1951 - 64 Flashcards
THE 1955 GENERAL ELECTION
What percentage of the vote did the Conservatives win?
49.7%
THE 1955 GENERAL ELECTION
Did the Conservatives gain or lose votes?
Gain!
THE 1955 GENERAL ELECTION
Why was it striking that the Conservatives gained votes?
For the first time in 90 years the party in power managed to increase it’s majority
THE 1955 GENERAL ELECTION
Give five reasons why the Conservatives managed to increase their seats
- Sixpence off income tax, rising prosperity
- Eden appeared young and popular in comparison to Labour and Attlee
- The gov had enjoyed four years of “quiet, public success”
- The end of rationing and expansion of social services
- Upbeat national mood: coronation and the ashes
EDEN
What was Eden’s key trait that led to his political downfall?
Anti-appeasement
CONSERVATIVE SCANDALS
Describe the Vassal inquiry of 1963
- Vassal was a homosexual soviet spy linked with some junior ministers
- Gov obliged to appoint investigator
- Rumoured that senior administration were trying to protect him
CONSERVATIVE SCANDALS
What did the Vassal inquiry show?
The government was losing control of its own departments
CONSERVATIVE SCANDALS
Describe the Philby scandal
- A senior official in the foreign office
- Passing info to the USSR for decades
- Government failing to spot traitors in the heart of the establishment
CONSERVATIVE SCANDALS
Describe the Argyll divorce case
- Duke of Argyll publicly divorced his wife on the grounds of adultery
- He published a list of men she had been sleeping with… this included cabinet ministers
CONSERVATIVE SCANDALS
Describe the Profumo affair
- Minister for war had an affair with Christine Keeler, an upper class prostitute
- She was also sleeping with a member of the Soviet embassy
- Posed a risk to national security
- Profumo swore to Macmillan that nothing happened
CONSERVATIVE SCANDALS
What was the impact of these scandals?
Macmillan appeared to be losing political grip over his party
Published not only in tabloids but also the times
Conservatives weakened it’s claim to lead the nation
Macmillan’s government appeared ridiculous and laughable
Immoral
THE DECLINE OF THE BE
By 1951 what had happened?
Pressure of colonial movements became harder to contain
THE DECLINE OF THE BE
Describe the Mau Mau rebellion
A revolt in Kenya, revelations of Brutal captive treatment damaged Britain’s reputation, after Suez politicians realised they could no longer hold onto colonies, rebellion shut down much more slowly
THE DECLINE OF THE BE
Describe Macmillan’s winds of change speech
Cape town 1960; highlighted a change in policy, calling for decolonization and recognition of idependence movements
THE DECLINE OF THE BE
What was Britain’s imperial policy before the Suez crisis?
To defeat nationalist revolts and keep control over Britain’s African colonies
THE DECLINE OF THE BE
Was there any domestic opposition to loss of Empire?
No
THE DECLINE OF THE BE
How many colonies were lost between 57 - 64?
20, including Ghana, Nigeria and Cyprus
THE DECLINE OF THE BE
How well carried out was Britain’s decolonization?
Compared to other European powers, the process of decolonization was carried out relatively well
1951 ELECTION
How many constituencies makes up Britain?
650
1951 ELECTION
What percentage of the vote did the Conservatives win in 1951?
48% (less than Labour)
1951 ELECTION
What did the Conservatives enter office promising?
A period of “calm consolidation”, that they would not reverse the welfare state and to end rationing whilst building more houses
DOMESTIC POLICIES CHURCHILL
What was Churchill’s political outlook when he became PM
Cautious, conciliatory and undogmatic
DOMESTIC POLICIES CHURCHILL
Did the Conservatives support the welfare state?
Yes :)
DOMESTIC POLICIES CHURCHILL
Define post war consensus
When there is a great deal of agreement between both parties
DOMESTIC POLICIES CHURCHILL
What were the parties in consensus about?
- Mixed economy
- NHS and welfare state
- A wish to ensure full employment
- Working with trade unions and employers
DOMESTIC POLICIES CHURCHILL
What dates did rationing end?
1952 - many items stopped being rationed
1953 - the end of sugar rationing
1954 - the end of meat rationing
DOMESTIC POLICIES CHURCHILL
When was the first atomic bomb detonated?
1952, operation hurricane
DOMESTIC POLICIES CHURCHILL
What nuclear power did Britain become?
The third, after USA and USSR
DOMESTIC POLICIES CHURCHILL
When did Queen Elizabeth take the throne?
The 2nd of June 1952
DOMESTIC POLICIES CHURCHILL
Who has Rab Butler?
The Chancellor
DOMESTIC POLICIES CHURCHILL
Describe Butskellism
Hugh Gaitskell and Rab Butler, a general agreement on the stop-go policies, growing consensus between parties
DOMESTIC POLICIES CHURCHILL
Describe Macmillan’s successes as housing minister
Exceeded their target by over half in 1953, a year ahead of schedule. He built 300,000 new homes.
DOMESTIC POLICIES CHURCHILL
Describe the mixed economy
An economic system containing private and state enterprises
DOMESTIC POLICIES CHURCHILL
What was the only industry denationalised under the Churchill government?
Steel
DOMESTIC POLICIES CHURCHILL
When did the Korean war end and what was it’s significance?
July 27 1953, reduced Britain’s defence spending
1951 GENERAL ELECTION
What was the balance of payments deficit in 1951?
£7,000,000
EDEN
Give three facts about Eden
- Etonian
- Specialised in foreign policy
- Anti appeasement
MACMILLAN
Was Macmillan more to the left or the right of the Conservative party?
The left, many believed he would have been Labour if not for the war
CONS FALL FROM POWER
Describe the “big freeze”
A 10 week snow storm between 1953 - 54, temporary loss of power and heating
DOUGLAS-HOME
Was Douglas-Home voted in as party leader?
No
DOUGLAS-HOME
Why did the appointment of Douglas Home cause anger and frustration?
“Old boys/etonian network” and not an open leadership contest
DOUGLAS-HOME
Name two key figures who refused to serve in the Douglas-Home cabinet
Enoch Powell and Iain Macleod
DOUGLAS-HOME
What had Lord Home previously been?
Foreign secretary
DOUGLAS-HOME
How did Home renounce his title?
The 1963 peerage act, became Sir Home
BRITAIN & EUROPE
What was Europe like after WW2?
More of a move towards mutual co-operation, suspicious of Britain’s “special relationship” with America
BRITAIN & EUROPE
Give the name of the conference and treaty that helped set up the EEC
- International conference, Messina 1955
- Treaty of Rome 1957
BRITAIN & EUROPE
What countries were originally in the EEC?
France, Germany, Belgium, Luxemburg, Italy and the Netherlands
BRITAIN & EUROPE
Describe the political character of the EEC
- Main countries were Germany and France
- Germany wanted to improve tarnished reputation
- Other countries joined to gain financially from Germany their “guilt ridden neighbour”
BRITAIN & EUROPE
Why did Britain initially not join the EEC?
- Fatally undermine standing as a sovereign state
- Didn’t want to jeopardize special relationship with America
- Germany and France lost the war, whereas Britain was a winner
BRITAIN & EUROPE
Did the EEC grow in success?
Yes
BRITAIN & EUROPE
In what year did the Macmillan government make an application?
1961
BRITAIN & EUROPE
Why did Britain apply to join the EEC?
- To boost industrial production of the large scale export market
- Increase industrial efficiency
- Stimulate economic growth with the rapid expansion already seen in the EEC
- USA wanted to improve it’s own relationship with Europe
BRITAIN & EUROPE
Why did DeGaulle veto the British application?
Fear that he would lose influence if Britain joined
SUEZ
Why was the Suez canal important to Britain?
- A trading route to middle east and commonwealth
- 80% of Europe’s oil imports passed through the canal
- Britain heavily involved in running the canal and defended it through both world wars
SUEZ
Why did the USA withdraw their offer of a loan to Nasser?
He was also approaching the Soviet bloc for money
SUEZ
How and when did Nasser respond the USA’s decision to withdraw their loan?
July 1956, Nasser announced he was going to nationalise the Suez canal as a way of raising funds
SUEZ
Why were Britain furious about the nationalisation of the Suez canal?
Deeply hindered their political and economic position
SUEZ
What initial steps were taken to try and denationalise the canal?
France, Britain and America created a “Canal Users Association”; Britain bought the matter to the UN which proved fruitless because the Soviets used their veto
SUEZ
Why did Eden believe negotiations to be off the table?
He was anti-appeasement, believed Nasser to be another facist dictator
SUEZ
What did Eden resultantly try and do?
He orchestrated a joint plan in October 1956 with France and secretly Israel. Israel would invade Egypt and Britain and France would then step in to mediate and seize control of the Suez canal
SUEZ
Was Suez a success militairily?
Yes
SUEZ
What followed Eden’s plan in action?
- A storm of political protest in Britain
- Fury from the US president Eisenhower, with heavy financial pressure from the president
- Threats from the soviets (rocket strikes) if the British did not withdraw
SUEZ
What other impacts did the Americans have?
Threatened to withdraw trade and financial help, refused to support an application for and IMF loan and suggested Britain should not be part of the UN peacekeeping force
SUEZ
What were the four main reasons for withdrawal?
- The strength of opposition amongst the British people
- The fury of Americans for not being consulted
- Condemnation of the British at UN
- Failure to gain international backing
SUEZ
What personal involvement did Eden have with the Suez crisis?
Anti-appeasement, saw Nasser as being anti-British, failed to hide his distaste for Nasser
SUEZ
What was the significance of the Suez affair for Britain?
Post-war Britain could no longer act alone, they needed to work more closely with other European and global super powers
RELATIONSHIPS WITH US & USSR
Who did Macmillan form a close relationship with?
Eisenhower and Kennedy
RELATIONSHIPS WITH US & USSR
When was the Berlin Airlift?
1948 - 49
RELATIONSHIPS WITH US & USSR
Describe the Korean war
Communist North invaded the South, UN sent out forces, Britain was the largest military contributor after America
:)
:)
ECONOMY
Describe the post war boom
The global economy was booming, rising real wages ad exports increased by 29% in 1951
ECONOMY
Describe the stop-go policy
Balance of payments deficit - government controls imposed - balance of payments surplus - controls removed - balance of payments deficit
ECONOMY
What are the positives of stop-go economics?
- Steady rates of unemployment
- Economy never hits an extreme high or an extreme low
ECONOMY
What are the negatives of the stop-go policy?
- Failure to modernise the economy
- Stuck in a postwar consensus
ECONOMY
How much was given to Britain in Marshall loans?
$2.7 billion
ECONOMY
What did the Suez crisis highlight?
Britain didn’t have the money to act independently anymore, very much reliant on America
ECONOMY
Describe budget politics
When politicians manipulate the stop go cycle during elections
ECONOMY
What speech did Macmillan deliver in 1957?
The “never had it so good” speech
ECONOMY
What did the government need to apply for in 1961?
An IMF loan
ECONOMY
Were NEDDY and NICKY successful?
No…
ECONOMY
When did the government reapply to the EEC?
1961
ECONOMY
Describe the beeching report
A public expenditure cut, trains etc, extremely unpopular
ECONOMY
What was the economic deficit in 1964?
£800 million
ECONOMY
Describe the Thorneycroft economic crisis
Summer of 1957: high inflation, a run on the pound
ECONOMY
Describe “the night of long knives”
A major cabinet reshuffle to hide the sacking of Selwyn Lloyd, Macmillan: “a little local difficulty”
ECONOMY
Had Britain become more affluent?
Yes! Material quality of life improving, lower classes had opportunities their forbearers could not have dreamed of
ECONOMY
What was the average rate of unemployment?
It fell from 12% to 2%
ECONOMY
Did the British economy grow quicker or slower than the interwar period?
Quicker - 2.8%
ECONOMY
Describe two improvements to living standards
- Infant mortality halved
- Life expectancy rose on average 4 years
ECONOMY
What was the most obvious indicator of increased affluence?
Consumption of more household goods: percentage of households owning washing machines increased from 7% to 66%, refrigerators increased from 3% to 66%
ECONOMY
Name three states with higher GDP growth rates
Italy, W.Germany and France
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTS
Describe the rise in living standards
- A time of widespread affluence
- Conspicuous consumerism
- Ordinary people could now afford middleclass lifestyles
- Number of cars on the road increased from £2.5 million to £3.5 million
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTS
Describe the impacts of affluence and consumerism
- Disparity between the North and South
- More aspirations to a better lifestyle
- Golden age of social mobility
- 1/3 of children still had to leave school to contribute to the families income
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTS
Describe the impacts of affluence and consumerism
- Disparity between the North and South
- More aspirations to a better lifestyle
- Golden age of social mobility
- 1/3 of children still had to leave school to contribute to the families income
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTS
Describe social attitudes and tension
- Still deep class divisions, clothes, schools, accents etc
- People overly conscious of their status in society
- A simpler, less sophisticated society had become the norm
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTS Describe class and the establishment
- British society remained overtly hierarchal
- Establishment was the leading politicians, church owners and aristocrats
- Oxbridge influence
- Hostility grew towards the establishment: emergence of political satire, beyond the fringe
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTS
Describe the position of women
- Attitudes remained fundamentally conservative
- The war had acted as catalyst for social change
- Female wages 2/3 of men’s
- Women tended to work for “pin money” (smaller luxuries)
- Percentage of women in the workforce increased by 6%
- Tiny minority of female MPs
- “A woman’s place is in the home”
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTS
Describe immigration
- Immigrants came from the New Commonwealth
- 5000 migrants had arrived by 1951
- RA Butler introduced the Commonwealth Immigration Bill in 1961
- End to the open door policy
- 100,000 immigrants from the Commonwealth by 1961
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTS
Define the Commonwealth Immigration Bill
This bill required immigrants to hold work permits or an employment voucher before entering the country
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTS
Describe racial prejudice and violence
- Racism a prevalent issue but not as pronounced as America
- Lots of colour based prejudice in different institutions
- The Notting hill Riots: racially motivated
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTS
When did national service end?
1960
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTS
Describe the “angry young men”
Coined by the times, novelists and dramatics who gave a voice to the youth
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTS
What did the youth enjoy?
Greater opportunities and affluence
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTS
Describe popular music for youths
- Music helped define generations
- “Black America” and “sexual freedom”
- Cliff Richards, Presley, Bill Haley and the beginnings of Beetlemania
- Rock was very popular
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTS
List four new comprehensive schools
N. Wales: 1954
S. London: 1956
Wales: 1958
N. London: 1959
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTS
What happened to war slums?
They were cleared up
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTS
Which holiday camp opened?
Butlins
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTS
What did Suez expose?
Blatant government lies
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTS
What improved the lives of women?
The introduction of labour saving devices
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTS
What were the three teenage groups?
Rockers, mods and teddy boys
LABOUR REVIVAL
Who succeeded Hugh Gaitskell when he died suddenly in 1963?
Harold Wilson :))
LABOUR REVIVAL
Who did Harold Wilson beat in the Labour party elections?
George Brown and James Callaghan
LABOUR REVIVAL
Which disagreements did Wilson bypass?
Clause IV and nationalisation
LABOUR REVIVAL
What name did Wilson harness to his cause?
The name of science and technology
LABOUR REVIVAL
What did Wilson call for?
A second industrial revolution: popular with the electorate
LABOUR REVIVAL
What was Wilson particularly good at?
Manipulating the media: paired himself next to the young, progressive JFK
LABOUR IN OPPOSITION
What happened to Labour under the Atlee government?
They carried out the whole of their policies, no new ideas
LABOUR IN OPPOSITION
What was Labour regrouping hindered by?
The Conservatives adopting their policies from Labour’s manifesto, meaning what could Labour actually offer
LABOUR IN OPPOSITION
Why did the Conservatives gain some popularity?
For lifting rationing controls, increasing affluence
LABOUR IN OPPOSITION
What was Labour yet to decide?
What type of party it actually was
LABOUR IN OPPOSITION
What did the left of the party argue for?
Greater commitment to state control
LABOUR IN OPPOSITION
What represented the lefts strand of thought?
The Bevantines
LABOUR IN OPPOSITION
What were many of the left?
Unilaterists
LABOUR IN OPPOSITION
Why were many of the left inilaterists?
They believed money shouldn’t be spent on nuclear weapons but rather to state funding in order to help the poor
LABOUR IN OPPOSITION
What movement became associated with Labour?
The CND movement
LABOUR IN OPPOSITION
Why were Labour believed to hold a strong chance of winning the 1959 election?
First election to be held after Suez and the dipping of the economy
LABOUR IN OPPOSITION
What was the Conservatives’ election campaign in 1959?
“Britain has never had it so good”, “Don’t let Labour ruin it”
LABOUR IN OPPOSITION
What did Labour hurriedly promise?
Increased state pension: this raised questions about financing
LABOUR IN OPPOSITION
How did Gaitskell hinder the party in 1962?
He publicly declared he was against the application of the EEC. Hardly appeared progressive and forward thinking.
LABOUR IN OPPOSITION
Give four reasons for Labour’s defeat in 1956 and 1959
- Disagreements of the true character of the party
- Divisions over how far the party should push for socialist policies
- Split over issues of unilaterism
- Uncertainty over whether Britain should join the common market
LABOUR IN OPPOSITION
What did Gaitskell want to steer away from?
Extreme socialist policies which he felt would alienate the party from the electorate
LABOUR IN OPPOSITION
What did the Bevantine want?
Larger trade unions, resisted by Gaitskell
