How Important Were The Reconstrctuon Polcies Of WSC Gov And What Role Did He Play Flashcards
(8 cards)
Why was it unclear about what the war was being fought for by 1944?
- initially it had been for Poland but now Poland was ignored and Russia could dominate it
- Britain defend ‘civilized values’ but subjected German cities to teror bombing
- Britain allied to USSR but campaign in Greece was against communism
- war to preserve British independence of action ending with US control of military strategy
- much of British empire lost to Japan in the east
What was the outcome of the uncertainty of the war ?
Attention became centered around making a post war Britain better by radical reform
Hoped for a massive 😉 National effort which would go to post war reconstruction
This had previsouly failed post WW1 and there was a determination for there not to be a repeat of this failure
How did WSC Churchill view the opinion for change ?
Saw it as a distraction from the war effort despite eagerness for change before 1914
Wartime coalition had still made substantial change in planning the post war period and reform post 1945
- government had realised loosing the war was now unlikely and many ministers were keen to talk on domestic policy along side international
What were the key wartime policies ?
- agreement on the 1942 Beveridge report of 1942 proposing a ‘cradle to grave’ plan for social welfare elimating poor health, ignorance and poverty
- commitment to end old system of help for the poor and creation of new National Assistance system
- there were influential reports on town planning and industrial development
- hospital and railways run by states
- nations insurance reformed and new ministry created to run it
- education Act 1944 reorganized education ended frees and promised to raise leaving age to 15
Why was national assistance improtant ?
Ended old ‘means test’ which now helped the needy
Why was the 1942 Beveridge report important ?
Influential aiming to deal with poverty and umployment post war
It recommended a system that would be
- covering all problems relating to poverty
- available to all
- paid into from wages
- available to all even if unable to pay
- all workers were to contribute
It lead to the establishment of the welfare state under the Labour government
Why was the education act important ?
Each area provide a varied comprehensive education
Leaving age resided to 15 by 1947 then 16
Education divided between primary secondary and tertiary
School fees for state schools ended and milk and meals provided
Exam at 11 introduced to decide on type of school to attend
How did WSC see this ?
Many conservatives supported the change however some were against the extension of a welfare state
- Churchill had a similar view but he did accept the terms and measurements he thought necessary
Labour however didn’t think it went far enough- they introduced the measure though which is part of their reason for winning
