Chapter Four Flashcards
(22 cards)
Who won the 1945 general election and why?
Atlee
- landslide majority
- people wanted change
- conservatives blamed for appeasement, 1930’s and Churchill compared the Labour Party to the Gestapo
Explain the reasons for conservatives winning the 1951 election
- Labour weakness - exhausted cabinet, associated with high taxes, rationing and austerity, Korean War, party was divided, broken promise of free NHS with introduction of charges for glasses, dental and prescription
- Conservative strengths - reorganisation of the party, Lord Woolton reformed party finances and local organisation, influx of young politicians, promised to build 300,000 houses a year and give people more red meat, committed to welfare state, Churchill was a respected figurehead
- Liberal - poor so couldn’t enter many constituencies and therefore gave more votes to conservatives
What was the seat majority of the 1951 election?
26 seats
Give information about Churchill and his second term
Aged 77 and in poor health
Butler was the real driving force - developed new and modern ideas such as the 1944 education act
Explain the outcome of the 1955 election
Conservative majority of 107
- Conservative strengths - economic strengths e.g. wage increase form £8.30 —>£18.35, TV ownership 4%—>91%, car ownership increased 500%. However GDP was lower than other European countries despite taking most marshal aid (ours 2.3% compared to Italy 5.15), aimed to build 300,000 houses exceeded
- Labour weakness - publicly split on welfare measures, state control of economy, nuclear disarmament. But both opposed Britain joining EEC. Atlee also appears older and more exhausted than Eden
- Liberals - irrelevant
What was Eden’s experience?
- previous experience in foreign affairs
- shadowed Churchill
Why was the Suez Canal important for Britain?
Trade and empire. 1/3 ships though it were British and 2/3 of oil to Western Europe went through Suez Canal
Who was involve and what happened in the suez crisis?
- Britain, France and Isreal
- Nasser nationalised the canal, plan for Isreal to invade Egypt and Britain and France to come in as the peacemakers.
- Britain forced to withdraw due to pressure from USA and USSR
What were the advantages of Britain involvement in suez crisis?
- needed to protect British influence in the Middle East for oil and prevention of soviet control
- many believed Britain needed to intervene due to the canals importance to the empire
What were the disadvantages of Britain involvement in the suez crisis?
- USA against using force and Britain didnt consult Eisenhower before
- USSR condemn actions as an imperialist invasion
- Nassar’s actions were legal so no real justification for the response from Britain
How did the suez crisis affect British relations with the USA?
US wanted the crisis resolved peacefully and Eisenhower was furious as he wasnt told about the plan. Makes it harder for west to condemn USSR actions in Hungary at the same time.
Proves Britain is a junior partner
What are the consequences of the suez crisis?
- Eden resigns in January 1957 - McMillan replaces him
- Britain is humiliated infront of the world
- led to explosion of colonial nationalism in Africa
- conservatives have economic problems - oil crisis
How did MacMillan attempt to solve Britains economic problems?
- sped up decolonisation
- reduce defence spending instead relying on nuclear deterrent
- there was a balance of payments crisis as income had risen by 75% but output only by 28% —> rapid inflation
- to stop this he could limited wage increases but that would potentially cause more unemployment
Why did MacMillan treasury team resign?
They demanded a halt to government spending but go ignored. Whole team resigned as they wanted to control finances and make cuts.
MacMillan praised for diffusing the crisis
What reforms did Butler pass as homes office minister?
- homocide bill - limits death penalty
- street offences act
- commonwealth immigration act
What was MacMillan’s original nickname?
Super mac
What is meant by embourgeosification?
More and more people becoming middle class in thier lifestyle
To what extent was MacMillan correct when he said people had “never had it so good”?
Yes
- wage increases, TV ownership increased, car ownership increased
- rationing ended
- built over 300,000 new houses a year
- still welfare state
No
- rapid inflation
- GDP was only 2.3%
- Balance of payment deficit
What happened in July 1962 and what were the consequences?
Night of the long knives
Sacking of seven cabinet ministers
Became known as mac the knife
How did foreign affairs damage the conservative parties image in the early 1960’s?
- Developments in the Cold War revealed Britain was no longer a major power
- French vetoed British attempt to join EEC on national TV
Douglas-Home and his leadership
- made PM after MacMillan’s resignation
- aristocratic and Etonian background - not voted in which worsened the conservatives image
- was trusted and popular with some of the party
- faced a new revitalised labour under Wilson
How did the economy contribute to the conservative parties image decline?
- ways of trying to slow balance of payments deficit such as ‘pay pause’ had no impact
- unemployment began to rise and reached over 80,000 by end of 1863
- increase in strikes - first the seamen in may 1962
