1.14 Social Developments

Question 1

How did the housing landscape change post-World War II?

Answer 1

Pre-war slums were eradicated, and new towns such as Harlow, Kirby, Stevenage, Crawley, and Corby were developed, altering traditional working-class communities.

Question 2

What contributed to the rise in home ownership during this period?

Answer 2

Increasing wages, access to mortgages, and the clearance of pre-war slums facilitated the surge in home ownership.

Question 3

Despite the increase in home ownership, what housing options were still prevalent?

Answer 3

Council houses and rented accommodations remained the primary housing for a considerable portion of the population, despite the rise in home ownership.

Question 4

How did the phenomenon of hire purchase influence household goods purchasing?

Answer 4

Hire purchase facilitated the increase in household goods purchases, allowing people to acquire items they otherwise might not afford outright.

Question 5

How did the rise in car ownership impact housing and infrastructure?

Answer 5

Car ownership prompted the construction of new roads like the Preston Bypass and the M1, leading to housing developments shifting away from towns. This also influenced leisure activities.

Question 6

What were the notable developments in leisure and holiday activities during this period?

Answer 6

Butlins saw a significant influx of visitors every week in the 1950s, but foreign holidays remained a luxury, enjoyed by only a small fraction of the population.

Question 7

What were the main social classes recognized in 1950s Britain, and how did they relate to historical divisions?

Answer 7

Three main social classes were observed: upper-class, middle-class, and lower-class (working class), representing historical divisions of nobility, bourgeoisie, and commoners.

Question 8

How did the working classes experience the decade of the 1950s?

Answer 8

Memories of hardship like dole queues and poverty were replaced by a sense of optimism due to full employment and improved wages, particularly in southern and central England.

Question 9

What defined the middle class during this period?

Answer 9

Occupations like secretarial staff, lawyers, doctors, and teachers were integral to the middle class, which wasn’t homogenous. There was a surge in middle-class women in roles like nursing and secretarial work.

Question 10

What distinguished the upper class, and how was it identified?

Answer 10

Language, habits, and social etiquette, as observed in the U (correct, upper-class) and Non-U (rest of the country) terminology, characterized the upper class. It was exclusive, comprising around 40,000 individuals.

Question 11

How did the upper class distinguish their food and dining habits from the lower classes?

Answer 11

The upper class had specific dining customs like having lunch in the middle of the day and dinner in the evening, distinguishing from the lower classes who had breakfast, dinner at midday, and then tea as their evening meal. There were even nuances in how they prepared tea.

Question 12

What changes were observed in the activities and occupations of the upper class by the 1960s?

Answer 12

The upper class shifted from traditional activities like tenancy towards finance, commerce, and manufacturing. Domestic service declined significantly, although butler roles persisted.

Question 13

How did educational institutions like Eton impact political representation?

Answer 13

Eton College contributed significantly to Conservative representation, with one in five Conservative backbenchers being Eton alumni.

Question 14

Who constituted the Establishment in 1950s Britain, and what characterized their influence?

Answer 14

The Establishment comprised predominantly privileged males from various sectors like aristocracy, politics, civil service, judiciary, clergy, military, and business. Their influence stemmed from wealth, backgrounds, and connections, often progressing through elite educational institutions.

Question 15

What was the typical educational and career progression for members of the Establishment?

Answer 15

A common path involved attending prestigious public schools, then Oxbridge universities, followed by assuming positions of power within various sectors.

Question 16

How did the composition of Macmillan’s government reflect the Establishment’s presence?

Answer 16

Macmillan’s government included individuals with aristocratic titles like a duke, an heir to a barony, a marquess, and three earls. For instance, Alec Douglas-Home was the 14th Earl of Home before relinquishing his peerage.

Question 17

What were some criticisms or challenges faced by the Establishment in the 1950s?

Answer 17

Social scientists like Richard Hoggart, Anthony Sampson, and CP Snow critiqued Britain’s class-bound society, highlighting its impact on social mobility and national progress. Additionally, there was a decline in deference, evident in media coverage of events like the Profumo Affair.

Question 18

How did cultural movements and artistic expressions challenge the Establishment during this period?

Answer 18

The Satire Boom, led by figures like Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Jonathan Miller, and Alan Bennet, used platforms like “Beyond the Fringe” and “That Was The Week That Was” to satirize public figures. The emergence of “angry young men,” exemplified by John Osborne’s play “Look Back in Anger,” criticized established upper and middle-class behaviors.

Question 19

What were the prevailing attitudes towards women in 1950s Britain, particularly concerning their role in society?

Answer 19

The dominant view was conservative, idealizing women primarily as wives and mothers. Marriage at an average age of 21 was common, with around 75% of women being married. Only a fraction of women were part of the workforce, and their wages were significantly lower than men’s.

Question 20

How did economic and social factors affect women’s roles and financial independence during this time?

Answer 20

Economic structures limited women’s financial autonomy as mortgages and bank accounts were usually in men’s names. The average women’s wages were notably lower, and a smaller percentage of women participated in the workforce compared to men.

Question 21

What were some legislative changes or milestones for women’s rights and work equality during the 1950s in Britain?

Answer 21

Several milestones were achieved in the realm of equal pay, including the implementation of equal pay for teachers in 1952 and for the civil service in 1954.

Question 22

How did technological advancements, particularly household appliances, impact the lives of women during this period?

Answer 22

The increased ownership of labor-saving devices like washing machines and refrigerators (with a 54% and 58% rise respectively) significantly transformed the lives of women, reducing the burden of household chores.

Question 23

When did the influence of second-wave feminism begin in Britain, and what were its origins?

Answer 23

The influence of second-wave feminism started to spread from the United States during this period, signifying the emergence of a movement advocating for women’s rights and equality.

Question 24

What led to the significant influx of immigrants to Britain in the 1950s, and what groups comprised this influx?

Answer 24

Severe labour shortages after World War II prompted recruitment campaigns in the West Indies, leading to the arrival of the Empire Windrush carrying Jamaican immigrants in 1948. Subsequently, immigrants from India, Pakistan, and other regions arrived, with specific numbers from each group in subsequent years.

Question 25

How did immigrant communities settle in Britain during the 1950s, and what were the challenges they faced upon settling?

Answer 25

Initially, black and South Asian communities were concentrated in specific areas like London and sea ports, but in the 1950s, migration focused on industrial areas like Lancashire and the West Midlands. Discrimination in housing forced these immigrants into poorer areas with high crime rates and housing shortages.

Question 26

What were some notable instances of racial discrimination and violence against immigrants in the 1950s?

Answer 26

There were clear instances of racial discrimination, including the use of signs like ‘No coloureds’ or ‘no blacks’ for housing, exploitation by landlords like Peter Rachman, and incidents of violence such as the Notting Hill Riots in 1958 and the racially motivated murder of Kelso Cochrane in 1959.

Question 27

What characterized the Notting Hill Riots of 1958, and what were their immediate and long-term impacts?

Answer 27

The riots were fueled by tensions over housing, overcrowding, and racial prejudice, leading to violent clashes between white Teddy Boys and West Indian immigrants. Although there were no fatal casualties, it exposed deep-seated racial divisions and sparked discussions on immigration control.

Question 28

What was the government response to growing concerns about immigration in the late 1950s and early 1960s?

Answer 28

In response to rising tensions and discussions on immigration control, the Macmillan government introduced the Commonwealth Immigration Act in 1962. This Act imposed restrictions on immigration, requiring vouchers for entry, primarily granted to those with guaranteed job skills in the country.

Question 29

What factors contributed to the rise of the teenage demographic in the 1950s, and how did this demographic express itself culturally?

Answer 29

Factors such as the exclusion of boys from National Service after 1960 and increased leisure time led to the emergence of 5 million teenagers, about 10% of the population, by 1959. This demographic forged its own culture, evidenced by the emergence of magazines and TV shows. Teddy Boys, rockers, and mods were prominent subcultures, each with distinct styles and musical preferences.

Question 30

What conflicts arose between the different youth subcultures, and how did they manifest?

Answer 30

Clashes between mods and rockers resulted in organized rioting in coastal towns like Clacton, Margate, and Brighton in 1964. These conflicts, often characterized by violence, highlighted tensions between the subcultures with differing fashion choices and musical tastes.

Question 31

How did popular culture in the 1950s reflect social tensions and evolving norms?

Answer 31

Popular culture portrayed societal tensions through diverse mediums like films and television. Works such as “Sapphire,” “A Clockwork Orange,” and “Cathy Come Home” depicted themes like sex, violence, homelessness, and gang violence, reflecting the changing societal landscape.

Question 32

What efforts were made to challenge censorship and societal taboos during this period?

Answer 32

Works like “A Taste of Honey,” “Victim,” and “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” aimed to break down social taboos around topics like interracial relationships, homosexuality, and sexually explicit content. However, this also sparked backlash, with figures like Mary Whitehouse leading campaigns against perceived immorality in media.

Question 33

How did the socio-economic landscape of the 1950s contribute to the perception of a more permissive society?

Answer 33

The era’s affluence and consumerism, along with the baby boom, fostered a materialistic society. The availability of jobs for school leavers, increasing violence linked to youth gangs like the Teddy Boys, rising drug use, and youth movements like CND contributed to the perception of changing social norms.

Question 34

What legislative changes or societal shifts signaled a move toward a more permissive society?

Answer 34

Initiatives like the Homicide Act of 1957, which abolished the death penalty for specific cases, and Private Members Bills attempting to liberalise abortion laws indicate societal conversations around social change and a move away from more conservative norms.