Britain After 1950. Flashcards
What was British society like
British society was still strongly influenced by war, boy would mimicking the militarism of their elders
The army and defence in 1950
In 1950 Britain spent 6.6 % of its GDP on defence: more that any major country except the Soviet Union.
The Royal Navy and Royal Air Force were second in size and power only to the forces of the United States
In 1952 britain became the worlds third nuclear power when it detonated an atomic bomb off the coast of Australia.
When was britain a militarised country till? And who one the election
Britain was a militarised country until october 1951 when labour came int ogovernment who strongly opposed war, however a huge part of labours majority at the 1945 general election was largely removed at the 1950 election, the party was helped by the high turn out of 84% in 1950 plus help from the trade union
What did the labour government do in 1950
The labour government took tough action to prevent any interference with food supplies or exports they was saw a very low unemployment level which help to ensure that all males and nearly a quarter of al women workers were trade unionist
Strike where illegal until 1951
Who won at the 1951 general election
Labour
Tories. Won a small parliamentary majority dispite that labour got more votes and its highest ever proportion of the total votes.
What helped the Conservative in 1951
The collapse of the liberal vote, and the heating up of the Cold War this increased the government expenditure and by the growing frustration with the continuation of austerity and control.
What was still rationed even after a decade after the war
Butter meat tea and coal although bread was now freely available sweets and chocolate stopped being rationed 9n 1949 becuase the demand was too high
What did rationing encourage ‘
People produced their own food in back gardens and allotment or get food parcels from relative abroad
What did the shortages introduce
Due to the shortages of most consumer products which prompted the contiuance of the wartime ‘make-do-and mend’ culture
What was the standard rate of income tax in 1950s
Was nine shilling in the pound which is twice the rate today
What was the post war life style satirised by
The austerity and bureaucracy of britian post war was influence by gorgée orwell 1949 novel ‘ nineteen eighty-four
What did the labour government wanted to do with the damages after the war
The labour government wanted to pull down the slums and move their occupants either to new council flats or out of the cities. The new towns act of 1946 led to the expansion of towns around london like Harlow to sort out the capitals overspill population and to the creation of new industriel centres like petered in County Durham.
What was the problem with the new expansion with towns like Durham
Due to the amount of new towns there was a lack of local authorities and resources to overcome the house shortage.
Where did half the population
Private accommodation, often dingy rooms or beds it’s with little privacy comfort and warmth there was no high rise building and concrete was only widely used for military structures all this changed in the late 1950s and 1960s
how did the london smog happen? What happened in the london smog 1952?
Over time due to britian being the most urbanised and industrialised country I n the world meant it was one of the most polluted, the industries not only polluted the air but also waterways
It lasted five days and killed more than 4,000 people form heart and lung diseases
