Social change and attitudes in 1945-1964 Flashcards
(29 cards)
What big changes occurred during this time?
-Immigration
- Changes for Woman ( autonomy and pill)
-Critiques of the Establishment
-Youth culture.
What were the attitudes towards Labour’s austerity even after the war ended?
-Was not liked, many families were annoyed at the rations of certain foods (eggs and bacon)
When was rationing over in Britain after ww2?
-rationing finished in 1954
Aswell as rationing being stopped, what other thing was reduced by Conservatives in 1954?
-Reduced income tax
a)What was austerity replaced by and b) was this enjoyed more than austerity ?
a) economic boom in consumerism which transformed family life
b)Yes, consumerism was loved by families and this helped conservatives to win elections in this time
How many car owners were there in Britain by 1960?
-5m car owners in Britain by 1916- signs of affluence in Britain after austerity.
a) what family car was popular, b) and how much did it cost?
a) Morris Minor or Ford Poplar
b)£550
What helped people buy more expensive consumer goods such as furniture and cars?
-Hire purchase agreements.
What new consumer goods became available to people at this time?
-refrigerators, televisions and washing machines, furniture (all on hire-purchase agreements and credit)
In what profession did it become more prevalent that the marriage bar was being lifted?
-Teaching was now open to married woman from 1944 and in civil service in 1946
How much less did women earn on average to men?
-Women earned 53% of the average weekly wage of women
How much had divorces raised by from 1944 to 1947?
-1944 = 12.240
-1947 = 60,190
(almost quintupled)
a)When did the contraceptive pill become available for women and b) who was it not so easily available to ?
a) 1961, by 1964 = 500,000
b) unmarried women as doctors would not want to give it to them
How many married woman went to work in 1957?
1/3 (increase from 1954 where it was 1/5)
When was abortion finally legalised?
-1967
What new youth culture groups were established in the 1950s?
-Teddy Boys- aggressive behaviours towards adult convention and respectable behaviour
-Mods and Rockers- even more violent: Rockers = bikers and mods = scooters
-Skinheads
What caused new demographic changes in Britain?
-Windrush generation- over the next decade 150,000 immigrants from the West Indies arrived in Britain
What act promised British citizenship to people from West Indies?
-Nationality Act 1948
What occurred in Notting Hill in 1958?
-Race riots- violence from both sides (started by white youths)
By 1961, how many immigrants were entering Britain per year?
100,000
What act by government limited immigration in Britain?
-Commonwealth immigrants Act 1962: immigrants needed work permits to enter (criticized by Labour but not repealed in 1964) - it was driven by Government scared about w/c white voters
Who was Claudia Jones and what did she help establish?
-A communist expelled from USA who set up a life in West London and was an activist for black and woman emancipation
-Set up the Notting Hill Carnival and the West Indies Gazette
What was the profumo scandal?
-John Profumo (secretary of state of war) was having an affair with model Christine Keeler
-This led to challenges of the Establishment- no longer deferential to Upper class
What was published despite controversy?
-Lady Chatterley’s Lover (banned for sexual material)
