Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

A Level History > Britain Year 13 - A Level > Flashcards

Britain Year 13 - A Level Flashcards

1
Q

What was the Orthodox view held by Chancellor of the Exchequer (Snowden) following the Wall Street Crash?

(Economic policy)

A
  • Govt. should keep free trade, balanced budgets and gold standard.
  • Keep confidence of investors and bankers by cutting govt. spending to prevent it exceeding income.
  • Perhaps lowering interest rates to boost investors’ confidence.

(Cons have same views).

Cons want protectionism rather than free trade.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What were the 1929 election Party messages?

A
  • Cons’ were ‘Safety First’, with Baldwin not introducing unemployment with no radical ideas.
  • Labour’s were a ‘Socialist Commonwealth, with MacDonald wanting to reorganise industry for everyone’s interests, (after 1927) union leaders started to follow Labour to change via Parliament rather than strikes.
  • Libs’ were ‘we can conquer unemployment’. + They came up with radical but not non-socialist ways to reduce unemployment.
    —> LG had £40k to spend for this election, and worked with Keynes for an economic strategy.

(Cons with Baldwin)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

1929 election results/details…

A

Cons - 260 seats
Lab - 288 seats
Libs - 59 seats
-> Lab have HoC seats majority for the first time, (Labour replace Libs as Cons’ main rival!).
- Labour successes due to:
-> MacDonald moderate policies aided him to gain trust.
-> Baldwin’s ‘Safety First’ appeal unconvincing as not many saw any direct threat.
-> Unemployment main issue, and Cons were seen as not able to combat this with their policies.
-> Libs gain 5m votes, however, just 59 seats, (first past the post), some say ‘economic conservatism’ victorious over ‘economic radicalism’.
-> ‘Flapper vote’ due to more moderate young women voting.

Lab victory meant Balwin resigned and MacDonald PM for second time.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Brits’ situation by 1929:

A
  • Wall Street Crash saw decline in staples, high unemployment (varied with regions).
  • (By 1929) Lab on the rise, Cons had heavy press support and faced challenges by Lab.
  • Social changes, e.g. radios rise, new inventions, e.g. cars and kitchen applainces, more range of entertainment etc.
  • U.S social and economic influence rampant in Britain e.g. cinemas, Wall Street Crash, etc.
  • (1928) Women have same voting rights as men.

(Unemployment never under 1m during 1920s!)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Domestic policies under Labour govt.

(MacDonald appoints Bondfield as first woman cabinet minister).

A
  • (1930) Housing Act increased house buliding subsidies and new slum clearances + Coal Mines Act reduced miners’ working hours from 8 hrs to 7 1/2 hrs’ shifts.
  • (1931) Land Utilisation Act and Agricultural Marketing Act est. marketing boards to aid producers, by allowing them to fix prices and arrange supplies more efficiently.
  • (1931) London Transport Bill saw Herbert Morrisson est. a public corporation for cheap and efficient transport to London.
  • Despite unemployment benefits, there were plans to repeal 1927 Trade Disputes Act.

London Transport Bill becomes law in 1933.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Stats on Wall Street Crash for Brits’:

A
  • (1929-1931) Brits’ exports fell by half.
  • (1931-1932) Unemployment rose from 2.5m to 3m.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Response to Wall Street Crash/Great Depression (Economic Advisory Council till ‘Mosley Memorandum’).

A
  • (1930) MacDonald set up Economic Advisory Council for industrialists and economists to advise economic prosperity, with MacDonald wary of ‘new ideas’.
  • Rise in unemployment meant more benefits, straining govt. finances.
  • Labs divided, with Snowden wanting ‘balanced budget’ and Mosley wanting public sector spending, (Mosley advocated prioritising working men’s needs).
  • MacDonald unconvinced of Mosley, despite him having same views as Keynes.
  • (May 1930) ‘Mosley Memorandum’ being rejected saw Mosley resign as junior minister.

(Snowden was Chancellor of the Exchequer).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Response to Wall Street Crash/Great Depression (banking crisis and May Committee)

A
  • (May 1930) Banking crisis saw Libs want a committee to see govt. can curb spending + MacDonald appoints May Committee to make suggestions.
  • (Jul 1931) May Committee report published with negative reports such as:
    -> Forecasted a £120m budget deficit unless severe cuts in govt. spending (by 1932).
    -> £96.5m cuts in public sector recommented, including oay cuts for these employees.
    -> 20% cut in unemployment benefits + more taxation.
  • This report drew furhter attention to Brits’ problems.

(George May chairman of May Committee).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Events/details of suffrage movement

(1906-1914)

A
  • (1911) National League for opposing Suffrage movement is founded
  • (1909) NUWSS tactics entail arson attacks.
  • (1907) NUWSS hold open-air rally in Hyde Park.
  • (1913) ‘Cat and Mouse’ Act. - This meant imprisoned women were force fed.
  • (1909-1914) NUWSS rises from 12k to 50k.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Some details about Home Rule…

Addtionally, Edward Carson and the Ulster Unionists.

A
  • Opposed by the Cons, and they supported the Ulster Unionists.
  • (Before 1911) Unionists relied on HoL to veto Home Rule Bill, so Unionists took action.
    -> (1912) Unionist leader Carson drew up Ulster Covenant,
    -> Ulster Covenant passed in HoC but not in HoC, and the Ulster Volunteer Force was made.
    -> (Mar 1914) Curragh Mutiny saw British officers threatening to resign rather than fight Ulster resistance, (consisted of General Gough and 157 cavalry officers).
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What was the Orthodox view held by Chancellor of the Exchequer Snowden following the Wall Street Crash?

A
  • Govt. should keep free trade, balanced budgets and gold standard.
  • Keep confidence of investors and bankers by cutting govt. spending to prevent it exceeding income.
  • Perhaps lowering interest rates to boost investors’ confidence.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What were the 1929 election Party messages?

A
  • Cons’ were ‘Safety First’, with Baldwin not introducing unemployment with no radical ideas.
  • Labour’s were a ‘Socialist Commonwealth, with MacDonald wanting to reorganise industry for everyone’s interests, (after 1927) union leaders started to follow Labour to change via Parliament rather than strikes.
  • Libs’ were ‘we can conquer unemployment’. + They came up with radical but not non-socialist ways to reduce unemployment.
    —> LG had £40k to spend for this election, and worked with Keynes for an economic strategy.

(Cons with Baldwin)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

1929 election results/details…

A

Cons - 260 seats
Lab - 288 seats
Libs - 59 seats
-> Lab have HoC seats majority for the first time, (Labour replace Libs as Cons’ main rival!).
- Labour successes due to:
-> MacDonald moderate policies aided him to gain trust.
-> Baldwin’s ‘Safety First’ appeal unconvincing as not many saw any direct threat.
-> Unemployment main issue, and Cons were seen as not able to combat this with their policies.
-> Libs gain 5m votes, however, just 59 seats, (first past the post), some say ‘economic conservatism’ victorious over ‘economic radicalism’.
-> ‘Flapper vote’ due to more moderate young women voting.

Lab victory meant Balwin resigned and MacDonald PM for second time.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Brits’ situation by 1929:

A
  • Wall Street Crash saw decline in staples, high unemployment (varied with regions).
  • (By 1929) Lab on the rise, Cons had heavy press support and faced challenges by Lab.
  • Social changes, e.g. radios rise, new inventions, e.g. cars and kitchen applainces, more range of entertainment etc.
  • U.S social and economic influence rampant in Britain e.g. cinemas, Wall Street Crash, etc.
  • (1928) Women have same voting rights as men.

(Unemployment never under 1m during 1920s!)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Domestic policies under Labour govt.

(MacDonald appoints Bondfield as first woman cabinet minister).

A
  • (1930) Housing Act increased house buliding subsidies and new slum clearances + Coal Mines Act reduced miners’ working hours from 8 hrs to 7 1/2 hrs’ shifts.
  • (1931) Land Utilisation Act and Agricultural Marketing Act est. marketing boards to aid producers, by allowing them to fix prices and arrange supplies more efficiently.
  • (1931) London Transport Bill saw Herbert Morrisson est. a public corporation for cheap and efficient transport to London.
  • Despite unemployment benefits, there were plans to repeal 1927 Trade Disputes Act.

London Transport Bill becomes law in 1933.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Stats on Wall Street Crash for Brits’:

A
  • (1929-1931) Brits’ exports fell by half.
  • (1931-1932) Unemployment rose from 2.5m to 3m.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Response to Wall Street Crash/Great Depression (Economic Advisory Council till ‘Mosley Memorandum’).

A
  • (1930) MacDonald set up Economic Advisory Council for industrialists and economists to advise economic prosperity, with MacDonald wary of ‘new ideas’.
  • Rise in unemployment meant more benefits, straining govt. finances.
  • Labs divided, with Snowden wanting ‘balanced budget’ and Mosley wanting public sector spending, (Mosley advocated prioritising working men’s needs).
  • MacDonald unconvinced of Mosley, despite him having same views as Keynes.
  • (May 1930) ‘Mosley Memorandum’ being rejected saw Mosley resign as junior minister.

(Snowden was Chancellor of the Exchequer).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Response to Wall Street Crash/Great Depression (banking crisis and May Committee)

A
  • (May 1930) Banking crisis saw Libs want a committee to see govt. can curb spending + MacDonald appoints May Committee to make suggestions.
  • (Jul 1931) May Committee report published with negative reports such as:
    -> Forecasted a now known exaggerated £120m budget deficit unless severe cuts in govt. spending were made (by 1932).
    -> £96.5m cuts in public sector recommented, including pay cuts for these employees.
    -> 20% cut in unemployment benefits + more taxation.
  • This report drew furhter attention to Brits’ problems.

(George May chairman of May Committee).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Reasons behind National Government formation…

(1931)

A
  • After RM handed in his resignation, the King consulted other party leaders such as LG and SB, it was agreed that RM would resume as PM with support from all main political parties.
  • Libs + Cons saw certain pros of RM resuming as PM, especially as around this time, unpopular measures were needed.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Details behind National Governemnt…

(1931)

A
  • Just three Labour members followed RM into new govt. (Snowden, Thomas and Sankey).
  • RM relied heavily on Cons’ support + Libs support.
  • (Post 1931 events) Labour MP and trade unionists accused RM of treachery due to seeimingly abandoning working-class principles.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Things RM accused of in regards to treachery…

(1931 - National Government)

A
  • Needlessly drawing up May Comittee and not relying on his Economic Advisory Committee.
  • Afraid of considering new ideas and dismissed Mosley’s proposals.
  • Aligned himself with Cons and not resigning at time of Labour’s initial clear split.
  • May have not consulted his Lab party properly before this new govt.
  • (1931 election) RM promised to NOT call another election, and the timing of this election caused turmoil for Lab.
  • Adherance to May recommendations, which entailed policies opposing socialist principles e.g. retrenchment.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

1931 and 1935 elections…

(Cons wanted election under ‘doctor’s mandate’).

A

Oct 1931 general election results:
National Government: 554 seats
Cons: 473 seats
Lab: 52 seats
Libs National: 35 seats
Libs: 33 seats
Takes from this…
-> High National Government support, with other parties potentially declining in support!

1935 election seats:
National Government (Cons, Lab and Libs): 432 seats
Lab: 154 seats
Libs: 20 seats
Takes from this…
-> National Government still had support, despite not being properly able to deal with unemployment
-> Libs had not recovered from Asquith + LG split
-> Lab still suffering from 1931 occurances.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

National Government policies…

A

Financial:
- Off the gold standard
- Balanced budget made a priority
- 10% cut in unemployment benefits
- Keep GBP stable + (1932) Interest rates reduced to 2% to reduce cost of borrowing.

Trade policies:
- ‘Sterling area’ meant gbp used rather than gold.
- Import Duties Act 1932 imposed tariffs on non-empire goods.
- Quota on imports for similar quota for exports.

Industry:
- (Special Areas Act 1934) provided govt. aid to most areas.
- (Cotton Industry Reorganisation Act 1936) closed down non-profitable mills + reduce surplus capacity in the economy (more people redundant!)
- (British Shipping (Assistance) Act 1935) peovided govt. loans for shipping firms to scrap older ships for new ones.
- (North Atlantic Shipping Act 1934) provided loans to aid reconstruction of transatlanitc liner Queen Mary.
- Guaranteed prices for farmers, entailing marketing boards for foods.
- Govt. subsidies for livestock farmers + sugar beet growers.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Neville Chamberlain’s social reforms…

(May 1937) Chamberlain becomes PM

A

(1937 Factory Act) extended safety regulations under the Factory Code from 7-11m workers.
(1938 Holidays with Pay Act) gave workers right to a week’s paid holiday.
(1938 Coal Mines Act) transferred ‘royalties’ for coal mined underground from landowners to govt.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Reactions to May Committee’s report/lead-up to National Government formation…

(Jul 1931)

A
  • Lab members + trade unionists wanted progressive taxation rather than govt. spending cuts.
  • Some thought this economic crisis was good as it was seen as paving the way for socialism.
  • However, MacDonald adhered to this report + MacDonald cut unemployment benefits, dividing cabinet!
  • (Aug 1931) BoE borrow from French + U.S banks! ‘Cabinet Economy Committee’ members such as MacDonald, Snowden and J.H Thomas agreed on £56m benefit cuts + other party leaders reject this, as they were seen as too small.
  • Then, MacDonald + Snowden consult TUC leaders, TUC reject all cuts and all May Committee’s reports, (putting high pressure on Lab).
  • (23rd Aug) Lab cabinet had just 11 to 9 votes for high unemployment benefit cuts, and this vote result split the Labour cabinet, with MacDonald not being able to lead it anymore.
  • (24 Aug) MacDonald hands in his resignation to the King.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Details on housing…

(1930s)

A
  • Rising consumer demand -> expansion in housing market -> offsetting fall in demand from abroad + cuts in govt. spending.
  • Stopped the Depression worsening, (similar reasons to industry recovery).
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Details on trade…

(1930s)

A
  • (Jan 1933) Global trade level 1/3 of its level in (1929).
  • Brits still exported more manufactured goods than other countries, however, they were still suffering a lot.
  • The quotas, tariffs + trade acts had limited effects.
  • (After 1933) World trade began to recover.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Details on agriculture…

(1930s)

A
  • Low wheat price fell by 50%.
  • Arable land declines as farmers abandon work to grow other products.
  • Brits’ more dependant on food imports, + farmers influential in governing Cons party. to protect farmers from significant decline.
  • This lead to quotas and tariffs enforced.
  • Many Cons knew other nations would enforce tariffs, which would aggravate agriculture decline.
  • So, govt. regulate farming resources e.g. marketing boards, better credit facilities and capital.
  • (By 1939) 17 boards from milk to potatoes.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

National Government policies…

(Financial)

A
  • Off the gold standard
  • Balanced budget made a priority
  • 10% cut in unemployment benefits
  • Keep GBP stable + (1932) Interest rates reduced to 2% to reduce cost of borrowing.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

National Government policies…

(Trade policies)

A

Trade policies:
- ‘Sterling area’ meant gbp used rather than gold.
- Import Duties Act 1932 imposed tariffs on non-empire goods.
- Quota on imports for similar quota for exports.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

National Government policies…

(Industry

A
  • (Special Areas Act 1934) provided govt. aid to most areas.
  • (Cotton Industry Reorganisation Act 1936) closed down non-profitable mills + reduce surplus capacity in the economy (more people redundant!)
  • (British Shipping (Assistance) Act 1935) peovided govt. loans for shipping firms to scrap older ships for new ones.
  • (North Atlantic Shipping Act 1934) provided loans to aid reconstruction of transatlanitc liner Queen Mary.
  • Guaranteed prices for farmers, entailing marketing boards for foods.
  • Govt. subsidies for livestock farmers + sugar beet growers.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Keynes’ view…

(Economic policy following the Wall Street Crash)

A
  • Govt. should borrrow money to spend on infrastructure, creating job opportunities.
  • Employees would have higher wages, leading to more profit for employers, (as-well as other chains of analysis).
  • ‘Multiplier effect’.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

National Government policies…

(Financial)

A
  • Off the gold standard
  • Balanced budget made a priority
  • 10% cut in unemployment benefits
  • Keep GBP stable + (1932) Interest rates reduced to 2% to reduce cost of borrowing.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

National Government policies…

(Trade policies)

A

Trade policies:
- ‘Sterling area’ meant gbp used rather than gold.
- Import Duties Act 1932 imposed tariffs on non-empire goods.
- Quota on imports for similar quota for exports.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

National Government policies…

(Industry

A
  • (Special Areas Act 1934) provided govt. aid to most areas.
  • (Cotton Industry Reorganisation Act 1936) closed down non-profitable mills + reduce surplus capacity in the economy (more people redundant!)
  • (British Shipping (Assistance) Act 1935) peovided govt. loans for shipping firms to scrap older ships for new ones.
  • (North Atlantic Shipping Act 1934) provided loans to aid reconstruction of transatlanitc liner Queen Mary.
  • Guaranteed prices for farmers, entailing marketing boards for foods.
  • Govt. subsidies for livestock farmers + sugar beet growers.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

Keynes’ view following the Wall Street Crash…

(Economic policy)

A

Govt. should…
- Borrow money to spend on projects
- ‘Multiplier effect’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

Keynes’ view…

(Economic policy following the Wall Street Crash?)

A
  • Govt. should borrrow money to spend on infrastructure, creating job opportunities.
  • Employees would have higher wages, leading to more profit for employers, (as-well as other chains of analysis).
  • ‘Multiplier effect’.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

National Government policies…

(Financial)

A
  • Off the gold standard
  • Balanced budget made a priority
  • 10% cut in unemployment benefits
  • Keep GBP stable + (1932) Interest rates reduced to 2% to reduce cost of borrowing.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

National Government policies…

(Trade policies)

A

Trade policies:
- ‘Sterling area’ meant gbp used rather than gold.
- Import Duties Act 1932 imposed tariffs on non-empire goods.
- Quota on imports for similar quota for exports.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

National Government policies…

(Industry

A
  • (Special Areas Act 1934) provided govt. aid to most areas.
  • (Cotton Industry Reorganisation Act 1936) closed down non-profitable mills + reduce surplus capacity in the economy (more people redundant!)
  • (British Shipping (Assistance) Act 1935) provided govt. loans for shipping firms to scrap older ships for new ones.
  • (North Atlantic Shipping Act 1934) provided loans to aid reconstruction of transatlanitc liner Queen Mary.
  • Guaranteed prices for farmers, entailing marketing boards for foods.
  • Govt. subsidies for livestock farmers + sugar beet growers.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

Details on the Economic Advisory Committee….

(Set up by Ramsey MacDonald)

A
  • MacDonald set this up to to provide advice for tackling things like unemployment.
  • Committee had industrialists and economists, with MacDonald wary of ‘new’ ideas.
  • More unemployment meant more strain on govt’ finances from more benefits.
  • (May 1930) MacDonald being wary of ‘new ideas’ may have led to the ‘Mosley Memorandum’, which saw Mosley resign as junior minister.

(Set up in 1930)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

Details of the May report…

(Jul 1931)

A
  • (May 1931) A banking crisis saw Libs propose a committee to see how the govt. could curb expenditure and restore confidence.
  • A forecasted £120m deficit was made (by 1932).
  • It recommended public sector cuts of £96.5m + 20% cut in unemployment benefit + heavier taxation.

(Some things the May report done…)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

Mosley’s views…

(Economic policy following the Wall Street Crash)

A

Govt. should…
- Borrow money and spend more on public sector
- Introduce tariffs to protect jobs
- Boost pensions + benefits to boost consumer spending.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

1945 general election results…

A

Lab - 293 seats
Cons - 213 seats
Libs - 12 seats
-> Perhaps seen as a Lab landslide.

(1937 - ‘Mass Observation’ est. to record daily life of Britain).

‘Mass Observation’ had a team of observers and approx. 500 volunteers, who maintained diaries who replied to open-ended questions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

Issue of female emancipation…

(Pre WW1)

A
  • PM Campbell-Bannerman hlaf-hearted in support for female suffrage.
  • PM asquith openly opposed female suffrage.
  • Libs’ were tackling other social issues which took up parliamentary time for other issues e.g. female suffrage.

CB was PM from (1905-1908), and Asquith succeeded him.

CB died in 1908.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

Pressures for female emancipation…

A
  • (1897) Fawcett est. NUWSS -> Believed in non-violent methods e.g. public meetings, discussions etc.
  • (1903) Embittered by lack of progress in achieving women’s suffrage, Pankhurst est. WSPU.
  • (1911) National League of Opposing Women’s Suffrage est.
  • (By 1914) NUWSS had 500k members + 400 societies.
  • WSPU were violent + (1911-1914) suffragette actions entailed arson attacks, hunger strikes, physical assault etc.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

Changes in working opportunities and living standards…

(Social and cultural impacts of the Depression)

A
  • (By 1931) Unemployment at 3m.
  • (1931 Census) showed a movement of people to London for work.
  • No mass migration from the depressed areas of Britain to the areas with work.
  • (1930s) economy saw some recovery + real wages rose in value + Higher spending power and chepaer goods meant middle classs could afford electrical appliances e.g. washing machines, electrical cookers etc
  • (1932-1938) No. of private cars rose from 1.2m to 2m.
  • (Inter-war years) 90% of 1.1m homes were built in new suburban estates. + Many had hot water and electricity.
  • (1936) Rowntreee discovered that in York, 3/4 of men and their families were in poverty + York population in poverty fell from 28% to 18% (since 1900).
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

National govt. social policies…

(Social and cultural impacts of the Depression)

A
  • Govt. public work schemes much smaller scale compared to U.S or Germany.
  • (1934 Special Areas Act) provided just £2m of aid.
  • (1933 and 1935) Housing Acts improved living conditions.
  • (1930) Labour gave govt. subsidies to local govts. to tackle slum clearance.
  • (1936) Avg. weekly rent paid by council house tenants in Britain was an affordable 11 shillings.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

Literacy sales…

(Social and cultural impacts of the Depression)

A
  • (1928-1939) No. of books published rose from 7.2m to 26.8m.
  • (1935) Penguin books were published sold 3m of 50 titles in the first year. + (1937) Penguin Shakespeare had Penguin specials + dealt with political + social issues
  • New book clubs encouraged reading.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

Radios…

(Social and cultural impacts of the Depression)

A
  • (1932-1939) No. of households that had a radio went from 1/2 to 3/4.
  • 3.5m still could not afford the licence fee and did not have access to a radio.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

Cinemas/television…

(Social and cultural impacts of the Depression)

A
  • (By 1930s) More range of radio programmes
  • (By 1939) 5k cinemas in Britain + 20m tickets sold weekly.
  • Cheap ticket cost (approx. 6p)
  • Carnegie Trust estimated that 80% of unemployed attended cinemas more than once a week.
  • Regulations introduced to limit U.S influence + (By 1936) 20% of all films has to be British.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
52
Q

Details on the Left Book Club…

(Social and cultural impacts of the Depression)

A
  • (1936) ‘Left Book Club’ started in order to expose wrongs of fascism + 50k members who received a book each month.
  • (1937) ‘Right Book Club’ est. to counter left-wing views and communism + (By 1939) 25k members but less impactful than fascism.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
53
Q

General public’s view on war

(Social and cultural impacts of the Depression)

A
  • League of Nations poll saw Brits wanted armament reduction.
  • Pacifist sentiment throughout, from Oxford Union.
  • Many books published on war views e.g Orwell’s ‘Homage to Catalonia’.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
54
Q

Details on the Battle of Cable Street

(Oct 1936)

A
  • Fascists and anti-fascists fight, leaving hundreds injured.
  • This threatened and poltiical stability
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
55
Q

Details of the abdication crisis

(Dec 1936)

A
  • (Dec 1936) Edward VIII wanted a marriage with Wallis Simpson, who had already divorced and was in the process of a second divorce.
  • This event caused a constitutitonal crisis.
  • PM Baldwin held the view that this marriage was unconstitutional.
  • When the king radio broadcast to the nation asking for a morganatic marriage, Baldwin + cabinet refused.
  • (Dec 1936) King abdicates + Edward VIII lived in exile as the Duke of Windsor.
  • Baldwin was against marriage + Churchill was for
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
56
Q

Details on the BUF

(Est. in Oct 1932)

A
  • (Oct 1932) Sir Oswald Mosley est. BUF + black unifroms with silver insignia.
  • Mosley was a good orator and gave speeches across the nation.
  • (1931) Membership rose rapidly due to unemployment issues.
  • (1934) BUF lost Rothermere’s support due to violence in Olympia Hall from indoor rally.
  • (1936) Group named British Union of Fascists and National Socialities.
  • Group mostly made up of working-class men, who were dealing with unemployment. +
  • (By 1935) BUF membership down to 5k. + BUF had no MPs elected.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
57
Q

Communist threat in the 1930s…

A
  • Several trade union leaders + communist party members supported Communist party members played a key role in strikes e.g. (1932) Lancashire cotton industry + (1939) Birmingham rent strike. + ‘Left Book Club’ membership rose to 50k members.
  • NUWM est. (early 1930s) 50k members.
  • ‘The Daily Worker’ (their newspaper) had a daily circulation of 80k. + CPGB had many MPs elected and few Lab MPs supported it. + CGPB never had over 1.8k members.

CPGB is the Communist Party of Great Britain.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
58
Q

Factors limiting political extremism…

(National Governemnt policies)

A
  • (1934 Incitement to Disaffection Act) could be used for anyone advocating any kind of revolution.
  • (1936 Public Order Act) gave police higher powers to control or ban public meetings + Illegal to wear political uniforms.

(Appeasement by Chamberlain ensured public support until Mar 1939).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
59
Q

Factors limiting political extremism…

(Labour,international events etc).

A
  • Lab prevented extremism + (1930s) Lab and trade unions led by moderates who opposed communist links.
  • International events e.g. Stalin’s regime + Nazi-Soviet pact made CPGB look unpatriotic, limiting them. + People becoming more alienated from Soviet communism.
  • (1935) Mussolini invades Abysinnia + Kristallnacht limited fascist influence + (Mussolini’s invasion of Abysinnia of 1935) Brits’ govt.’s secret deal Hoare-Laval pact meant Abysinnia would be handed to Mussolini to end the brutal war.
  • Hitler’s other activities e.g. Czechoslovakia, appeasement, Kristallnacht, (1936) Remilitarising Rhineland etc.
  • Economic recovery + CPGB and BUF causing their own downfall.

(Bevin spent much of his career fighting communist influence).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
60
Q

Wartime cabinet…

WW2

A
  • Arthur Greenwood, Ernest Bevin, Lorrd Beaverbrook, Kingsley Wood, Sir John Anderson, Winston Churchill, Clement Attlee and Anthony Eden.
61
Q

Details of wartime cabinet members…

(WW2)

A

Arthur Greenwood - Lab party leader in (1930s) + (1943) Dropped from war cabinet and put in charge of reconstruction plans.

Ernest Bevin - Lab MP ->Led world’s largest trade union, TGWU + Opposed communism and fascism + (1940-1945) Minister of Labour and National Service. + Became foreign secretary for Attlee when he was elected after the war.

Lorrd Beaverbrook - Heavily contributed to war effort via being Minister of Aircraft Production + expanded no. available aeroplanes to RAF rapidly.
Kingsley Wood - (1938-1940) Minister of Air and (1940-1943) Chancellor of the Exchequer + Developed ‘Pay-As-You-Earn’ system for income tax and raised taxation to be credited to taxpayers and returned to them after the war.

Sir John Anderson - (1940) Home Secretary + (1943) Succeeded Kingsley Wood as Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Winston Churchill - PM from 1940-1945, Minister of Defence, devised own foreing policy, did not intervene with Bevin’s post of Ministry of Labour.

62
Q

Details on Chamberlain’s downfall…

(Prior to WW2 - What Baldwin thought)

A
  • Chamberlain was a competent Chancellor of the Exchequer.
  • Baldwin + Chamberlain collaborated easily.
  • HOWEVER, Baldwin accused Chamberlain of allowing policy of appeasement to drift Chamberlain
  • Chamberlain thought that he could adress Germany’s grievances follwing the Treaty of Versailles -> He thought appeasement was worth trying but WW2 was inevitable.
63
Q

Why another war was not wanted…

(WW2)

A
  • Concerns of gas attacks (Axis powers’ attack on Spain, Italy e.g. Mussolini invading Abysinnia
  • No party felt free to advocate a re-armament programme.
  • Rearmament difficult due to things like the Depression.

(1936 - Hitler remilitarised Rhineland)

64
Q

Evidence for anti-war sentiment…

(Prior to WW2)

A
  • (Feb 1933) Oxford Union Debate -> Large majority in favour of the resolution ‘That this house will in no circumstances fight for its king and country’ -> This showed prevalent pacifist feeling in Britain at this time.
  • (1933-1935) Peace Ballot -> League of Nations conduct a poll -> 11.5m were a majority for favouring armament reduction.
65
Q

Criticisms levied at Chamberlain…

(Chamberlain was Cons leader until his death in Nov 1940)

A
  • Failed to win support of Lab + previous National Govt.
  • Didn’t prepare economy with enough urgency
  • Blamed for Norway def. (May-Jun 1940)
  • Underestimated Hitler’s aggression + German blockade not tight enough
  • Many MPs felt Brits’ army inadequately supplied.

(With WW2 outbreak, millions of coffins + 3m evacuated)

(Sep 1939-Phoney War) Chamberlain’s support rose from 55% to 68%).

66
Q

How the Norwegian Debate borought Chamberlain’s downfall…

A
  • Former PM LG denounced Chamberlain.
  • Cons refused to support Chamberlain unles Libs + Lab support.
  • Lab party wanted him to resign.
  • Chamberlain resigned.
67
Q

Some details on leadership contest after Chamberlain…

(WW2)

A
  • Churchill v Lorrd Halifax
  • Churchill was controversila and faced high hostility from his fellow Cons.
  • Leaders were ready to accept Halifax as PM however, Halfiax felt that he was not right for the job + Churchill had high self-belief and confidence, and was very eager to take PM role.
68
Q

Details on the Battle of Britain…

(WW2)

A
  • Dog fights in the sky
  • Lufftwaffe outnumbered RAF.
  • Churchill labelled RAF as ‘the few’.
  • 10% RAF pilots were Polish.
69
Q

Pros and cons of Churchill as a wartime leader…

A

Pros:
- Very confident + Australian PM Sir Robert Maizies admired Churchill highly.
- Leadership said to be inspiring.
- Persuaded FDR for the Lend-Lease Act (Mar 1941)
- High govt. experience.
- Some say he had a good vision.
Cons:
- Churchill’s speeches regarded as ‘emotional bravado’.
- His cabinet Under-Secretary remembered him as ‘not at all kind and considerate’.
- General Brooke, Chief of the General Staff, highly critical of Churchill.
- Australian PM said Churchill loved war + Disinterested in economics and finance.
- Constantly interfered in govt. departments.
- Failures with Dakar and Greece led to Bengal famine.

70
Q

Churchill things…

A
  • (1910-1911) Home Secretary + Minister of Defence in WW2 (meant he had no time for social policy which he perhaps left to Lab members.
  • (1914) Moved to Cons
  • (1929-1939) Wilderness years
  • Associated with Gallipoli failures
71
Q

Churchill’s impact on govt. (WW2)

A
  • Halifax sent as an ambassador to U.S.
  • Cons had 53 party posts + Lab held 16 party posts -> Churchill understood importance of Lab + Trade union approach.]
  • Speeches involved ‘We shall fight them on their beaches’, ‘This was their finest hour’ (18th Jun 1940) etc.
72
Q

Details on Dunkirk retreat (WW2)

A
  • 400K men on the beach
  • Brits’ army trapped on the beach by Germans.
  • Brits’ army could not get large naval ships and boats could not approach shallow shores.
  • 4k men died out of 400k men..
  • Churchill regarded Dunkirk a ‘success’ rather than a failure.
73
Q

Reasons why Churchill was important in early years of WW2…

A
  • Boosted morale with speeches and his views on Dunkirk.
74
Q

1945 General election results…

A

Lab - 393 seats with 47.8% share of vote
Cons - 213 seats with 39.8% share of vote
Libs - 12 seats with 9% share of the vote
Communist - 3 seats
Commonwealth - 1 seat

75
Q

Why was there a 3 week delay for the election results…

(5th Jul - 26th Jul)

A
  • Due to later additional elections in North England
  • Due to overseas troops still not have had the opportunity to vote
76
Q

WW2 impact on women…

A
  • (1940 onwards) Many women directed shipyards, aircraft factories, docks, hospitals, munitions engineering + Covered areas of labour shortage
  • (By late 1943) Over 1/2 factory workers were women -> (By end of 1943) approx. 80% of married women working
  • Some women worked to break the German Enigma code at Bletchley Park + 1/2 million in auxiliary branches of army -> 350k in civil defence or farming
  • HOWEVER, women workers rarely got over 60-70% of a man’s wage for the same job. + Despite lasting changes for women, for many other women, life returned to normal after the war finished, as they may have had to give up jobs for returning men from the war.
77
Q

WW2 impact on children…

A
  • (Sep 1939) Govt. evacuated 1m children out of Britain’s main cities, sent to villages etc…
  • (Jan 1940) Over 1/2 million returned home due to ‘phoney war’.
  • (1944-1945) German V1 and V2 rocket attacks disrupted the edcation of thousands of children.
78
Q

WW2 impact on civil liberties and restrictions…

A
  • On WW2 outbreak, Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939 gave the govt. authority to make regulations covering any aspect of life to secure realm’s defence.
  • Censorship imposed on overseas mail, newspapers, phone lines
  • Due to Brits’ importing most of its food, U-boat attacks in the Battle of the Atlantic threatened to starve Britain out.
79
Q

WW2 and rationing…

A
  • Due to Brits’ importing most of its food, U-boat attacks in the Battle of the Atlantic threatened to starve Britain out.
  • Strict rationing reinforced -> Woolton, Minister of Food, lauched campaigns against wasting food and people were prosecuted for it. + Woolton also created new recipes to make rations more appetising…
  • (From 1941) Clothes rationed
80
Q

WW2 and propaganda…

A
  • ‘Keep Calm’ posters
  • ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives’
  • Ministry of Agriculture went by ‘Dig for Victory’ and the Minsitry of Fuel and Power implored the Brits to not waste energy.
  • During WW2 and despite conditions, an avg of 30m attendees visited the cinemas weekly.
  • The BBC started WW2 badly as they cancelled most of its entertainment programmes + (By 1945) 10m private radio sets and they provided a wider range of entertainement. + BBC had a massive influence on morale
  • During the Blitz, despite high spirits, reports of theft, looting, bombing raid survivors shouting abuse at dignitaries visiting the ruins etc…
81
Q

WW2 and The Blitz…

A
  • London endured 300 attacks by aircraft + Other cities attacks.
  • (1944) V1 and V2 rocket attacks launched on London
  • 40% of Brits’ had domestic shelters.
  • (Nov 1940) Coventry suffered one of th emost heavy attacks.
  • (Spring 1942) ‘Baedeker raids’ targeted historic towns like York, Norwich and Exeter.
  • Anderson shelters (back gardens) and Morrison shelters (inside the house)
82
Q

Details on the Beveridge Report…

(Dec 1942)

A
  • Sold over 600k copies
  • Report entitled ‘Social Securtiy and Allied Services’
    The things that the report proposed entailed:
    -> a national health service for good healthcare
    -> Family allowances for all parents
    -> Full employment (defined as approx. 3% unemployment)
    The ideas that were labelled radical entailed:
    -> Ending means test
    -> Providing a universal national minimum benefit for everyone from birth to death
    -> Making national insurance universal and comprehensive

(AKA the ‘White Paper’)

(1944) Coaltion govt, bought one key recommendation form Bevridge -> family allowances, which paid 5 shillings weekly, up till they were 15 or 16, if they were still in full-time education.

83
Q

Policies of post-war Lab govt…

(From ‘cradle to the grave’)

A
  • (1945 Family Allowances Act) 5 shilling paid to a family for each child after the 1st one
  • (1946 National Insurance Act) A universal act applying NI to all employees. -> It gave sickness benefits, pensions, maternity grants and more.
  • (1948 National Assistance Act) Encoruaged by Bevin, this ACT gave basic financial aid for those who could not fend for themselves, and it forced local authorities to providd accomodation for the homeless.

(Major new towns built under 1946 New Towns Act)

(NHS founded in 1948)

84
Q

Limitations on Labour’s post-war reforms…

(Lab gained huge ministerial experience from war cabinet)

A
  • No unified NHS administration
  • Shortage of trained staff and buildings -> (1948) 10k dentists for 47m people
  • Local health centres slow to develop + (1948-1951) NHS spending doubled and controlling costs were difficult
  • Nationalisation issues e.g. despite rise in wireless communications, private mine owners had to be compensated at a costly £2700m.

(Rowntree’s 1951 survey showed that under 2% were living in ‘primary poverty’).

85
Q

Details on the Butler Education Act, 1944…

(By Cons Education Minister R.A Butler)

A
  • Free compulsory secondary education est.
  • School leaving age risen from 14 to 15
  • At 11 years old, students would need to take an exam named the ‘11 plus’ to determine if they were eligible to attend a grammar school.
  • (By 1950) 30% children in grammar school, 65% in secondary school and 4% in technical school.
  • (1947-1967) In maintained shools, no. of children rise from 5.5m to 9.1m + no. of teachers 2x from 200k to 400k.
    HOWEVER…
  • Cons saw this as it was too radical, and the left said it was not extensive enough
  • An exam at 11 years to decide entire future perhaps unfair…
  • Amplified class divisions + School leaving age didn’t rise until (1972)
  • Just the upper classes could afford grammar schools + 80% of children ended up in secondary schools of poor quality
86
Q

Factors that helped Lab win the 1945 election over the Cons…

A
  • Cons agents away in armed forces
  • Churchill’s ‘Gestapo Speech’ may have lost him votes
  • Tendency of those who served in the army was also to be pro-Labour.
  • Churchill perhaps not considered right for post-war reconstruction
  • 20% voters voting for the first time in 1945, and most first-time voters seemed to be Labour.

(‘Gestapo Speech’ suggested that a Lab govt. would need a form of secret police, which infuriated Lab the the British public)

87
Q

Why the Gestapo speech may have not been important…

A
  • Polls show 84% had made up their minds
  • However, with Churchill’s support, in opinion polls, Churchill’s support never fell below 78%.
  • Some other polls show that the Cons had no chance of not winning anyway.
88
Q

Some factors of Labour’s 1945 victory…

A
  • Churchill’s popularity heavily fell -> (1935-1945) Votes fell from 20k to 17k.
  • The vote was for social reform, and the middle classes were the source of Lab’s large majority
  • People feared the high unemployment that occurred during the interwar years, so Lab gained popularity.
  • ‘Total War’ by Cons meant that everyone had to at least give up something for the country’s war effort HOWEVER, propaganda.
  • (1943) A home intelligence report referred to how the Russian army was successful due to their political system + (1930s) This may have justified Lab opposing Cons, as Lab was viewed as Brits’ socialism
  • Coaltion govt. legitimised Cons cricticism -> Not just due to appeasement failure but also perhaps Brits were inadequately prepared for war.
89
Q

Impact of nationalisation…

(Lab’s work after their 1945 electoral victory)

(Abandoned by the next Cons govt.)

A
  • Gas and electricity supply expands (electrification extended to more remote parts of Britain)
  • 20% industry nationalised
  • (1946-1951) Significant rise in coal output
  • Higher state control meant that safety and working regulations met min. standards.
  • Rise in civil aviation and wireless communications, as civil aviation was nationalised.
  • Aided full employment and railways and coal industies made more efficient.
    HOWEVER…
  • Coal miners’ owners had to be compensated at a costly £2700m + There were cases of miners having same managers after nationalisation
  • Lab may have burdened taxpayers’ money with unprofitable industries + Adminstrative system of nationalisation excluded workers or consumers
90
Q

How much of Britain’s wealth did WW2 wipe out?

A

28%

91
Q

Lab ideology and aims in 1945…

A
  • Nationalalisation
  • A free national health service for everyone
  • Bring in universal state provision
92
Q

How did the Cons view nationalisation?

A
  • Most Cons MPs accepted the nationalisation of coal and railways.
  • However, overall, Most Cons strongly disapproved nationalisation + They believed it would be more efficient under private ownership.

(1950) Brits’ exports 50% than that of 1937.

93
Q

Details on Fuel Crisis 1946-1947…

A
  • Coldest winter since 1881
  • Transport paralysed + coal dumps froze + Coal and electricity rationed
  • Severe temporary resigns
  • Hugh Dalton resigns and Stafford Cripps becomes Chancellor.
94
Q

NHS things…

(Very much the work of Bevan)

A
  • (1946) Parliament allowed the NHS to be est. but began to function in Jul 1948.
    Medical advances…
  • Huge advances in medicine + Fleming’s idea of penicillin was being developed on a large scale due to war (It was 20x stronger than in 1939)
  • (After 1945) Penicillin free all on NHS and peniciliin saved the lives of thousands of soldiers.

(However, shortage of trained staff and buildings and more)

95
Q

Details on the 1947 Dollar Crisis…

A
  • £ weakened + Traders and investors lost confidence in the economy snd they sold their interest in the pound
  • Perhaps convertibility somehwat halted from this.
96
Q

Details on the expenditure crisis…

(Post WW2)…

A
  • Spending on the Brits’ occupied zone in Germany was £234m.
  • Brits’ were aiding Greece and Turkey.
  • Nationalisation fed into this and vice versa…
97
Q

Details on the Korean War…

(1950-53)

(Prior to this, Cripps went by ‘Export or die’

A
  • Lab govt. embark on rearmament programme
  • Rise in imports led to a BoP crisis for Britain + Chancellor Gaitskell forced to introduce payments for prescription + This caused Labour divisions
  • Some central service charges (glasses and dental care) + This divided Lab party as it went against free medical provision

(1945-50) Real wages rose by just 1%

98
Q

Financial problems facing the govt. from 1945…

A
  • War debts (Lend-Lease comtributed to a debt of £4198m
  • Re-housing (Lab re-housed 2m)
  • £ devalued
  • (1938-1946) Invisible earnings dropped from £248m to £120m.
  • Exports of manufactured goods fell by 60%.
  • Costs of maintaining military and other things overseas were rising
99
Q

What was the Home Guard?

(Est. in May 1940)

A
  • An unpaid ‘people’s army’ of people under 18 and people over 65 or in a reserved occupation
  • (Jun 1940) 1.5m people had volunteered

(1945 - Home Guard disbanded)

100
Q

Successes of NHS…

(Alongside medical advances)

A
  • (After 1948) Infant mortality fell significantly + Cases of tuberculosis
  • Groups that couldn’t afford healthcare could now do so
  • (By 1951) Admired in Western Europe
  • (After 1945) Improvement blood transfusion services, skin grafts, immuniusation for tetanus + Ultrasound developed
101
Q

Limitations of the NHS…

(From 1948)

A
  • No unified NHS administration
  • (1948) 10k dentists for 47m people
  • Hospital buildings often ill suited for purpose
  • (1948-1951) NHS spending 2x -> Controlling costs very difficult
102
Q

Limits in Lab’s reform programme…

(Post WW2)

A
  • Welfare benefits remained low and didn’t rise with inflation
  • Proving injuries and such claims remained difficult
  • Financial problems limited no. of houses built
  • Technical resources were never as prestige as grammar schools + The exam at 11 and failing gave a sense of failure at 11
103
Q

Festival of Britain…

(By 1951)

A
  • Designed by the Lab govt. to boost patriotism and to cheer people up after post-war austerity
  • Nearly 11 hectares of bombsite on the South Bank of the Thames cleared -> To build exhibition + Skylon Tower was emblematic here
  • Britain put ‘on show’ as it showed what the country had achieved since the war.
  • A notable centerpiece of it was the Dome of Discovery which showed scientific progress with a health pavillion

(Closed in Sep 1951)

8.5m visitors

104
Q

How many visitors did the Festival of Britain see?

A

8.5m

105
Q

Battersea Park and the Festival of Britain…

A
  • ## Visitors could sample American-style rides on the Skywheel, Bubble-bounce + Flyo Plan.
106
Q

Austerity continuing after WW2 (economic recovery)…

A
  • (1948) Bread and potato rationing ended + (From 1950) Eggs and soup no longer restricted
  • Govt. recorded shortfall of 700k houses + (1945-1951) 807k houses built which had 3 bedrooms, good-sized gardens but insifficent no. made + 1951 census showed that in England and Wales, 4.8m/12.4m homes had no fixed bath
  • HOWEVER, according to Rowntree, far less marked poverty according to Rowntree’s (1950) survey.

(Apr 1951) Bevan resigns from govt.

107
Q

Points on Lab divisions…

(1945-1950) 1st time Lab serves a full five-year term in office

A
  • Morrison and Bevan has disputive opinions
  • Bevan wanted to continue nationalisation and Morrison wanted to consolidate and win the support of middle class voters
108
Q

Bevan and Gaitskell’s breakdown in relations…

(Lab divisions)

A
  • Bevanites were against Gaitskell’s decision -> charges for spectacles, dental treatment and prescriptions (in Korean War, where defence spending was rising)
  • Bevan also criticised rearmament programme
  • Prescription charges according to Bevan went against NHS
  • Bevanite rebellion meant Lab had s majority of just five

(Gaitskell was the Chancellor of the Exchequer after Stafford Cripps).

This perhaps contributed to Lab’s 1950 election def.

109
Q

1951 general election results…

A

Lab lose due to ‘First Past the Post’ system -> Despite more vote share than Cons, Cons have more seats
Cons - 321 seats with 48% of the vote
Lab - 295 seats with 48.8% of the vote
Lib - 6 seats with 2.5% of the vote

110
Q

1950 election results…

A

Lab - 315 seats with 46.1% of the vote
Cons - 298 seats with 43.5% of the vote
Lib - 9 seats with 9.1% of votes

111
Q

Why Cons emerged again by 1951…

A
  • Party reorganised + New membership drive
  • Cons exploited Lab setbacks e.g. nationalisation’s cons
  • Wanted to preserve NHS
  • Pledged to build 300k homes a year, compared to Lab’s 200k

(Cons still wanted to preserve NHS)

112
Q

Reasons for Lab’s loss of support

(From 1950-)

A
  • (1949) Pound being devalued
  • Lab’s high taxation, bureaucracy and red tape
  • Many Lab leaders were old and exhausted e.g. Attlee, Morrison and Bevin
  • (1945-1951) Cons gain 4m supporters + Lab gain 2m voters + Nearly 2m Lib voters switched to Cons
  • Lab divisions between right and left
113
Q

Churchill as PM (1951-1955)… + the govt.

(War victory may have aided Cons’ 1951 and 1955 victories)

A
  • An absentee PM, due to ill health + (1955) 80 yrs old when he retired
  • Spent more time abroad on holiday than in Downing St
  • Daily govt. handling left to Eden and R.A. Butler + Churchill still had high power
  • Butler + Macmillan didn’t get on -> Relations between Churchill + Eden were souring -> Eden was impatient with waiting for Churchill to step down as PM
114
Q

1955 general election results…

A

Cons - 344 seats with 49.7%
Lab - 277 seats with 46.4%
Libs - 6 seats with 2.7%
-> Cons boosted their majority from 17 seats to 60 seats after Butler’s budget of (Apr 1955)

(Eden takes power from 1955, he called the election 3 days after Butler’s budget)

115
Q

Eden’s tenure from 1955…

A
  • Eden was optimistic and progressive in domestic affairs
  • However, perhaps indecisive
  • His situation not helped by worsening economic situation + So Butler had to backtrack on his ‘budget of April’

(His downfall was due to handling of foreign affairs)

116
Q

Details on the Suez Crisis…

(Oct 1956)

A
  • Israel attack Egypt via the Suez Canal + Brits’ and French issued ultimatum to stop combat
  • Ultimatum ignored -> Brits’ bombed Egypt air force + (Nov 1956) Brits’ + French land troopers in Suez Canal
  • Nasser nationalised Suez Canal + Brits’ fail to retake control -> Eden said he had no foreknowledge of Israel attacking Egypt
117
Q

Impact of Suez Crisis…

A
  • Divided the Cons + Almost 40 Cons MPs rebelled
  • Colonial Minister, Anthony Nutting resigned
  • Chief Whip, Edward Heath strongly opposed Eden’s actions
  • U.S pressure exposed Brits’ financial vulnerability -> So, Macmillan est. a campaign within the cabinet to stop the Suez invasion
  • (Dec 1956) Brits’ withdraw from Egypt

(Macmillan was Chancellor of the Exchequer)

118
Q

Macmillan as PM…

(Macmillan took over after Eden’s resignation)

A
  • Cons’ unity restored
  • Economic prosperity unravelled
  • (Oct 1959) Cons’ electoral victory -> Cons had a majority of 100 seats
  • Macmillan seemed to have full control poff affairs
  • Lab party in disarray

(Macmillan over Butler as PM as tax cuts dented Butler’s credibility just b4 1955 election, and Macmillan had a better past record)

119
Q

Cons’ domestic policies (from 1951)

A

Housing -> Cons promised to build 300k homes yearly, more than Lab
Social services -> Prescription charges rose to 2 shillings
Education -> Tripartite school system developed | HOWEVER, financial issues meant low technical schools + People started to question fairness of tripartite system + Seemed like Brits’ falling behind to other countries in education
Other social reforms -> 1956 Clean Air Act aimed to prevent pollution + Housing and Factory Acts aimed to improve living and working conditions + 1957 Homicide Act restricted when the death penalty would be imposed + (1957) Wolfden Commission homo things

120
Q

Lab divisions…

(From 1951, they narrowly lost the election here)

(1951 - Bevan resigned)

A
  • Left-wing split amplified during 1950s + Limited lab chances of winning 1955 elections
  • (1955) Bevan and Gaitskell stood for Lab when Attlee stepped down + Gaitskell def. Bevan + Right-wing wanted Clause IV + Left-wing wanted to be more socialist + Trade unions opposed party leadership + Divisions over Brits’ nuclear weapons

(Gaitskell right-wing, Bevan left-wing)

121
Q

Details on post-war boom/economic situation…

(WW2)

(Apart from U.S, Brits’ had highest income per head than any other major country) + more consumer goods

A
  • BoP crisis + Military costs risen from Korean War + Gaitskell’s prescription charges etc
  • (1952) Recovery + (By 1954) Brits’ becoming prosperous again
  • (Jul 1954) Food rationing ended
  • (By 1955) Full employment perhaps achieved + Just 200k unemployed +
  • (By 1961) Brits’ population rose to 51m -> 5% more than (in 1951).
  • Huge expansion in heavy industry and electrical industry

(1950s) General pattern of economic prosperity

Cons perhaps lucky to have come into power during economic prosperity

122
Q

I.R rates and ‘Stop-go’ economics…

A
  • Initially, I.R rates were working, but then it would not
  • Economy would improve, overheat then it would need to be cooled…
123
Q

Stats on Brits’ world trade shares…

A
  • (1950) Brits controlled 1/4 of world trade, but U.S controlled 27% of world trade
  • (1959) Brits’ had 17% world trade
124
Q

What did Butler do to combat the BoP crisis?

A
  • (Oct 1951) His memorandum entailed…
  • Food subsidies cut
  • Imports reduced
  • Travel allowances reduced
  • I.R rates boosted from 2% to 4%

(UK’s trade balance improved by end of 1950s)

125
Q

Stop-go economics details…

A

Stop: Deflation needed to combat poor BoP -> Bank rate raised + credit restrictions
Go: Recovering BoP but very slowly -> More expansion and controls removed
Stop: Economy overheating and too many imports -> Higher I.R rates + spending cuts

(1953) Butler cut income tax and purchase tax

126
Q

Stop-go economics and budgets of 1955…

A

(1951-52) STOP
(1953-55) GO
(1955-59) STOP
-> (1955) Butler cutting taxes aided Cons electoral victory + (Oct 1955) Butler’s ‘pots and pans’ raised taxes on various household objects + This dented his credibility and Gaitskell criticised him in his speech

(1955) Cons electoral victory

127
Q

Stop-go policies criticisms…

A
  • Failed to produce a consistently perfroming economy
  • (1948-1956) Incomes rose by 75% + Output risen only by 28%
  • Thorneycroft wanted to limit wages to cut money supply
  • Cabinet ministers opposed this -> They believed this would boost unemployment and housing cutbacks.
  • Stop-go crisis continued throughout the summer of 1957.

(Thorneycroft was Macmillan’s chancellor)

(By the end of the 1950s, clear that Brits were behind other countries in economic growth).

128
Q

Rising living standards…

(Post WW2)

A
  • Big need for housing development
  • New towns built e.g. Harlow, Kirby etc
  • Other towns e.g. Stevenage, Corby etc
  • Town centres found themselves more seperated from wealthy suburbs
  • Rise in car ownership and home ownership + (1951-1961) Men’s wages rose from £8.30 to £15.35.
  • (Jul 1954) Food rationing ended
129
Q

Impact of affluence and consumerism…

(Post WW2)

A
  • Surge in ownership of consumer goods
  • (1955) ITV est. + Rise in advertising industry + Commercial television est.
  • More popular programmes
  • (1950s) 60k holidayed weekly with Butlins + HOWEVER, foreign holidays enoyed by under 2% of populace
  • (1953) 56% of population watched Queen’s coronation + (1951-1955) TV and radio licences rose from 764k to 4m
130
Q

More details on commercial television…

(Post WW2)

A
  • (Start of 1950s) One channel + TV shows only broadcast from 3pm-6pm, then from 7pm to 10pm -> Time between was ‘toddler’s truce’ to get children to sleep
  • U.S style game shows prolfierated + Coronation Street
  • (End of 1956) BBC + ITV were showing between them 12 different U.S comedy series
  • ## High criticism from U.S influence + U.S imports popular
131
Q

Changing social attitudes and behaviour…

(Post WW2)

A
  • More youth due to ‘baby boom’
  • New labour-saving devices came in
  • Youth had new fashion and records
  • Tech changes aided culture e.g. transistor
  • (Early 1950s) ‘Teddy boys’ were a concern as they were linked with juvenile delinquency + (1955) Rock and Roll reached Brits
  • Music perhaps becoming more U.S-like + more sophisticated
  • ‘British New Wave’ saw writers and film makers challenging attitudes
132
Q

Details on ‘the Establishment’…

(As well as class)

A
  • Informal networks that connected social and political elites.
  • They believed that Brits were being held back by ruling elite.
  • (1951-1957) Cons govt. seemed to be dominated by ‘the Establishment’
  • (Late 1950s) Many novels written aimed at working class + Upper and upper-middle classes subject to heavy criticism by writers known as the ‘angry young men’.
133
Q

Women after WW2…

A
  • Primarily housewives
  • 75% of all women married
  • Family Allowance Act 1945 was meant to ensure women didnt need to work + Welfare state based on nuclear family + full employment for men
  • Mortgages and bank accounts in men’s names + Women financially highly dependent on their husbands
  • (1952) Equal pay for teachers + (1954) Equal pay for civil servants + HOWEVER, most workplaces had women earning 40% less then men
  • Eventually, women would rise up against traditional jobs, and how labour-saving tech increased boredom etc
134
Q

Commonwealth things…

A
  • (1948-1957) Immigration into Britain increased from 28k-42k + 1.32m Brits left Britain for a new life abroad
  • (1957) 210k immigrants settled in Britain + 75% were male + (1950s) Brits received 676k immigrants wanting permamnent residence

(1948) Windrush 492 migrant workers

135
Q

Pull factors on New Commonwealth migrants…

(1948 - British Nationality Act + 250k immigrants came to Britain)

A
  • How Britain portrayed as glamourous + Economic growth meant many jobs available
  • Big organisations e.g. London Transport and British Railways took advantage of high supply of cheap labour
  • Economy of home countries not very good
136
Q

Push factors on New Commonwealth migrants…

(Post WW2)

A
  • Racism towards immigrants
  • Accused of bringing crime into country
  • Businesses such as Vickers, Tate and Lyle enforced quota -> Only 5% of jobs to go towards non-white people.
  • (1958) Riots would occur due to racism + Teddy Boys often led racism
137
Q

Nuclear concerns…

(Post WW2)

(Est in 1958) CND wanted unilateral nuclear disarmament - Many Lab members joined this

A
  • (1946 Atomic Energy Act) blocked atomic collaboration between Brits and U.S
  • Initially, Brits’ wanted nuclear detterent to have high power and during Cold War -> Aim of Macmillans govt.
  • (Jan 1947) Plans est. to make a Brits’ nuclear weapn
  • (1952-1957) Brits conducted 12 atmospheric tests, in Australia and Pacific + (1952) 60% Brits apporved of British atomic bomb + (1957) Brits’ made ‘H’ bomb
  • U.S + USSR more powerful here than Brits
138
Q

Nuclear armament and the Lab party

A
  • Bevan once supported unilateral nuclear disaramament + (1957) He announced his opposition to it -> Left-wing of Lab felt betrayed by Bevan
  • He may have done this to ensure future Lab govt. role

(Bevan was left-wing)

Unilateral nuclear disaramament renounces the use and posession of nuclear weapsn without waiting for any international consultation or agreement

139
Q

Post-war economic adjustment…

(WW2)

A
  • Rationing
  • Rebuilding exports (imports had to be reduced to buy essential food and raw materials, + to avoid paying for goods in dollars.
  • Building a new international economic system -> (1944) GATT est. to regulate world trade which Brits’ join
  • Brits’ imperial preference had to end + Brits’ had to make pound fully convertible to dollars in a year.
  • Labour’s economic adjustment
140
Q

Other WW2 issues (economically)…

A
  • Brits had debts of £4198m + (1945-1946) BoP crisis + Brits’ spent £750m more abroad than it received
  • 60% drop in export of manufactured
  • (1938-1946) Invisible exports from £248m to £120m
  • Maintaining military costs overseas were rapidly rising
141
Q

1951 Census…

A
  • No. of people born in Poland - 151,736
  • No. of people born in Jamaica - 6,447
  • No. of people born in British Guiana - 2,024
  • No of people in Trinidad - 1,569

(1955) Notting Hill Carnival

‘KBW’

142
Q

Points on nuclear weapons…

A
  • (Oct 1952) Brits test 1st atomic bomb over the Montebello Islands + (Nov 1952) U.S test 10.4 megaton hydrogen bomb
  • Lab divisions left and right
143
Q

1957 White Paper with reasons…

A
  • White Paper sets out Brits’ future legislation
  • (1957 White Paper) Defence Minister Duncan Sandys cut army spending -> big concern for RAF -> In return for nuclear armament spending
    Reasons:
  • (Mid-1960s) Brits’ still strongest European power -> Militarily and economically -> Heavily reliant on U.S, due to WW2 bankruptcy
  • Sandys became Defence Minister 10 days prior to Sputnik being launched
144
Q

Economic background/reasons of White Paper…

A
  • (1957) Defence Budget -> Nuclear armaments had to be cost-efficient -> despite ramifications for RAF
  • (1954) Brits marginally performing better economically than France and Germany
  • (1959) Brits’ GDP rose by 22% higher than France -> 9% higher than Germany
145
Q

CND history and membership (according to their website)…

A
  • (Late 1940s and 50s) U.S then Soviet Union then Brits developed and tested new weapons
  • Concerns over health risks + environmental damage + (1950s) Europe under big lvl of nuclear conflict
  • (Feb 1958) CND est.
  • With membership, all sections of society involved + high support from scientists and QUAKERS + membership rose rapidly in early yrs
146
Q

More ‘Never had it so good?’ things…

A
  • (Dec 1952) ‘Great Smog’ -> Perhaps coincided with 4k people dying that winter
  • (1953) Elizabeth II coronated
  • (1956) ‘Rock n roll’ est. + Clean Air Act est. which gave local authorities power to control emissions
  • (1952-1959) No. of cars on the road 2x
147
Q

Economic recovery under Attlee govt…

A
  • (By 1948) economy starting to recover
  • Marshall Plan gave Brits $13bn
  • (1946-1950) exports rose by 80%
  • Automobile production 2x pre-war peak
  • (1950) Balance of payments surplus
148
Q

Points on why 1950s economy represented ‘golden years’…

(For Cons)

A
  • (Jul 1954) Rationing ended
  • 6k new schools + 71 unis
  • All despite huge defence budget
  • Britain seemed to be becoming more modernised
  • (1951-1963) Wages rose by 72% + Unemployment at 1-2%
  • (1957) Macmillan built 372k homes -> More than Attlee
149
Q

Points in why 1950s economy represented ‘wasted years’…

(For Cons)

A
  • Perhaps would have happened regardless due to rise in affluence?
  • International economy inproving but Brits’ did not feel full benefit
  • Cons did not fully seize opportunity of global demand for manufacture
  • Cons accepted Keynasian ideas but did not follow through with it
  • ‘stop-go’ economy shunted UK between deflation and inflation
  • Cons did not have clear financial strategy + Empire deterioriating + staginflation

A Level History (21 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions