Britain Transformed: Social Welfare Provision- The impact of the Second World War Flashcards
(28 cards)
How did the role of the state change during the Second World War?
The government greatly enlarged its role by directing the economy to supply troops and workers, increasing state welfare provision, and coordinating large operations like evacuation and rationing.
What was the significance of the Beveridge Report published in 1942?
It offered a blueprint for a more socially equal post-war society.
What was the purpose of evacuation during WWII?
To move children from cities to the countryside to protect them from bombing.
How many children were evacuated in the first evacuation in 1939?
1.5 million children.
How did the initial evacuation arrangements fail?
Evacuees from poor homes were sent without spare clothes, bedding, or food; the government assumed families or charities would provide, which was insufficient.
How did later evacuations improve?
The government ensured children were provided with essentials and social workers were available to help distressed children.
When was food rationing introduced and why?
January 1940, partly because surveys showed public support for it.
What were the first foods to be rationed?
Bacon, butter, and sugar.
What other foods were rationed later?
Cooking fat, meat, tea, jam, and eggs.
How did the points system in rationing work?
It allowed people to buy limited amounts of items like biscuits, tinned fruit, and fish each month for dietary variety.
Were all food items rationed during the war?
No, some items like bread were not rationed, and people grew vegetables in large quantities.
How did rationing affect public health?
It improved the British diet by reducing unhealthy food availability and supplementing with healthier options, leading to generally better health.
What happened to alcohol and tobacco supplies during the war?
They were often in short supply; for example, beer prices rose from 3p to 7p a pint between 1939 and 1942.
When were clothes rationed, and what was the allowance?
Clothes rationing started in June 1941 with a yearly allowance of 66 coupons per person.
What was utility clothing?
Simple-style clothes introduced to save material during rationing.
How did wartime clothes quality compare to pre-war?
Pre-war clothing was so good people continued wearing it during the war; it only became shabby towards the war’s end.
What problems did washing face during the war?
Coal and fuel shortages limited heating; baths were to be shallow; soap was rationed to 3 ounces per month.
What was the social effect of rationing despite the black market?
Rationing created a feeling of equality and shared sacrifice for the war effort, which was widely accepted during the war.
How did public mood toward rationing change after the war?
It darkened and grew resentful as rationing continued post-war.
How did the government improve diet beyond rationing?
The Food Policy Committee authorized subsidized milk and heating fuel for mothers with small children.
What was the impact of the war years on standards of living for the poor?
About one-third of the population who had been unable to eat enough during the Depression saw their standards improve during the war despite rationing.
What five evils did the Beveridge Report aim to conquer?
Squalor, ignorance, want, idleness, and disease.
Who wrote the Beveridge Report and when?
Social reformer William Beveridge in 1942.
What relationship did Beveridge advocate between state and individual?
Cooperation where the state provided a national minimum but encouraged voluntary action to provide more.
