases and cut the money supply.

Question 13

What was introduced by Selwyn Lloyd in 1961?

Answer 13

NEDC (Neddy) for long-term economic planning.

Question 14

What economic policy did Maulding implement?

Answer 14

Lowered bank rate to encourage consumption.

Question 15

What was the average wage for men in 1951 and what was this up to by 1961?

Answer 15

£8.50 per week to £15.35 per week

Question 16

What significant change occurred in car ownership between 1957 and 1959?

Answer 16

Increased by 25%.

Question 17

Fill in the blank: The percentage of women working by 1964 was _______.

Answer 17

1/5

Question 18

What was the main cultural phenomenon demonstrating loss of deference?

Answer 18

Satire Boom including ‘Beyond the Fringe’ and ‘That Was The Week That Was’.

Question 19

What was the impact of the Notting Hill Riots in 1958?

Answer 19

Highlighted racial tensions and ineffective police response.

Question 20

What was the purpose of the Schuman Plan initiated in 1950?

Answer 20

To integrate French and German industry.

Question 21

What was the outcome of Britain’s applications to join the EEC in 1961 and 1967?

Answer 21

Both were vetoed by de Gaulle.

Question 22

What was the special relationship between Britain and the USA strained by?

Answer 22

Suez Crisis, EEC, and Burgess and Maclean affair.

Question 23

What did the CND advocate?

Answer 23

Rejection of nuclear weaponry and unilateral disarmament.

Question 24

What was Macmillan’s policy regarding decolonisation?

Answer 24

Gradual transition from empire to Commonwealth.

Question 25

What did Gaitskell propose that led to divisions within the Labour Party at the Blackpool and Scarborough conferences?

Answer 25

Abolishing Clause IV.

Question 26

Name one major scandal contributed to the fall of the Conservatives.

Answer 26

The Profumo Affair.

Question 27

Fill in the blank: The number of immigrants from the Commonwealth reached _______ by 1958.

Answer 27

210,000

Question 28

What was the economic condition of Britain in 1955 with regards to employment?

Answer 28

Full employment.

Question 29

What was the public's reaction to the Pay Pause in 1961?

Answer 29

Disliked by the public.

Question 30

What was the primary purpose of the Housing and Factory Acts in 1961?

Answer 30

To improve living and working conditions.

Question 31

What was a significant outcome of the Baby Boom by 1959?

Answer 31

10% of the population were teenagers.

Question 32

What was the impact of the emergence of the teenager on society?

Answer 32

Increased visibility and economic importance.

Question 33

When was Gold Coast decolonised?

Answer 33

1957

Question 34

When were the main Mods vs Rockers fights and where?

Answer 34

1964 Clackton, Margate and Brighton

Question 35

When were the Teddy Boys “Rock Around the Clock” riots?

Answer 35

1956

Question 36

What was Maulding’s giveaway budget worth in 1955?

Answer 36

£134 million

Question 37

What was the Conservatives's majority in the 1959 General Election?

Answer 37

100

Question 38

What does Stop-go economics consist of?

Answer 38

Preventing inflation whilst consumption and growth is high

Question 39

What did Thorneycroft's monetarism involve?

Answer 39

Control of wage increases and a cut in the money supply

Question 40

When was NEDC ( Neddy) introduced and what was it?

Answer 40

1961 Government representatives and academics making long-term plans for the economy

Question 41

When was NIC (Nicky) introduced and what was it?

Answer 41

1962 Monitoring of wages and prices

Question 42

Which chancellor were Neddy and Nicky introduced under?

Answer 42

Selwyn Lloyd

Question 43

2 examples of new towns built in the period

Answer 43

Harlow and Kirkby

Question 44

How many TVs were in use by 1960?

Answer 44

10,000,000

Question 45

How many people went to Butlins each week?

Answer 45

60,000

Question 46

What percentage of people went on foregin holidays?

Answer 46

2%

Question 47

How much did washing machiene ownership increase by between 1957 and 1959?

Answer 47

54%

Question 48

What percentage of the middle class voted Conservative?

Answer 48

80%

Question 49

What changes resulted in the emergence of teenagers?

Answer 49

Labour saving devices for girls End of National Service in 1960 for boys

Question 50

When and where were there Mods vs Rockers riots?

Answer 50

1964 Clackton, Margate and Brighton

Question 51

How many people left Britain in the 1950s?

Answer 51

1.32 million

Question 52

When and what was the Messina conference?

Answer 52

1955 Set out the EEC

Question 53

When was the Treaty of Rome?

Answer 53

1957

Question 54

Why did Britain send off their 1961 EEC application?

Answer 54

The USA wanted to use Britain as a bridge into Europe, to stimulate economic growth and to have access to a large scale export market

Question 55

When was EFTA founded?

Answer 55

1959

Question 56

Who were the members of EFTA?

Answer 56

Britain, Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Austria, Switzerland and Sweden

Question 57

What, from 1951-1964, put the special relationship under strain?

Answer 57

EEC, Suez, The Burgess and Maclean Affair

Question 58

What was agreed at the Severes meeting?

Answer 58

Israel would invade Egypt, and Britain and France would intervene acting as peacekeepers and take control of the Suez

Question 59

Why did Britain withdraw from Suez?

Answer 59

The USA threatened to withdraw financial aid and backing

Question 60

How many British troops were sent to Korea?

Answer 60

90,000

Question 61

What commitment did post-war Labour make regarding nuclear deterrence?

Answer 61

An independent nuclear deterrent as the USA had stopped sharing their nuclear secrets ## Footnote This commitment was part of the broader context of Cold War tensions and nuclear strategy.

Question 62

What significant events in nuclear testing occurred during Churchill's tenure?

Answer 62

The first atomic bomb test in 1952 and the first 'H Bomb' test in 1957 ## Footnote These tests marked Britain's entry into the nuclear arms race.

Question 63

What agreement was made between the USA and Britain in 1958?

Answer 63

The USA agreed to share its nuclear technology ## Footnote This agreement marked a significant shift in the nuclear relationship between the two nations.

Question 64

What is CND and when was it formed?

Answer 64

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, formed in 1958 ## Footnote CND became a prominent pressure group advocating for unilateral disarmament.

Question 65

What was a significant event organized by CND in 1958?

Answer 65

An 8,000-people march to Aldermaston to oppose a weapons development base ## Footnote This march highlighted public opposition to nuclear weapons.

Question 66

What was notable about the CND march in 1959?

Answer 66

It was even bigger than the first march in 1958 ## Footnote This indicated growing public support for nuclear disarmament.

Question 67

What happened to Britain's 'Blue Streak' missile program in 1960?

Answer 67

It was abandoned and replaced by the USA's 'Polaris' ## Footnote The shift reflected changes in military strategy and reliance on American technology.

Question 68

What was Labour divided over?

Answer 68

Bevanites: - High NHS spending - CND - Favoured Clause IV Gaitskellites: - Cautious of high NHS spending - anti-CND - Opposed Clause IV

Question 69

What did Bevan say regarding unilateral nuclear disarmament?

Answer 69

"It would send any British Foreign Secretary naked into the conference chamber"

Question 70

How did the position of women improve from 1951-1964?

Answer 70

The pill became available on the NHS in 1961 but only for married women Up to 42% of women employed, with 6,000 working in the RAF From 1959, upper class girls were no longer presented to the Queen

Question 71

How didn't the position of women improve from 1951-1964?

Answer 71

Women were still highly restricted in employment e.g. women in the RAF couldn't fly planes The pill wasn't available for unmarried women

Question 72

How were race relations improved from 1951-1964?

Answer 72

The troubles that immigrants were facing was spread in the media

Question 73

How were race relations worsened from 1951-1964?

Answer 73

Notting Hill Riot 1958 Bristol Bus Boycott 1963 1962 Commonwealth Immigrants Act attempted to limit the number of immigrants

Question 74

What did the 1962 Commonwealth Immigrants Act do?

Answer 74

Ended the automatic right of Commonwealth citizens to settle in Britain

Question 75

How was class leveled from 1951-1964?

Answer 75

Teddy Boys, Mods and Rockers all acted as class levelers The Angry Young Men led to greater representation of working class issues in the media

Question 76

What were the limitations to class leveling from 1951-1964?

Answer 76

The 11+ gave an advantage to the middle classes in accessing quality education Mary Whitehouse opposed the loss of deference which had leveled out class divisions, starting a radio show and becoming known as the crusader of morals