Conservative Domination - 1951-1964 Flashcards
(17 cards)
Why was Churchill not wanted as PM after WW2?
He was defeated by the Labour Government (led by Attlee) as through 45-51 they offered Britain new hope to Britain by fully accepting the Beveridge Report. Churchill himself was seen as a wartime PM, and therefore useless now the war was over.
What was the Beveridge Report 1942?
A report by William Beveridge which would provide the blueprint for social-policy in post-war Britain.
Why did Labour lose the 1951 election despite the Beveridge Report?
They had set goals for nationalism, NHS and housing but continuous rationing and high taxes lead to their loss
What was the economic reasons for Labour losing the 1951 election?
-Huge post war debt
-Britain only got their loan from America in 2006
-Decolonisation
-Huge loss of life in the war
-Impact of the Blitz (cost to rebuild)
-Loss of equipment
What were the social reasons for Labour losing the 1951 election?
-Huge change in gender roles due to women’s important role in the war effort
-Zeitgeist (public mood wanted the government to be more involved)
-Post-war consensus agreed that intervention in the war was necessary and it was popular
What wider world context should be considered?
-Cold War and fear of nuclear war
-Korean War
-Communist China
-Iron Curtain Speech
-East and West Germany
What strengths lead to the Conservatives winning the election in 1951?
-They appealed to the wider demographic
-Promises 300,000 homes (more than Labour)
-They built upon Labour’s strengths
-Accepted the post-war consensus
What weaknesses did the Conservatives have?
-They did not win the popular vote
-There was a perception they’d have weak leadership due to the aging Winston Churchill
-Some felt their policies were too close to Labour, making people feel a lack of alternatives
What was Labour’s weaknesses which led to their loss in 1951?
-Rationing
-Criticism due to the Korean War
-Party was split from left vs right:
–Left side wanted a more socialist party to benefit the working class
–Right side wanted Labour to reform itself to appeal to the middle class
What strengths did Labour have in the 1951 election despite losing?
-They performed better here than in 1945:
–13.9 million votes was the most votes the party had ever gotten at the time
-Party divisions weren’t a major issue
What was the electoral system important to the Conservative Party winning the election?
-Labour had less seats that Conservative despite having more votes
-The Liberal decline heavily aided the Conservatives in their victory
What strengths lead to the Conservatives dominating for so long?
-Appealing policies
-Churchill was still very popular
-Increased expenditure (spent more funds)
-Living conditions improved
-New schools and universities were built
-Economy
-Zeitgeist, people content with Conservatives due to their economic prosperity
Why was the Conservative economy so good?
-Boom of economic growth
-Credit > borrow > good spending
-20% rise in land owners
What Labour weaknesses lead to the Conservatives dominating for so long?
-Continuing divisions across the decade, only being resolved in 1963
-They were unsure on if Britain should invest in nuclear weapons
What weaknesses did the Conservatives have that lead to their loss in the 1964 election?
-High unemployment by the end of the period
-Being too complacent lead to:
–Unions being ignored
–No investment in industry
–No long-term economic plan
-Bad leadership
-Suez Canal 1956
-Profumo Affair made public in 1963
-Night of the long knives (Macmillian sacked seven ministers in one night)
Who were the leaders of the Conservative Party during Conservative Domination?
Churchill, Eden, MacMillian, Douglas-Hume
What strengths did Labour have that led to them winning the 1964 election?
-Seen as the party of the people
-Ideals aligned with the zeitgeist
-Harold Wilson had a working class background
-Somewhat resolved internal divisions
-Gaitskell dead
-Growing demand for a liberal government
