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history britain > 1951-64 > Flashcards

1951-64 Flashcards

1
Q

identify the prime ministers 1951-64

A

1951-1955- winston churchill
1955-57- Anthony Eden
1957-63- Harold Macmillan
1963-64- Douglas-home

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2
Q

reasons conservatives won the 1951 election

A

first-past-the-post system

1950 saw influx of new younger tory MP’s

could attack gov on more socialist ideas (nationalisation)

key leaders (Butler) believed in key ideas such as post war consensus

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3
Q

reasons labour lost the 1951 election

A

six difficult yrs in office left them tired

divisions over economic, welfare and foreign policies

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4
Q

reasons conservative won 1959 election

A

post-war economic boom

macmillan restored party unity after suez

macmillan had good relationship w media

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5
Q

reasons labour lost 1959 election

A

internal battles over nuclear disarmament and direction of party

failure to capitalise on conservatives’ humiliation over Suez

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6
Q

domestic policies under conservatives

A

most conservatives had accepted most reforms of the labour government

war years made people ready to accept state intervention

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7
Q

define post-war consensus

A

belief in a mixed economy

support for NHS and welfare state

a wish to ensure full employment

work with both TU’s and employers

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8
Q

what did the conservative manifesto promise to do in terms of housing?

A

build 300,000 houses a year to rebuild the housing stock destroyed by the war

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9
Q

describe the education system under the conservatives

A

tripartite system-developed by butler in 1944

grammar school- intellectually gifted

technical- practical and vocational

secondary modern- majority

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10
Q

how was it decided which school you would go to

A

11+ test

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11
Q

describe the social reforms under the conservatives

A

clean air act 1956- prevent smog

housing and factory acts to improve working and living conditions

1957 wolfenden commision- homosexuality no longer criminal

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12
Q

reasons for conservatives fall of power

A

macmillan lost his political touch

rejection to EEC in 1963

night of long knives 1962- he sacked 1/3 of cabinet- dented public confidence in him

spy scandals

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13
Q

spy scandal examples

A

George Blake= convicted as Soviet double agent 1961

John Vassall= blackmailed on basis of homosexuality to pass info onto soviets 1962

John profumo= lied about actions, macmillan secrecy of state 1963

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14
Q

why did macmillan resign oct 1963

A

Ill health and a major abdominal operation kept him in hospital for weeks.

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15
Q

what was the difference between the left wingers and right wingers of the Labour Party

A

left- be more socialist

right- be more modern

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16
Q

what idea did Gaitskell put forward at the 1959 conference

A

abolishing Clause IV of the party constitution which committed party to nationalisation

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17
Q

when did gaitskell become the leader of the Labour Party

A

when it was going through its most disruptive periods

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18
Q

why was there divisions within the Labour Party

A

it couldn’t decide what type of party it was and what its aims were

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19
Q

what was the first step of a socialist Britain

A

introduction of welfare state

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20
Q

what did the left of the Labour Party argue for

A

greater commitment to state control and direction of the economy and society

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21
Q

many of the left were unilateralists, what is that

A

people who believed Britain should give up its atomic weapons without waiting for a multilateral agreement between the nuclear powers

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22
Q

what is CND

A

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

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23
Q

what were the socialists more in favour of

A

CND

abolishment of clause IV

against joining EEC

1951 prescription charges

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24
Q

what dictated conservative policy towards the TU’s

A

post-war consensus

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25
Q

what were potential blips with the trade unions

A

1957-dispute over economic management- thorneycroft wanted to limit wage rises and cut money supply but macmillan sided with expansionist policy and maintained post-war consensus
-1961- pay pause introduced

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26
Q

why didn’t the blips with TU’s become bigger at this stage

A
  • bigger issues were in labour
  • age of affluence giving a good feeling
  • working with trade unions (national economic development council 1961, national incomes commission 1962)
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27
Q

define Keynesian economics

A

belief that if money is invested in the working class then they will spend it putting more in circulation which would spur more growth, pump money into the economy to get it rolling, government+state intervention

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28
Q

describe the 2 strategies of Keynesian economics

A

wage limits/controls

interest rates raising/lowering

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29
Q

what were the key features of the post war consensus related to the economy

A

belief in a mixed economy and desire to have full employment

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30
Q

define inflation

A

a general increase in prices and fall in the value of money.

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31
Q

why can inflation be good

A

encourages manufactures to expand their businesses and employ more people

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32
Q

why can inflation be bad

A

economy can overheat as workers demand higher wages due to higher prices

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33
Q

define deflation

A

a fall in the price of goods and services

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34
Q

describe inflation controls

A

wage freezes, increasing taxation, making borrowing harder so goods cannot be bought on credit

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35
Q

what can deflation lead to

A

unemployment as people have less money to spend so less goods and services need to be produced

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36
Q

what does a wage freeze do to people

A

panics them because they feel as they have less money as product prices increase therefore spending more and keeping less money

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37
Q

when did food rationing end

A

July 1954

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38
Q

what was the difference in the population of Britain between 1951 and 61

A

by 1961 51m ppl in GB, 5% (2 million) more than in 1951

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39
Q

how many people were unemployed in 1955

A

less than 200,000 (1%)

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40
Q

what sort of work was there expansion in

A

electrical and engineering work, industries relating to cars, steel and other metals

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41
Q

what did economic growth and low unemployment bring

A

rising wages

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42
Q

what did the give-away budget provide

A

£134m of tax cuts for middle classes

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43
Q

what did the giveaway budget lead to

A

feeling of affluence and growing consumerism along with already rising wages

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44
Q

what was britain able to do in the late 1950’s

A

import 29% more goods than in 1951 for the same number of exports

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45
Q

what did more imports cause

A

improved world trade

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46
Q

define stop-go economics

A

a policy which deliberately alternates between expansion and contraction of demand in effort to curb inflation and eliminate balance of payments deficit while maintaining full employment

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47
Q

why was gov at high risk of inflation

A

growth in wages was outstripping rate of production

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48
Q

what did the gov have to do in response to growth in wages outstripping growth of production

A

put in controls, taxation remained high to stop excess spending and prevent further increase in imports

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49
Q

describe the cycle of stop-go economics

A

imports exceed exports and balance of payments crisis

gov controls: high interest rates and wage freeze

demand falls

output decreases

controls removed

increase in demand

rising imports

imports exceed exports and balance of payments crisis

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50
Q

define balance of trade

A

the difference between the goods that a country imports and what it exports

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51
Q

define balance of payment

A

includes invisible imports and exports (e.g shipping, banking, insurance)

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52
Q

why was the economy unstable

A

controls were constantly tightened and losened

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53
Q

what years was Britain in a trade deficit of -56 million in

A

1946-1955

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54
Q

why was britain in such a bad trade deficit 1946-55

A

importing more goods than exporting, higher salaries created higher consumer demand however did not encourage manufacturers to increase exports

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55
Q

in what years did Britain gain a trade surplus of +132 million

A

1956-60

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56
Q

what exposed Britains financial weakness and what did it start

A

pressure from US over Suez crisis- started run on the pound

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57
Q

define run on the pound

A

Rapid fall in the value of the pound in international currency markets

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58
Q

when did the sterling regain its value against a US dollar

A

1959- run on pound did not have lasting damaging effects

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59
Q

why did britain need a pay pause and IMF loan

A

bc of worries ab the economy overheating

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60
Q

when was the introduction of a pay pause and application for IMF loan

A

1961

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61
Q

why did britain want to apply to the EEC

A

because trade with the empire and commonwealth was insufficient and was not enough to supply demand, they were lacking economic growth in comparison to Europe

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62
Q

when did they submit the application for the EEC and when was it rejected and why

A

1961

1963-De Gaulle distrusted Britain as he fought that during disputes, they would side with America

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63
Q

describe what the EEC was

A

common market to eliminate trade barriers

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64
Q

what were imports and exports like in the early 1960’s

A

exports rose over 10% but imports still remained 20% higher

65
Q

After pre war slums were cleared, what new towns were built?

A

Harlow in Essex and Kirkby on Merseyside

66
Q

what did mens wages rise to 1951-61

A

£8.30-£15.35

67
Q

Why did home ownership increase?

A

cheap mortgages

68
Q

what outnumbered private homeowners in the 1950’s

A

people living in council houses and rented accommodation

69
Q

what was there a surge in ownership of?

A

TVs- 1957-59- 32%
washing machines- 1957-59-54%
refrigerators- 1957-59- 58%
cars- 1957-59- 25%

70
Q

what became popular because of TVs

A

DIY and gardening

71
Q

How many miles of new/upgraded main roads were complete 1957-63

A

1200 miles

72
Q

what reached peak popularity

A

holiday camps

73
Q

how many people went to butlins each week

A

60,000

74
Q

how many people could afford to go abroad

A

2%

75
Q

what sort of society was Britain in 1951

A

conformist society- a society with an ingrained respect for authority

76
Q

In the 1951 election, what % of the working class voted Labour?

A

65%

77
Q

in 1951 election, what % of the middle class voted conservative

A

80%

78
Q

what were shifts of attitude hinting at towards the late 1950’s

A

gradual breakdown of old social restrictions and loss of deference (polite submission and respect)

79
Q

what did the Suez crisis expose

A

gov lies and manipulation

80
Q

What did the rise of CND encourage

A

tendency to challenge authority

81
Q

what sort of society was Britain becoming

A

a more individualist society less willing to follow the lead set by Britains establishment

82
Q

define the establishment

A

informal networks that connected the social and political elites. Privalleged people who had influence and knew people who ‘mattered’

83
Q

who/what did the establishment include

A

politicians, servants, judges, bishops and media

84
Q

what happened by 1960

A

a satire ‘boom’

85
Q

what did the magazine ‘private eye’ establish

A

witty disrespect to the establishment

86
Q

what TV show satirised public figures?

A

that was the week that was

87
Q

what did critics of the establishment believe

A

britain was being held back by its ruling elite

88
Q

what was their perception of the elite

A

it emphasised arts education in preference to science, blocked talent from outside the establishment and tried to hide its own mistakes

89
Q

what was the conservative government dominated by 1951-64

A

the establishment

90
Q

due to lack of social mobility, what did Britain need

A

leaders who understood the modern age they were living

91
Q

in the 1950’s what were women primarily seen as

A

housewives

92
Q

what was the ideal woman

A

wife and mother

93
Q

what was the average marriage age and how many women were married

A

21

75%

94
Q

how many women went to work in 1951

A

1 in 5

95
Q

why were women paid family allowance

A

to ensure they didn’t need to work

96
Q

what suggests that women were financially dependant?

A

mortgages and bank accounts were in mens names

97
Q

number of women working rose by 1964, what issues were there

A

still relatively uncommon for married women especially with children to work

98
Q

what did people believe women working would do

A

damage children

99
Q

why did the trade unions not support women working

A

it could lower wages

100
Q

when was there equal pay for teachers

A

1952

101
Q

when was there equal pay for civil servants

A

1954

102
Q

what improved womens lives in their home

A

new labour-saving devices

103
Q

why were washing machines good for women

A

they didn’t have to hand wash clothes so saves time and energy

104
Q

why were fridges good for women

A

didn’t have to go daily shopping

105
Q

how many immigrants settled in Britain by 1958?

A

210,000 commonwealth immigrants

106
Q

what were 75% of immigrants

A

male, working to support their families at home

107
Q

what were attitudes like towards immigrants

A

mixed- some showed tolerance, some outright racist and showed resentment

108
Q

in the 1960’s what was the inward migration

A

1.25 million

109
Q

in the 1960’s what was the outward migration

A

1.92 million

110
Q

why was immigration economically desirable

A

they took low wage jobs

111
Q

what were perceptions to immigrants altered by in late 1950’s

A

racial tension

112
Q

what were the nottinghill riots 1958

A

serious violence to carribean people

113
Q

who mostly took part in the nottinghill riots

A

white youth attacking West Indies

114
Q

why didn’t the police deal with the nottinghill riots

A

they lacked experience of dealing with race riots

115
Q

when was the commonwealth immigrants act passed

A

1962

116
Q

who opposed the 1962 commonwealth immigration act

A

Labour Party but they didn’t repeal it after 1964 election

117
Q

in relation to youth, what happened for the first time in the 1950s

A

there was a distinctive youth culture

118
Q

what did boys no longer have to do after 1960

A

take part in national service

119
Q

what did girls no longer need to do and why

A

help their mothers as much as rise in affluence made womens jobs easier

120
Q

what swelled the number of teenagers

A

post war baby boom

121
Q

how many teenagers were in Britain?

A

5 million (10% of population)

122
Q

what was aimed at teenager in the late 1950’s

A

TV programmes and magazines

123
Q

what was the most obvious youth subculture

A

teddy boys

124
Q

why were the teddy boys seen as a worrying phenomenon

A

linked with juvenile delinquency and rising crime

125
Q

who were the teddy boys replaced with in the late 1950’s

A

the rockers then the mods

126
Q

what was the difference between the rockers and mods

A

rockers wore leather rode motorcycle and listened to rock and roll whereas mods rode scooters, wore smart suits and preferred pop music

127
Q

what were the attitudes to the establishment in 1951?

A

very deferential and conformist- class loyalties were strong

128
Q

in the 1950’s, what events caused the deference break down?

A

1956- Suez exposed lying and manipulation

1958 CND protests showed willingness to challenge authority

1963 Profumo affair showed government was out of touch with people and the media started showing topics they would not have covered before (e.g sexual behaviour)

129
Q

example of film which reflected racial tension

A

Sapphire- 1959 crime thriller film with shocking portrayal of sex and violence made after nottinghill riots

130
Q

what was the main foreign policy objectives in this period

A

manage transition from empire to commonwealth

strengthen ties between NATO (USA, western Europe)

support foundation of EEC and then join

131
Q

when was the schuman plan and what did it do

A

1950- set out the proposals for a coal and steel community that would provide economic reconstruction and eliminate danger of future war between france and germany

132
Q

why did britain initially not get involved in the EEC

A

britain “won the war”

trade links with australia canada and new zealand more important than european ones

britain wanted to remain and independent power

there was a need to balance involvemnent in europe with special relationship w US

133
Q

where and when did the EEC take shape

A

1955 conference at messina in sicily

134
Q

When was the EEC launched?

A

1957 treaty of Rome

135
Q

what did britain create in 1959

A

EFTA

136
Q

why did they create EFTA

A

britain believed it’s economic future didn’t lie w europe but with the USA and commonwealth

137
Q

Was EFTA successful?

A

only moderately successful but was unable to match the economic growth of the EEC

138
Q

when did britain apply to join the EEC and when was it rejected

A

1961

1963

139
Q

why did britain change its mind about not joining the EEC

A

boost industrial production for a large scale export market

increase industrial efficiency with greater competition

stimulate economic growth

britain could be used as a vital link between europe and america

140
Q

Why did De Gaulle veto UK application?

A

worried about relationship with USA

Afraid britain would take over

american influence in europe

141
Q

What was the Burgess and Maclean affair?

A

Burgess and Maclean were highly placed officers in British Intelligence. They defected to the Soviet Union in 1951. The fact that British spies had been leaking vital secrets to Moscow deeply worried the Americans, who became much less ready to share intelligence secrets with Britain.

142
Q

why did britain have to become an independent nuclear power

A

US stopped sharing nuclear secrets with britain

143
Q

why was britain not able to become an independent nuclear power

A

advance in technology meant it’s method of delivering was outdated and they had to begin buying US polaris nuclear missiles

144
Q

when was the formation of CND

A

1958

145
Q

What did the CND want?

A

reject nuclear weapons and follow a policy of unilateral nuclear disarmament

146
Q

when did the US agree to share nuclear technology with britain again

A

1958 under the mutual defense agreement

147
Q

what nuclear weapon did britain have from the US

A

us polaris nuclear missiles

148
Q

When was the Korean War?

A

1950-53

149
Q

how was korea occupied

A

soviet union in the north and US in the south

150
Q

what happened in the korean war

A

North Korea fought South Korea and the US helped South Korea fight North Korea in order to stop Communism.

151
Q

what was agreed after the korean war

A

korea would be split between a communist north korea and non communist south korea

152
Q

what did the korean war demonstrate about britain

A

it’s willingness to continue to play a major role in world affairs but that US was still a greater power

153
Q

what happened in the suez crisis

A

Egypt nationalised the suez canal Israelis, British, and French forces invaded Suez. America told them to stop and evacuate because Egypt might ally with the Soviets for help. Britain pulled out

154
Q

what did the suez crisis show about britain

A

britains reputation as a force for good was questioned

highlighted britains inability to act without the US

undermined that britain was still a world power

155
Q

what was britains and south africa’s historic relationship

A

very good- developed trade to their common advantage. Took 1/3 exports and supplied 1/3 exports

156
Q

what did the winds of change speech 1960 show

A

clear shift of policy from maintaining control to decolonisation and recognition of independence movements

157
Q

what countries gained independence 1957-63

A

Nigeria, uganda, kenya, ghana

158
Q

what did the 1952 mau mau rebellion show

A

difficulty in dealing with it showed problems with Britains colonial policies

history britain (6 decks)

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