1945-1951 Flashcards
who was the British prime minister during ww2
winston churchill
why did labour win a landslide victory in 1945
-voters wanted an end to wartime austeirty
-believed labour could pursue a programme of social reform
-concerned churchill was too focused on military aspects of control whereas labour was more opposed to war and more for the welfare of the people
-country needed uniting, not dividing like conservative ideas of personal freedom
who was leader of the labour party in 1945 and who was he previously
clement attlee, was churchills deputy secretary during ww2
(helped public believe labour could be trusted with power as attlee focused on post-war antics)
what was the creation of the welfare state inspired by
-the beveridge report 1942, said it was impossible to establish a minimum level of welfare without recourse to extreme methods
-create a centrally funded and regulated system of welfare
-proposed a universal scheme of insurance to be imposed by organisations to defeat the ‘5 giants’ for social reconstruction
what did the beveridge report show the principle of
collectivism- people and state working together for one common purpose, meant a restriction on individual rights
what is a coalition government
a government formed of opposing parties who work together for the greater good
how did the beveridge report help labour when they came to power
gave them a blueprint for social reconstruction they could implement after churchill’s wartime coalition gov rejected on the grounds of cost
what 4 main acts were passed in 1948
-the national insurance act (created compulsory employer to employee rules to provide against unemployment, sickness, maternity expenses and retirement)
-the national assistance act (national assistance boards dealt with poverty)
-the industrial injuries act (provided cover)
-the national health service act (created the NHS in 1948, scheme of free medical treatment)
what 2 other acts were implemented by attless gov
-1944 education act (provided free education with a tripartite secondary education system)
-1945 family allowances act (provided weekly payment for every child after the 1st)
what was keynesianism
-belief that fall in demand for manufactured products is what causes recessions in economies and that the only power that can keep demand sustained is the government
-therefore gov should use budgets to raise revenue to reinvest into the economy for an artificial boost so more earnings can be spent on goods and services
-defecit budgets (gov spending more than raising in revenue even if that meant borrowing) promoted
why was keynseniansm good
established future economic and social planning
what was clause IV of the labour constitution
committed it to nationalisation (gov control of businesses)
what industries were nationalised under labour
-1946 coal
-1947 road transport/electricity
-1948 gas
-1949 iron and steel
name 5 key economic problems labour inherited after the war (age of austerity)
-debts of £21 bil
-b of p deficit £750 mil
-exports had dropped by 60%
-defence costs £4.7 mil
-‘sterling credits’ owed £3.4 mil to US
what were the main measures of austerity
-continuation of rationing after 2/3 of navy ships were sunk during war
-tight financial costs to control inflation (deflationary budgets)
-wage and salary controls (wage freeze)
-increased taxes on income and goods (financial controls)
-restrictions on imports
what was the marshall plan
-a us programme by secretary of state george marshall in 1947 to give dollars to any country in return for granting trade concessions to the us
-britain received £2.7 bil
what 5 decisions were made regarding foreign policy in 1945
-became one of the ‘big five’ (us, ussr, britain, france, china- wanted to stay world power)
-sided with us in cold war (meant more costs in Korean war)
-1951 chose to decline to be involved with europe (European coal and steel community) bevin believed future lied with us and commonwealth
-1947 granted india independance, condemned colonialism
-1947 started research programme to become nuclear power to maintain parity with us
why did foreign policy cause internal disputes in 1945
-attlee claimed the occupation of large areas of eastern europe by soviets had created an ‘iron curtain’ , labour took pro-americas approach after stalin refused to withdraw forces from eastern europe
- left of the party led by Richard Crossman created amendment critiquing pro american stance as it destroyed chances of british independance
-1949 creation of NATO alliance to protect against soviet expansion also angered left
-angered at ‘sheepish’ involvement in korean war
-left angered at gov secrecy of being nuclear power and questioned necessity for the costs
who was the foreign secretary in 1945
ernest bevin
why did labour loose the 1951 election
-forced to implement prescription charges in 1951, led cabinet ministers to resign eg bevan and his followers bevanites
-economic difficulties
-gov exhausted after 6 troubled years
-internal divisions eg foreign policy and NHS
-trade unions angered at slowness in responding to workers demands
-had image of austerity, rationing and high taxation
why did conservations win 1951 election
-reorganisation of the party under lord woolton (conservative party chairman) after shock defeat in 1945
-1950 election had influx of younger MPs eg R.A.butler bringing new ideas/confidence
-electorate impressed with campaign of liberty and individualism rather than state control
what is first past the post
the candidate who wins the most votes in each constituency is elected
what was the labour legacy in 1951
-creation of welfare state
-keynesian economic policies (public expenditure and state direction)
-pro american based foreign policies
-imperial policies of independence for colonies
when was the NHS founded
1948
