Questions 1-25

Question 1

What was the name of the post war Labour Prime Minister?

Answer 1

Clement Attlee

Question 2

What were the two main reasons which made the economic policies of the Labour government 1945-51 unpopular with the middle classes?

Answer 2

Nationalisation was ineffective and costly, austerity (high taxes and rationing) measures affected the standard of living in Britain.

Question 3

What was the impact of the Korean War on rationing in Britain?

Answer 3

It prolonged rationing until 1954 whereas most other countries were already coming out of rationing, including Germany.

Question 4

What was the impact of the Korean War on conscription in Britain?

Answer 4

The conscription period was extended to two years and continued.

Question 5

What was the biggest negative impact of the the welfare system introduced by the Labour government between 1945 to 1951?

Answer 5

The money spent on welfare system was significantly larger than expected. The government was not able to invest this money into recently nationalised industry.

Question 6

Name two labour politicians who resigned from their positions within the cabinet over the issue of subscription charges.

Answer 6

Aneurin Bevan, Harold Wilson

Question 7

Why was labour government 1945-51 forced to introduce subscription charges?

Answer 7

The cost of NHS exceeded the expectation costs were more than double the predicted costs of £176 million, reaching around £400 million, Britain had huge expense of Korean War at the time.

Question 8

What was the foreign event in the middle east which caused criticism of Labour government for lack of strength?

Answer 8

Nationalisation of the Anglo Iranian oil company in 1951

Question 9

Why did labour government decide to join the Korean War?

Answer 9

To show commitment to the USA and the UN, despite the Korean war being a UN intervention it was largely lead by the USA in efforts of containing communism in the far east

Question 10

What was the importance of the Liberal vote in 1951 elections?

Answer 10

Liberal Party could not afford to present candidates and most voters strategically voted Conservative rather than allow labour to win constituency.

Question 11

What was the average age of the politicians within Labour government 1945-51?

Answer 11

Old, more specifically an average of over 60 and that’s including younger members of the cabinet.

Question 12

What was the nature of divisions within Labour Party on the issue of defence spending and nuclear deterrent?

Answer 12

Whether to disarm or develop their Nuclear capability, considering the immense cost as Attlee’s administration verged on Bankrupcy

Question 13

Define the term unilateral disarmament

Answer 13

Renouncing the use of weapons, including nuclear weapons, without seeking the approval or reciprocal disarmament of opposing forces.

Question 14

Name two consequences of nationalisation in Labour Britain

Answer 14

The government had to pay reparations to previous company owners increasing budget deficit, most industries became less efficient, neither class within society was fully happy with the effects.

Question 15

Which of the industries caused particularly fierce conflict of its nationalisation?

Answer 15

The Steel Industry

Question 16

Why can the result of the 1951 elections be seen as an oddity?

Answer 16

Labour won 48.8% of votes with Conservatives winning 48%, due to the First Past the Post system however the conservatives received more seats despite not possessing the popular vote

Question 17

What happened to constituency borders in 1949 and what effect did it have on labour election result in 1951?

Answer 17

The constituency borders were redrawn under Attlee’s administration to accommodate some of the population changes such as urbanisation for electoral fairness.

Question 18

Why was the ending of Lend Lease unfavourable for Great Britain?

Answer 18

Britain wanted an extension of lend Lease with 0% rate but USA did not allow for this arrangement. Britain was instead offered a 3% loan which was considerably more costly.

Question 19

What was Truman Doctrine and what was its effect for British foreign policy in Europe?

Answer 19

It was an American policy aimed to stop spread of communism across the world, promising to support democracies against “authoritarian” threats. It meant that Britain was involved in the conflict as a main ally of USA in Europe. For example, Britain would have to adhere to her allies doctrine so ties with communist governments in europe had to be severed, such as with Poland and Czechoslovakia.

Question 20

What conflict on European continent between 1944 to 1947 caused British government to seek American support against communism in Europe?

Answer 20

The Greek civil war (the conflict continued to 1949 however the UK withdrew in ‘47 as they had spent £85 million in Greece since 1944 and the USA stepped in)

Question 21

What was Marshall Aid?

Answer 21

Financial Aid offered to countries recovering post war by the USA, the UK was the largest recipient.
Eastern Bloc countries were technically eligible however Stalin forbade them from accepting.
The purpose of providing financial aid was largely to rebuild stable economies to prevent discontent which may develop into communist sentiment.

Question 22

Name successes of British foreign policy within period 1945 to 1964

Answer 22

Established NATO, EFTA, Commission to divide Marshall Aid help, summits between USA and USSR, Test Ban Treaty 1963.

Question 23

Name failures of British foreign policy within period of 1945 to 1964

Answer 23

Partition of India, Withdrawal from Palestine, nationalisation of Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, Suez Crisis.

Question 24

Name three reasons why Britain opted not to join EEC in 1950s.

Answer 24

Britain just nationalised key industries so that government could have greater control over them and by joining EEC they would have to give them up

There were concerns about political sovereignty, the right to self-govern with supranational organisation like EEC having influence on politics

Britain wanted to retain its economic links to the Empire and Commonwealth

British wanted to find balance between involvement in Europe while maintaining special relationship with USA

There was no reason to believe that EEC will be a success.

Question 25

What was the name of the crisis which had significant cost to British international prestige.

Answer 25

Suez Crisis, 1956