The Changing Political Landscape 1945-1979 Flashcards
What were Labour strengths that led to their landslide victory in 1945?
• successful manifesto ‘Let Us Face the Future’, appealed to the people who wanted change in society after the war
• trusted to govern as Labour took over the home front during the war ( Attlee was deputy prime minister)
• sense of collectivism during the war, people wanted the government to carry on doing more in peace time
What were Conservative weaknesses which led to Labour’s 1945 landslide victory?
• unpopularity of manifesto ‘Help him finish the job’ - people were becoming disillusioned by the war, wanted their reward/change
• Churchill critisised for portraying Labour as radical in a public speech, claimed they might use gestapo
• working class despised Churchill for his action against the trade unions in the General Strike - set up Daily Gazette, sent out armed cars
• people didn’t trust Conservatives to implement change after their economic failures during the Great Depression
What percentage of the vote did Labour win in the 1945 election?
47.7% - large majority, gained 393 seats
How did Attlee’s government aim to build ‘Jerusalem’?
• nationalisation of key industries:
coal mining ( National Coal Board 1947)
public transport 1946
bank of england 1946
• rationing continued until 1954, austerity
Why did Conservatives win a majority in 1951?
• 1) Boundary changes reduced the number of Labour safe seats
• 2) Size of the working class was shrinking (78% in 1931 to 72% in 1951)
• 3) Dissatisfaction with rationing, austerity and taxation (highest rate of tax was 90%!)
• 4) The Conservatives were promising to reverse austerity
When was Anthony Eden prime minister and what were his successes/ failures?
• 1955-57 Conservative
• won an increased majority - had a strong war record, unemployment low (1%)
• handsome, appealed to female voters
• forced to resign over the Suez Crisis in 1956
What political changes caused Conservatives to win the election in 1951?
• the collapse of the Liberal vote, most members of the party turned to vote Conservative
• the heating up of the Cold War ( increased government spending)
What was the Suez Crisis and why was it so important?
• France, UK and Israel invaded the canal to try and remove Nasser’s troops - a main trading route
• Didn’t have the USA or UN’s support - forced to remove troops as the UK needed the USA’s support
When was Harold Macmillan prime minister and what were his successes/ failures?
• 1957-63 Conservative
•Balance of trade deficit - more imports than exports
•Rising unemployment – at its highest in 1963
•Night of the Long Knives – reshuffled his Cabinet - seen as irrational
• Winds of change – collapse of the Empire in Africa
• De Gaulle refused to let Britain join the EEC in 1963
•Profumo affair and many other scandals
When was Alec Douglas-Home prime minister and what were his successes/ failures?
• Old Etonian who had to resign his position in the Lords to become PM
•Seen as out of touch compared to a new, revitalised Labour Party under Harold Wilson
When was Harold Wilson PM and what were his successes/ failures?
• 1964-70 Labour
• Used TV to promote himself, using the ‘white heat of technology’
• promised social reforms like better pensions and 500 000 new homes a year
•however in 1967 was forced to devalue the pound to help pay off debt - embarrassed, couldn’t deliver reforms
How did the number of female MPs in parliament change between 1945 and 1974 and how was this significant
1945 - 24/630 female MPs
1974 - 23/635 female MPs
- women still don’t have a voice in politics
when did female representation in trade unions start to increase?
during the economic slump, between 1970 and 1979 trade union memberships increased from 2.6m to 3.8m, therefore there was the need for more female representation
why were women still still underrepresented in local politics?
• viewed as only addressing issues surrounding women in council such as children, social cafe and community.
• difficult for women to manage full on roles whilst looking after children at the same time
Who was Barbara Castle and why was she significant?
Labour MP, tried to pass in place of strife in 1969, loved
