The Sixties 1964-70 Flashcards
(78 cards)
1
Q
What was the Labour government committed to in 1964?
A
Modernisation
Liberalisation
The development of science and technology
2
Q
What was the Labour government from 1964 to 1970 noted for?
A
Liberal reforms such as the abolition of the death penalty and legalisation of abortion, but was less successful at managing the economy
3
Q
Who were the key political leaders from 1964-1970?
A
- Harold Wilson - Prime Minister (1964-70)
- Roy Jenkins - Home Secretary (1965-67)
- James Callaghan - Chancellor (1964-67), Home Secretary (1967-70)
4
Q
Describe Harold Wilson in this period
A
- He came from a lower-middle class background and excelled at Oxford
- Very good organisational abilities
- Regarded by many as untrustworthy, and had several conspiracies against him, limiting his effectiveness
5
Q
Describe Roy Jenkins in this period
A
- One of the most reforming Home Secretaries
- Oversaw the legalisation of abortion and homosexuality, liberalising divorce laws and the final abolition of the death penalty
6
Q
What deficit did Wilson inherit in 1964, and what was the key issue?
A
£800 million
Foreign governments were increasingly reluctant to investment in sterling
7
Q
What was Labours priority for the economy?
A
To rebuild it
They needed to increase exports to pay off the deficit and therefore increase international confidence in sterling
8
Q
What did George Brown create?
A
The Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) in 1964
9
Q
What was the DEA’s aim?
A
To create a National Plan to guide economic development by encouraging competition between government, employers and trade unions
10
Q
What was the result of the DEA?
A
Economic development remained poor, and the plan was dropped in 1967
11
Q
What were some industrial economic issues in this period?
A
- Industrial disputes were common, often at a local level
- Local shop owners called unofficial or ‘wildcat’ strikes
- Britain lost over 3 million working days in 1960 and 10 million in 1970
- Seamen’s strike 1966 and dockers’ strike 1967 reduced exports
12
Q
What were some other economic issues in this period?
A
- Sterling was in a continuous crisis
- In 1967, the government devalued sterling by 14%. This improved exports, but led to greater inflation at home as imports became more expensive
- Inflation rose to 18% per annum in 1968
- Although unemployment was low at 2%, it was slowly growing
13
Q
What was the Conservative majority in the 1970 election
A
30 seats
The Conservatives were surprising winners
14
Q
What were some failures of Labour which led to a Conservative victory in 1970?
A
- Wilson’s government had an unsuccessful economic record with rising unemployment and inflation
- Failed to join the EEC for a second time
- Had been defeated by trade unions on its industrial relations policies
15
Q
What were some Conservative successes which led to their victory in 1970?
A
- They campaigned well - promising trade union reform and less government interference in the economy
- Offered a ‘new style of government’, which was positive with many, including the growing middle classes
16
Q
What were two of the most serious problems for the Labour government?
A
- Poor industrial relations, which significantly disrupted production
- The beginnings of the Troubles in Northern Ireland
17
Q
What were some strengths Labour had in terms of industrial relations?
A
Traditionally had a strong relationship with trade unions, which largely funded it
18
Q
What were some problems Labour had in terms of industrial relations?
A
- There was significant industrial unrest in the 1960s, including a damaging seamen’s strike in 1966
- A Prices and Incomes Freeze failed as unions struck for higher pay
19
Q
What did the government do to tackle the issue of industrial relations?
A
Produced a White Paper - ‘In Place of Strife’
20
Q
What did ‘In Place of Strife’ say?
A
- It advocated restrictions on the right to strike - a proper ballot should be held, instead of a show of hands; there should be a 28 day ‘cooling-off period’, to give time for a settlement to be reached
- Employers would have to honour agreements and agree to consult with trade unions about changes in practices
21
Q
How did the trade unions react to ‘In Place of Strife’?
A
They refused to co-operate and even threatened to cut funding to the Labour Party if the proposals went ahead
22
Q
What was the impact of ‘In Place of Strife’?
A
It was abandoned and the absence of any real policy on labour relations was a major factor in Labour’s electoral defeat in 1970
23
Q
What was another name used for Northern Ireland?
A
Ulster
24
Q
What was the background of the Troubles?
A
- Northern Ireland remained in the UK after the 1921 settlement, while the rest of Ireland formed the Republic of Ireland
- Ulster had its own parliament at Stormont, dominated by Protestants who gerrymandered elections to ensure a majority
- Ulster’s catholic community faced discrimination in jobs and housing, and by the late 1960s, tensions and violence were mounting
25
How did the breakdown of order occur in Northern Ireland?
Catholic's demanded more civil rights in the late 1960s, and their marches and protests were increasingly met with attack from the Protestants
26
What was the first sign of British interference in Northern Ireland?
After a significant outbreak of disorder in Londonderry in August 1969, the Labour government sent in troops to restore order
This led to the formation of the Provincial IRA to force the British to give up their control of the area
27
What was the IRA's view on the interference of British troops?
They saw the British as a colonial power and felt that, if they could be forced to leave, a settlement could be reached with the Protestants
28
Which Northern Irish groups opposed the IRA?
Protestant Ulster Unionists, who formed their own paramilitary groups such as the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), and Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
29
Who was credited with the liberal reforms of the period
Roy Jenkins - Home Secretary from 1965-67
30
What were passed to tackle racial tensions?
The Race Relations Acts 1965 and 1968
31
What did the Race Relations Acts do?
- They prohibited racial discrimination - e.g. a landlord could no longer refuse to rent accommodation to non-white people
- A Race Relations Board to the police was set up
- A Community Relations Commission attempted to improve relations between different ethnic groups
32
What reforms benefitted women specifically?
Abortion Act 1967
Divorce Reform Act 1969
33
What was the Abortion Act?
Introduced by Liberal MP David Steele, it allowed legal termination when two doctors certified that continued pregnancy could cause health risks for the mother
34
What was the Divorce Reform Act?
It introduced the idea of 'no-guilt' divorce whereas before evidence of cruelty, desertion or adultery had to be shown
35
What were two other key liberal reforms?
Sexual Offences Act 1967
Abolition of the Death Penalty 1969
36
What was the Sexual Offences Act?
Introduced by Labour MP Leo Abse, it legalised homosexual acts between consenting adults (had to be 18+)
37
What was the abolition of the death penalty?
Introduced as a 4 year trial in 1965, it was made permanent in 1969
38
How was secondary education set up since the 1944 Education Act?
- Pupils took an 11+ exam to determine their school - of which there were 3 kinds
- Grammar schools - catered for the brightest students
- Technical schools - catered for students who would benefit from a technical education
Secondary Moderns - for the majority of pupils
39
What were some issues with the tripartite education system of 1944?
- Very few technical schools and secondary moderns offered a very limited education
- Many felt the grammar school system was elitist
40
What was the governments response to these educational issues?
- Comprehensive schools where children of all abilities and backgrounds studied in the same school
- In 1965, the government encouraged the closure of selective schools and the opening of comprehensives to improve equality of education
41
What was the role of teenagers in society?
They provided a new market for films, music and the latest fashions or gadgets such as transistor radios
Television produced shows for teenagers such as Top of the Pops (1964)
42
Who were the 'mods'?
Mods were fashionable, urban, and influenced by modern music like soul and R&B.
They rode scooters and wore sharp suits.
43
Who were the 'rockers'?
Rockers evolved from the Teddy Boys, embraced 1950s rock and roll culture, wore leather jackets, and rode motorbikes.
44
What did these youth groups have in common?
- They both wanted to be noticed, and perhaps shock their elders
- They were exploited by businesspeople who created their styles and introduced targeted marketing
45
What happened to most young people following the common stage of rebellion?
Some embraced hippie or alternative cultures, however, for most it was just a teenage phase, and they remained as conservative as their parents
46
When and where was there an outbreak in violence between youth groups?
May 1964
At seaside resorts
47
How many arrests were there following this violence?
51 in Margate
76 in Brighton
48
Where else was there an increase in violence in the 1960s?
At football matches with the sharp increase in hooliganism
49
What bands emerged in the 'Swinging Sixties'?
The Beatles
The Rolling Stones
50
Who were some famous photographers that emerged in this period?
David Bailey
Terence Donovan
51
What was the 'permissive society'?
It referred to a sense of greater freedom of behaviour, and less inhibition
52
What should be remembered about the 'Swinging Sixties'?
It bypassed most places in Britain, and most were more familiar with its music than any other aspects
53
What was the role of women in politics in the period?
- In the 1966 election, less than 80 women stood for election, and only 21 were successful, with even fewer being promoted to high office
- An exception to this was Barbara Castle, who supported the Dagenham strikers, but was reticent about female issues
- Thatcher, a leading conservative, gave no noticeable encouragement to other women to enter politics
54
What was second wave feminism?
It aimed to address:
- gender stereotyping
- limited employment opportunities for women
- the demand for a greater role in society
- the demand for equal pay
It was also known as 'women's liberation'
55
What was the Dagenham sewing machinists' strike of 1968?
- 1968
- Management at Ford's factory in Dagenham decided to pay women 15% less than men for doing the same jobs
- The female machinists went on strike for 3 weeks and Barbara Castle, Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity intervened
- A pay rise of 7% was negotiated by the strikers and her
- The significance was that it raised the profile of the issue of unequal pay and was key in the passing of the Equal Pay Act 1970
56
Give 2 examples of feminist literature in the period
Shrew - a feminist magazine
The Female Eunuch - a book by Germaine Greer that argued men's control over women stifled individuality and development
57
What was a key problem with the women's liberation movement?
It covered so many agendas - from wives who wanted more respect from their husbands to radical feminists who saw men as the enemy, meaning it was difficult for overall action to take place
58
What did some women, such as Mary Whitehouse, promote?
The role of women as housemakers and mothers, often within the context of traditional family values and moral conduct
59
What was an example of racial tensions in government?
The adoption of an overly racist campaign by Peter Griffiths as the Conservative candidate in Smethwick, 1964
60
How many Kenyan Asians were arriving in Britain each month by spring 1968?
2,000
61
How did the government tackle this spike in immigration?
James Callaghan brought in the 1968 Commonwealth Immigration Act
62
What did the Commonwealth Immigration Act say?
- Children of migrants were denied entry into Britain if they were 18+
- Children with only one parent in Britain were denied entry
- Entrants had to prove that parents of godparents were living in Britain
63
What was the famous political speech given about race, who gave it, and when?
The 'Rivers of Blood' speech
Enoch Powell
1968
64
What did the 'Rivers of Blood' speech say?
- Mass immigration and anti-racist laws meant that immigrants had more rights than the white population
- Multi-culturalism would lead to segregation rather than integration
- The government should offer grants to non-white immigrants to return home
65
How many supported Powell?
- 1000 London dockers marched in support
- Polls showed 70% of people agreed with him
66
What did the Race Relation Acts of 1965 and 1968 do?
- Outlawed racial discrimination in public places
- Outlawed incitement to racial hatred
- Set up a Race Relations Board to investigate allegations of racial discrimination
67
What was Roy Jenkins' stance on multiculturalism?
- He was a strong advocate
- He felt that diverse cultures should be celebrated and equality of opportunity should be open to all
68
What was Wilson's view on USA?
Although he didn't enjoy the close relationship with them, he understood the importance of the relationship
69
What key event meant that USA wanted to keep relationships with Britain strong?
The Vietnam War
The US wanted to gain active support from the British for the Vietnam War, so it looked like an international campaign
70
What was Lyndon B. Johnson's quote about British involvement in the Vietnam War?
"I don’t want them to send a whole division. Just a British band — a bagpipe band would do."
71
What was Wilson's stance on the Vietnam War?
He had no intention of entering British troops into what he saw as an unwinnable war, although he offered moral support to the US
72
What was the result of Wilson's stance on the Vietnam War?
He gained many left-wing critics who accused the government of supporting USA in a brutal conflict
This culminated in a violent protest outside the US embassy in London, 1968
73
When was the announcement of decolonisation in bases east of the Suez canal?
1967
Given by Defence Secretary Denis Healey
74
Which areas were affected by this decolonisation?
Singapore, Malaya, and the Persian Gulf
75
What was the reaction to this decolonisation?
There were protests in:
- The governments of countries concerned who had relied on British defence
- The USA who feared it would weaken the defence against communism
76
What did decolonisation show?
The government had realised they could no longer afford the commitment, especially alongside nuclear defences and Cold War commitments
77
What was the issue with Rhodesia?
White supremacist Prime Minister Iain Smith had declared a Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965
Wilson met with Smith twice, but no agreement was made
Britain imposed economic sanctions, but with the support of South Africa and the Portuguese colony of Mozambique, the country endured
78
What was the relationship with Europe like?
Britain sought closer ties with Europe due to its greater growth rates and reapplied to join the EEC in 1965
De Gaulle vetoed membership again as he felt Britain was not able to be fully committed to Europe
