THEME 3 BRITAIN TRANSFORMED - EDEXCEL A LEVEL HISTORY Flashcards
(107 cards)
1918-39 - Why was there a decline in deference?
- The high death toll in WWI shook the confidence of the working class
- Classes mixed in air raid shelters
- The death toll in upper classes was disproportionately higher and they had to pay death duties for deceased family members
1918-39 - What led to greater equality?
- Representation of the People Act led to a democratic society
- Living standards improved in the interwar period
- Wages rose faster than prices
1918-39 - How much class conflict was there overall?
- There were fears of revolution (Russian Revolution) which didn’t actually happen
- 1926 General Strike, working class strikers were replaced with the middle class
- Overall, no large-scale conflicts
World War Two - What did Mass Observation report?
- Working class wanted more equality- Some historians argue there was a social revolution
- WW2 became known as the ‘peoples’ war’ due to evacuation, homelessness, and rationing
- However, the evacuation of working class children to more affluent homes appeared to reinforce class prejudices instead of undermining them
The emergence of a liberal society 1951-79 - What was the satire boom?
- Began in the 1950s
- Type of comedy making fun of Britain’s government, army or upper classes
- First time this ever happened
- Examples: ‘That Was the Week That Was’ or ‘Under the Fringe’
The emergence of a liberal society 1951-79 - What was the British New Wave?
- A generation of filmmakers and writers
- They wrote novels about working class seeing the end of the working class world
- Alan Sillitoe’s book ‘Saturday Night Sunday Morning’
The emergence of a liberal society 1951-79 - What was the sex scandal that happened?
- 1963 Profumo Affair
- This was a key moment as it signified the decline in deference in society
- It showed that leaders also took part in seedy practices so they didn’t deserve peoples’ trust simply because of their position
The liberal society - What was the liberal society?
- Mid-60s
- Sexual revolution had taken place
- Changes in attitude towards homosexuality and abortion
- Roy Jenkins’ civilised society
The liberal society - What were attitudes like towards sex?
- A popular view among foreigners was that the British were reserved
- However, STDs were increasing until the discovery of penicillin
- Books on sex were in demand
- 1 in 3 boys and 1 in 6 girls aged 16-19 have had sex
The liberal society - What legislation had Roy Jenkins passed?
- 1967 Sexual Offences act legalising homosexuality
- 1967 Abortion Act
- Neither of these were popular as there were still conservative attitudes
Opponents of the liberal society - what did some newspaper stories argue about sexual relationships?
They had bad consequences
Opponents of the liberal society - What did the Moors murders show about attitudes towards sexual relations?
- Myra Hindley and Ian Brady were convicted of killing 3 children in 1966
- The press focused on the fact they were unmarried but were in a sexual relationship
Opponents of the liberal society - What was the role of Mary Whitehouse?
In 1964, she set up Clean Up TV - Whitehouse was a devout christian who believed TV was corrupting. Her ideas were popular as 70 coaches full of campaigners arrived at the first meeting
Opponents of the liberal society - What was the NVALA?
The National Viewers And Listeners Association - it opposed sex, violence and swearing on TV
Overall change in class and social values
- Clear decline in deference for upper classes
- WW1 & WW2
- Profumo Affair
- Satire and New Wave
- Sexual revolution
- HOWEVER, many disagreed with Jenkins’ changes, the NVALA was popular, and there were still conservative attitudes towards sex
Women in the 1910s - When did women get the vote?
1918
How did WW1 lead to the development of womens’ rights?
- New employment opportunities when men fighting in the war had to be replaced
- Jobs in munition factories, transport etc.
What did the 1919 Sex Disqualification Removal Act do?
Made it illegal to exclude women from jobs in law or civil service
How was there still continuity in womens’ role and status in this period?
- Voting age was unequal - women had to be 30 but men had to be 21
- Many women lost their jobs when demobilised soldiers returned from their jobs
- Continued barriers on equal pay and job opportunities
Women in the 1920s - what was the 1928 Representation of the People Act?
Gave women the same voting rights as men - they could both vote at 21
Why was there a boom in dance halls, cinemas and off the peg clothes?
There was more acceptability of single women and they had their own money to spend
Why was electricity beneficial for women?
It eased the burden at home
Birth control clinics
Married women finally had control over their fertility