1951-1964 Flashcards
What 3 prime ministers served during this time?
Churchill (1951-1955)
Eden (1956-1957)
Macmillan (1957-1964
What were the main government policies from 51-64?
- Build 300,000 new houses a year
- new social reforms
- restricted death penalty
- decriminalised homosexuality
- housing and workplace acts - better education system
-keep inflation and unemployment low
What were some elements of the post war consensus?
- run a mixed economy
- support the NHS
- gain full employment
- work in partnership with unions
What were the divisions in the labour party?
Left wing (bevan)
- nationalism
- nuclear disarmament
- no prescription charges
centrist (gaitskell)
- prescription charges due to financial pressure
- tried to abolish nationalism
- preferred moderate policies
What were some reasons for the conservative downfall?
- Rejection from EEC in 1961
-Macmillan had lost his government
-night of the long knives, macmillan sacked a third of his cabinet
-Spy scandals (profumo affair)
-economic problems
What evidence to suggest the early years of the conservative government was a economic boom?
- UK were at full employment in 1955
- Food rationing ended in 1954
- wages doubled over the time period
What was the balance of payments problem?
economic growth led to a rise in wages and £134m in tax cuts allowed for britain to import 29% more
What is ‘stop-go’ economics?
Where the government frequently intervened in the market to control inflation and growth
What policies were involved in stop-go economics to control growth?
- high interest rates
- wage freezes
Which factor of aggerate demand led the growth and was it sustainable growth?
(consumption,government spending, exports, investment)
- consumption
- is not sustainable as it meant an increase in imports and a decrease in exports which decreased the balance of payments
What main economic problem did the gov. face in ‘62 and how did the resolve it?
- large wage inflation threat
- gov. introduced a ‘pay pause’ and asked for a loan from the IMF
What was the 1963 Beeching report?
a review in to the cuts in public spending
What was the main cut the beeching report suggested and what were the results?
- suggested 30% cut in the national rail network
- hundreds of branches, lines and stations were axed
- caused public outrage as left many rural communities isolated
Why was a new housing market needed and what kind of house did the government build?
- Was needed due to the war bombings, the housing infrastructure was destroyed
- Built new council houses and new villages
What new consumer goods were popularised in the 50’s?
- television
- washing machines
- fridges