The Prime Ministers 1918 -79

Question 1

DLG

Answer 1

1916-1922

COALITION LIBERAL w/ conservatives

Question 2

DLG: Key Points

Answer 2

• Split liberal party to form a coalition w/ tories to strengthen support
• cash for peers scanal
• promised a ‘land fit for heros’ post-ww1
• Retrenchment

Question 3

Bonar Law

Answer 3

1922 - 1923

CONSERVATIVE

Question 4

Bonar Law: Key Points

Answer 4

• Two-party system begins as Liberal go into decline

* Electoral reform/re-brand means the tories become an MC & WC (for the aspirational WC) party

Question 5

(1st term) Baldwin

Answer 5

1923 - 24

CONSERVATIVE

Question 6

(1st terms) Baldwin: Key Points

Answer 6

• PM because Bonar Law resigned
• called a GE to seek support for a policy of trade protection
• failed to win a majority so a few months later his gov resigned

Question 7

(1st term) MacDonald

Answer 7

1924-24

LABOUR

Question 8

(1st term) MacDonald: Key Points

Answer 8

• Minority Gov (coalition w/ liberals)
• strained relations w/ The National Executive Committee of the Labour party
• led to several notions of no confidence
• The Campbell Case

Question 9

(2nd term) Baldwin

Answer 9

1924-29

CONSERVATIVE

Question 10

(2nd term) Baldwin: Key Points

Answer 10

Lots of achievements 
* expansion of pensions & housing
* local gov reform 
* 1928 - women 21+ got the right to vote 
* 1925: return to the GOLD STANDARD 
"Saftey First" approach

Question 11

(2nd term) MacDonald

Answer 11

1929-31 LABOUR

1931 - 35 NATIONAL GOV

Question 12

(2nd term) MacDonald: Key Points

Answer 12

• minority gov - support from liberals
• cooperation allowed for social reforms (1930 Housing act, 1930 Coal mines act, unemployment insurance act)
• called a GE & remained as head of the national gov
• gold standard abandoned 1931

Question 13

(3rd term) Baldwin

Answer 13

1935 - 37

NATIONAL GOV

Question 14

(3rd term) Baldwin: Key Points

Answer 14

• rise in extremism in Britain & across Europe (Hitler & Mussolini)
• Severe housing shortages

Question 15

Chamberlain

Answer 15

1937 - 40

NATIONAL GOV

Question 16

Chamberlain: Key Points

Answer 16

• policy of appeasement - a desire for peace
• debate whether to begin rearmament or not
• economic recovery: falling unemployment & stable prices

Question 17

(1st term) Churchill

Answer 17

1940 - 45

NATIONAL/WARTIME GOV

Question 18

(1st term) Churchill: Key Points

Answer 18

The nation loved his heroicness as he promised “blood, toil, tears and sweat”

Question 19

Attlee

Answer 19

1945-51

LABOUR

Question 20

Attlee: Key Points

Answer 20

• landslide victory
• ‘New Jersualm’
• Creation of the Welfare State - NHS
• reform of voting system (got rid of plural voting)

Question 21

(2nd term) Churchill

Answer 21

1951 - 55

CONSERVATIVE

Question 22

(2nd term) Churchill: Key Points

Answer 22

• post-war consensus
• Butskellism
• Keynesian economics
• resigns due to ill health - his foreign affair guy stepped up

Question 23

Eden

Answer 23

1955 - 57

CONSERVATIVE

Question 24

Eden: Key Points

Answer 24

• gained more seats than help in 1951
• achieved lowest unemployment figures in recent history
• Suez crisis

Question 25

Macmillan (supermac)

Answer 25

1957 - 63 CONSERVATIVE

Question 26

Macmillan: Key Points

Answer 26

* 'stop-go economics' * 'night of long knives' * Profumo scandal

Question 27

Douglas-Home

Answer 27

1963 - 64

Question 28

(1st term) Wilson

Answer 28

1964 - 70 LABOUR

Question 29

(1st term) Wilson: Key Points

Answer 29

* devalued the £ * sg economic & social reforms * Abortion Act 1967 * Sexual Offenses Act 1967 * In place of strife 1969

Question 30

Heath

Answer 30

1970 - 74 CONSERVATIVE

Question 31

Heath: Key Points

Answer 31

* promised radical political change at the beginning * tax cuts for rich & public spending cuts * Inflation on the RISE * 3 DAY WORKING WEEK (1973 - 74)

Question 32

(2nd term) Wilson

Answer 32

1974 - 76 LABOUR

Question 33

(2nd term) Wilson: Key Points

Answer 33

* hung parliament (meant they had to call a GE which they won by a slender majority) * the 'social contract' = a policy attempting to return to corporatism * Party divided into three factories: 1. centre right 2. 'soft' left 3. 'hard' left

Question 34

Callaghan (Sunny Jim)

Answer 34

1976 - 79 LABOUR

Question 35

Callaghan: Key Points

Answer 35

* proposed a 'siege economy' * began to abandon key aspects of the post-war economic consensus * Ruskin College Speech (1976) * Winter of discontent (1978 - 79)

Question 36

Thatcher

Answer 36

1979 - 90 CONSERVATIVE -- NEW RIGHT