Wilson 1964-70 Flashcards
(44 cards)
1
Q
what was Wilson’s ideology and leadership like?
A
- presented a modern, classless party
- charismatic but insecure - relying on a small trusted circle “Kitchen Cabinet”
2
Q
how big was the trade deficit Wilson inherited in 1964?
A
- £800million
3
Q
what was the “National Plan” of 1965 and when was it abandoned?
A
- economic plan that aimed for 3.8% annual growth
- abandoned by 1967
4
Q
what years did deflation occur?
A
- 1964-66
- failed to stop the decline
5
Q
when was the pound devalued?
A
- November 1967
- from $2.80 to $2.40 (14%)
- damaged credibility
6
Q
what rate did unemployment reach by 1969?
A
- increased to 2.5%
7
Q
how much did strikes increase?
A
- doubled
- 2.3million days in 1964 to 4.7million days in 1968
8
Q
when and what was “In Place of Strife”?
A
- 1968
- Barbara Castle’s white paper proposed a 28-day cooling off period before strike
- defeated by unions and Labour MP’s
9
Q
NHS spending increased how much?
A
- NHS budget increased 43% 1964-70
10
Q
when and what was the Open University?
A
- 1969
- increased access to higher education for all
11
Q
why did Labour lose the 1970 GE?
A
- economic recovery of GDP growth 4.5% came too late
- Heath’s party capitalised on union unrest and economic failure
- Powell’s “River of Blood” speech 1968 influenced anti-immigration sentiment
12
Q
what was the end of post-war consensus?
A
- economic failure led to doubts over state intervention and Keynesian policy
- 1969 to 70 move toward free market hinting at Thatcherism
13
Q
when and what were the Civil Rights Marches in Northern Ireland?
A
- October 1968
- met with violence from police and unionists
14
Q
when did Wilson send troops to Northern Ireland?
A
- August 1969
- initially to maintain order
15
Q
what were internal Labour divisions like?
A
- tensions between Wilson (Centre-left) and key figures like Jenkins (social reformer) and Callaghan (union-friendly)
16
Q
what did rifts in the cabinet form over?
A
- economic policy, EEC, trade union reform, Vietnam
17
Q
who pushed the private members bills and why?
A
- backbenchers like David Steel and Leo Abse
- as lacked majority
18
Q
when and what were the two Race Relations Acts?
A
- 1965 = first uk law illegalising racial discrimination but excluded in housing and work
- 1968 = extended to cover housing and employment
19
Q
when was Capital Punishment ended?
A
- temporarily in 1965
- permanently in 1969
- Ruth Ellis = last woman executed for murdering abusive partner 1955
20
Q
when did the pill become available on the NHS?
A
- married women in 1961
- single women in 1967
21
Q
when was the Equal Pay Act?
A
- 1970
- only implemented in 1975 after strikes such as Costa del Trico 1972
22
Q
when and what was the Abortion Reform?
A
- 1967
- legalised under certain conditions
- abortions rose from 35thousand in 1968 to 141thousand in 1975
23
Q
what was educational reform?
A
- Open University aimed at adult education and social mobility
- expansion of comprehensives = by 1970 1/3 attended one
24
Q
when and what form of censorship was removed?
A
- 1968
- theatre (removed Lord Chamberlain’s power to censor plays)
25
when and what was the Divorce Reform Act?
- 1969
- introduced "no fault divorce" (didn't have to be living apart or disloyal
- increased from 2 to 10 per 1thousand marriages 1950-1970
26
when and what was Voting Reform?
- 1969
- lowered voting age from 21 to 18
27
when and what was the Sexual Offences act?
- 1967
- decriminalised homosexuality for over 21's in private
- limited impact as discrimination and police harassment continued
28
two examples of "mass media"
- 1964 BBC 2 launched, bringing colour to TV by 1967
- TV replaced print as main source of news/entertainment
29
how much did car ownership rise?
- over 20%
- boosting domestic tourism
30
what did the increase of package holidays mean?
- 4 million abroad holidays by 1970
31
give 3 examples of scientific development
- first successful heart transplant in the UK 1968
- 1965 Post Office Tower opened
- Concorde Project 1962-69 symbolised Anglo-French cooperation
32
when and what was the Commonwealth Immigration Act?
- 1968
- restricted entry of non-white immigrants
33
two reasons for greater racial tension
- Race Relations Act weakly enforced 1965-68
- 1968 Powell's "Rivers of Blood" speech = controversy
34
what clash of youth cultures occured?
- Mods vs Rockers - Easter Weekend 1964
- in coastal towns - Brighton, Margate, Clacton
35
who dominated music?
- The Beatles and Rolling Stones
- first Glastonbury festival 1970
36
what did female employment rise to?
- 35% in 1951
- 40% 1971
37
when and what was the Anti-Vietnam war march?
- 1968
- 30thousand protestors on US embassy Grovenor Square
- LSE also occupied in 1967
38
two examples of declining morals/permissive society?
- by 1970 church attendance fell 10%
- Mary Whitehouse 1964 "Clean up TV" campaign
39
what was Britains involvement in the Vietnam War?
- Wilson refused to send troops (balancing US loyalty and domestic opposition)
- instead offered diplomatic verbal support (to maintain special relationship)
- President Johnson frustrated by lack of military support
40
what were EU relations like?
- 1967 2nd EEC application rejected by De Gaulle veto as economy weak and USA ties
- Wilson continued to push for membership due to benefits of common market
- Britain remained isolated from EU which frustrated pro-europeans
41
when did Wilson announce Withdrawal East of Suez?
- 1968 to be completed by mid 70's
- due to economic strain and budget cuts
- marked end of Britains global colonial role
- shift focus to NATO and EU alliance
42
when and who declared Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) in Rhodesia?
- white minority government led by Ian Smith in 1965
- Rhodesia remained unrecognised but functionally independent
43
why were Britain forced into UDI?
- Wilson's attempt at negotiations failed
- economic sanctions 1965 ineffective
44
what were the consequences of the Rhodesia incident?
- crisis damaged credibility
- highlighting struggles managing decolonisation
