1964-1970 Flashcards
Who was in power 1964-1970
Harold wilson
Why did Labour win the 1964 election?
labour presented a younger and more modern image
more unity in the party after 1960
Wilsons personal appeal to electorate
Wilsons election campaign with focus on “white heat” of technology
why did Wilson appeal to the electorate
state-educated
smoked a pipe
seen as classless
yorkshire accent
skilful and relaxed tv performer
why did the conservatives lose the 1964 election
they were in power for 13yrs “time for change”
Scandals- Profumo affair- old and out of touch
sackings- night of long knives 1962 dented public confidence
economic issues- unemployment 800000 in 1963, huge public spending cuts
rejection of EEC application 1963
positive economic indicators
gov survived sterling crises of 1965 and 1966
roy Jenkins was successful chancellor of Exechequr from 1967-70
1969 balance of payments surplus achieved
how was roy Jenkins a successful chancellor of the Exchequer
he raised taxes and tightened gov spending
what countries was Britain lagging behind in 1964
west Germany and Japan
what was the inherited deficit in 1964
£800m
why was the cabinet dithered over how to solve the economy
did not want to deflate or devalue as they were worried about not meeting the manifesto commitments and weakening Britain globally
What was the DEA set up to do
try and establish national economic planning but conflict with treasury led to it failing in 1967
when was the prices and incomes policy and what did it lead to
1966 led to strikes and sterling crisis
What was the prices and incomes policy?
Government intervention to set limits on price rises and to call for wage restraint in negotiations between unions and employers
what affected the balance of payments in 1967
Middle East war and national dock strike (seaman strike)
what did the Middle East war and the seaman strike cause the gov to do
to devalue pound- its value dropped by 14%
when was the second EEC application rejected
1967
what was inflation running at 1969-70
12%
by 1970 what was Britain still stuck in
stop-go cycle
what are wildcat strikes
Sudden, unofficial local disputes begun without reference to the national leadership
what did George brown and DEA try to establish
voluntary agreement about wages and prices with industrialists, TU leaders and civil servants- need to get restraint so inflation won’t rise so no need for controls
Was Browns and DEA’s plan successful?
DEA came to nothing, Prices and income policy introduced and led to strikes by seamen and dockers (wildcat)
what was the outcome of the strikes being defeated
left ppl shocked w how critical of strikers Wilson was
When was “In Place of Strife”?
1969
What was ‘In Place of Strife’?
proposed act to use the law to reduce the power of trade unions- used to limit wildcat strikes
what were some of the terms that the TU’s didn’t accept
28 day cooling off period
gov imposed settlements between disputing unions
strike ballots
industrial relations court
what did the terms the TU’s didn’t accept cause
a split in the Labour Party (left of party hated idea) and led to protests from major TU leaders (Jack jones)
support for abandoning in place of strife
could cause controversy (political suicide)
keep good relations w TU
avoid splitting Labour Party
support for pushing through in place of strife
show control (wildcat strikes)
stop destruction
stop unnecessary protests
weaken TU’s
strengthen economy
voters like idea
TUC negotiated face-saving compromise but was humiliating climbdown by gov
when were the seamen strikes
1966
what did seamen strikes cause
sterling crisis
why did the seamen strike
worked too many hours for too little pay
what did Wilson do that united the left and right of the party
concentration on technological modernisation and minimised underlying tensions (eg. Clause IV)
what did wilson fear
face a leadership challenge from brown, Callaghan or Jenkins
issues w brown
resentment for losing leadership election to wilson
disappointed he was foreign secretary in 1964
rumours that Wilson kept record of browns embarrassing incidents
issues w Jenkins
didn’t support Jenkins liberalising legislation
Jenkins suggestion for devaluation after seaman strikes made Wilson think he was trying to replace him
why can Wilson be critiqued
his attention was devoted to keeping party united and stop his colleagues from threatening his position
what does “the troubles” describe
cycle of violence from 1960 to 1990 from conflict between nationalists and unionists
dates of anglo-irish war (Irish war of independence)
1919-1921
what did the 1921 treaty lead to
partition between Southern Ireland and six countries in ulster which became Northern Ireland
define partition
separation of NI from the rest of Ireland
Define ulster
the 6 countys which became NI
Define ulster unionists
supporters of the union of England Wales Scotland and northern Ireland
define nationalists/republicans
supporters of independence for a united Ireland (whole)
who are the IRA (Irish republican army)
organisation that fought for independence in Irish war of independence (didn’t like partition of Ireland)
who was Sinn Fein
main catholic republican political party of Ireland and NI
what did the 1964 civil right movement cause
challenged discrimination against catholics in terms of housing, employment and electoral boundaries
Tensions rose- unionists feared IRA would set up violent campaign so they set up their own paramilitary organisation to defend the union of GB and NI
when was the NI civil rights association (NICRA) founded and what did it do
1967- condemned political corruption and called for fair distribution of resources across whole population
what happened in the 1968 civil rights marches
catholic nationalists held marches to protest against discrimination
attacked by protestant loyalists
Catholics complained RUC didnt protect them
viewed as official start of troubles
what happened in battle of bog side 1969
loyalist apprentice boys did their annual march in derry
attacked by catholic nationalists in bog side (catholic area)
RUC attempt to storm bogside
held back by 2 days of rioting
RUC seen on TV beating catholics
Mass rioting in country
when did the first deaths occur in NI
summer 1969
what happened in aug 1969 when British army went to northern Ireland
initially welcomed by catholics
IRA targeted British troops as representatives of a hated imperialist government (root of all problems)
Why did Labour lose the 1970 election?
economic problems
gov had to devalue in 1967- trapped in stop go
problems with TU
in place of strife exposed divisions and tensions
left of labour dissatisfied w consensus policies
social problems and poverty not ended
define liberal
political and social philosophy advocating individual rights, civil liberties, democracy and free enterprise
Who was Roy Jenkins?
labour Home Secretary from 1965
roy Jenkins social aims
lessen state intervention
liberalising rules
encourage the arts
improve living conditions
make towns prettier
Define ‘free votes’
MP’s cam vote according to their opinion rather than following party
define private members bills
proposed legislation from backbencher MP’s
describe liberalising legislation
end of capital punishment
divorce reform
legalisation of abortion
legalisation of homosexual relations
educational reform
describe capital punishment
anti-hanging campaign- boost from Ruth Ellis case, murdered unfaithful lover
1965- hanging abolished 5yr trial period
permanent in 1969
Jenkins refused to authorise beating prisoners
did not reduce no. of violent crimes/murders
describe divorce reform act 1969
before 1960, to divorce had to prove adultery (rich used cameras, others impossible to divorce)
couples could divorce if lived apart for 2 yrs and both wanted to or lived apart 5yrs and one wanted to
1950- 2 per 1000 divorce
by mid 1970- 10 in 1000
what was abortion like before it was legalised
between 100,000 and 200,000 illegal abortions performed yearly
35,000 women admitted to hospitals w complications
1958-60, 82 died from backstreet abortions
what swayed public opinion ab abortion
thalidomide disaster 1959-62
drug described to pregnant women for morning sickness found to cause deformities in children
what did the abortion act permit and what were the effects
legal termination of pregnancy in first 28 weeks under medical supervision and consent of 2 doctors
only justification needed was mental suffering
1968- 4 per 100 births
1975- 17.6 per 100
describe homosexual relations
up to 1960, imprisonment for 2 years
cons gov rejected wolfenden recommendation to decriminalise homosexualit
1967 sexual offences act decriminalised homosexuality when both partners consented, over 21, in private
“in private” interpreted as no one else in building- not end of prosecutions for homosexual practices (flats etc)
describe educational reform
development of comprehensive schools
expansion of Higher education
open university
describe comprehensive schools
by 1960, tripartite system seen as divisive, secondary pupils seen as 11+ failures
LEA established comp schools- same opportunities as everyone-learn own pace and take exams
by 1964, 1 in 10 pupils in comprehensive schools
1965 Tony crosland became minister of education speeded up process
issued circular 10/65 requesting schools to convert to comp schools
1970, 1145 comp schools
middle class parents turned to direct grant schools so truly comp system was flawed
describe expansion of higher education
fears Britain was slipping behind in science and tech ed
too many students followed art related courses
expanded higher education:
- polytechnics replaced college of tech
- 9 college of advanced tech became full unis
- new unis were founded eg. bath, Sussex, Surrey
by 1968, 30 polytechnics and 56 unis
describe open university
established in 1969
equal opportunities in education- offered degree level learning in arts and sciences
rapid success
attracted mature women and the disadvantaged
by 1980, open uni had 70,000 students and awarding more degrees than Oxford and Cambridge combined
describe mass media
Tv overtook cinema as entertainment
by 1961, 75% had TV by 1971, it was 91%
1960, Hugh Greene became director general of BBC, guidelines on nudity and swearing revised
1955 launch of ITV allowed advertising to expand
BBC2 launched 1964 allowing BBC1 to grow populist
1967 BBC2 became first to broadcast colour
earphones meant teens could listen to what they want
teens listened to pop music from pirate stations 1964
when banned, listened to Radio One
The sun launched in 1964 and associated w permissive attitudes
describe growth in leisure
1969, tv accounted for 23% of leisure time
DIY, gardening became popular
by 1974, car journeys accounted for 77% of travel
buses and trains less used
shopping became leisure thru advertisement
holidays increased from 1951-27m to 1971-41m
brittania airways founded 1964-cost for middle classes
package holidays 4% in 1966 to 8.4% in 1971
describe scientific development
1961 first person in space
1969 US landed on the moon
anglo-french partnership developed supersonic Concorde aircraft
1965 post office tower opened to improve telecommunications
describe reduction in censorship
new plays had to gain licence from lord chamberlains to perform
theatre owners prosecuted if play not approved
George Strauss made bill to abolish theatrical censorship, made law 1968- nudity on stage
13 members of cast “Hair” stood naked 30sec in 1968
films remained subject to censorship by British board of film censors
thru 1960’s, issues of sex,violence, politics and religion were shown on TV-previously banned for public broadcasting
when did second wave feminism start
Betty Friednam published feminine mystique 1963- women unfulfilled w restricted lives-spread to Britain
women accounted for 28% of students in Uni 1970 and 5% reached managerial posts
what stayed the same even after feminism
women left school minimum age and married young
working women portrayed as selfish
what did the 1967 national health service act allow
local authorities to provide contraceptives for the first time
how did the no. of illegitimate births change
rose from 5.8% in 1960 to 8.2% in 1970
when was the establishment of the women’s national coordination committee
1969
what were the 4 demands made at national women’s liberation conference in feb 1970
equal pay
free contraception and abortion on request
equal education and job opportunities
free 24hr childcare
what acts liberated women
1970 matrimonial property act- work of wife should be taken into consideration in divroce
1970 equal pay act but didn’t come into force for 5yrs
what did the advertisement of labour saving devices do to women
reinforced the female role as a housewife
what did critics think of the permissive society
decline in conventional moral standards encouraged by the contraceptive pill, spread of mass media and enactment of liberal legislation
How were permissive ideas spread?
media and uncensored novels
when was the national viewers and listeners association made
1965
Was the national viewers and listeners association effective?
100,000 members but failed to have impact on programmes shown
describe drug culture
cocaine and heroin addiction became 10x more prevalent in first half of 1960’s and the use of soft drugs linked to the “hippy lifestyle” “flower power” “free love”
Beatles took LSD
what made it unlawful to possess drugs such as cannabis and cocaine
1967 dangerous drugs act
what was the 1968 wootton report and was it accepted
suggested legalising soft drugs like cannabis but rejected by Home Secretary
what was the maximum sentence for supplying drugs in 1970
14 years
what caused the youth to become inclined to question the norm and asset its right to make choices
increased living standards
spread of education
growth of leisure time
what did young people clash with their parents over
music, fashion, morals, sex and drugs
what was used more than illegal drugs
alcohol, tobacco and caffeine
what did a 1969 survey show
young people spent more time listening to music in their bedrooms than at youth clubs or music festivals
describe youth in terms of fashion
London became fashion capital of the world
ppl wore same outfit from work to go out in evening- break from traditional dressing rules
women wore trousers, men wore velvets, satins and bright colours
changing fashions masked old divisions between the sexes and social classes
describe youth in terms of music
Pirate radio stations/ radio one 1967
TV programmes spread the latest trends eg ready, steady go! (1963) and top of the pops (1964)
cheap plastic record players made music available to all
what subcultures of youth emerged
skinheads- shaved heads, braces, dr marten boots, working class, Jamaican music and culture
Hippies- rejected social conventions and establishment attitudes. Embraced “flower power” emphasis on environmentalism, free love and peace
describe the rise of anti-war protests
1965 Oxford uni and London school of economics began teaching ab Vietnam
1966 vietnam solidarity campaign set up
17 march 1968 violent scenes at an anti-vietnams war demonstration in london
28 march 1968 200ppl arrested in violent protest known as battle of Grosvenor square
oct 1968 30,000 ppl protested peacefullu
1968 more anti-war protests also linked to demand for more student power
what is the general attitude towards race relations in this period
tensions increased bc of rivers of blood speech
labour tried to legislate against discrimination but had limited success
some ppl embraced multiculturalism: Chinese takeaways, youth culture w ethnic music, fashion and street life hippies wore Indian and African cottons, scarves and ethnic beads
what did the 1965 survey in north London show
20% objected w working w black or asian ppl
50% refuse to live next-door to black person
90% disapproved of mixed marriages
What did the 1965 Race Relations Act do?
legislated against discrimination in public places
what did the 1968 race realtions act introduce?
This act banned racial discrimination in housing, employment, insurance and other services• The race relations board was given stronger powers
what did the 1968 commonwealth immigration act do
limited right of return to Britain for non-white commonwealth citizens as a response to the influx of Kenyan asians
what were the problems shown In the rivers of blood speech
too many commonwealth immigrants and white ppl will become minority
what were the solutions suggested in the rivers of blood speech
stop further inflow and promote maximum outflow, encouragement of re-immigration
what was the response to enoch Powells speech in 1968
condemned by liberal establishment but led to strikes by dockers and meat porters and a protest march to Downing Street from those who supported him: 75% of population according to Gallup poll
what are the main aims of foreign policy in this period
continue decolonisation and reduce military commitments overseas
make the “special relationship” closer and stronger
join EEC
what was the 1965 unilateral declarance of independence for Rhodesia
not prepared to abide by winds of change and accept majority rule so Ian smith (new prime minister of Rhodesia) declared independence from britain
what happened at the 1966 HMS tiger meeting
wilson and smith met and seemed to make progress until smith went home and went back on everything he said
how was smith growing in strength in 1967-68
despite britain imposing oil sanctions, Rhodesia got oil from Mozambique and South Africa continued to trade w Rhodesia
what were the 1967 white paper on defence withdrawals from east of Suez
aden, Middle East, Malaysia, Singapore were to lose stationed troops by end of 1971 to save money
how did the 1964 onwards Vietnam war affect the relationship
caused a strain in relationship. US wanted military support but Wilson was in a tricky situation. Britain couldn’t afford military involvement and war was unpopular at home. Wilson needed US support for the value of sterling and to avoid devaluation. UK provided moral but no military support
what was the 1967 continuation of Polaris
kept nuclear deterrent despite cost and there was a commitment to upgrade the system
what was the split in 1964 ab the need to join the EEC
labour left saw it as a club for capitalists which would prevent britain from following socialist policies. Wilson himself preferred to prioritise Atlantic alliance and commonwealth but saw economic reasons for joining
when did the cabinet agree to support new application
1966 but joining poor bc of de Gaulle
how did Wilson try to gain support for joining EEC
jan 1967 wilson and George brown met de Gaulle in Paris and tour other EEC countries
Why did De Gaulle veto UK application?
nov 1967- britain wouldn’t agree to detach itself from the special relationship
