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(Y12) Building a new Britain 1951-79 > 2 The Sixties 1964-70 > Flashcards

2 The Sixties 1964-70 Flashcards

1
Q

What was the name given to the rapid technological change of the 1960s, which Wilson promised Britain would catch up to?

A

‘The White Heat’ of Technological change

  • one of his most effective campaign speeches
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2
Q

Why was Heath deemed ‘no match’ for Wilson in 1966?

A
  1. Wislon was a better political tactician#
  2. Protrayed a more attractive image to the voters (family man)

In contrast, Heath came across as stiff and lacking in personality

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3
Q

Who did Wilson challenge, unsuccessfully, for Labour leadership in 1961?

A

Hugh Gaitskill - made him the obvious canditate in the future

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4
Q

What 2 reasons did Wilson not seem to be of the Left (of the party)?

A
  1. Supported Britain’s nuclear deterrent
  2. Attempted to reform Trade Unions

He had previously been much further left, as he resigned with Bevan over Prescription Charges in 1951

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5
Q

What failure did the ‘wasted years’ of Conservative governments refer to?

A

The failure of modernisation - which Wilson managed suceed in

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6
Q

How did Wilson’s image reflect modernisation?

A
  1. Far removed from Old Etonian style of Eden + Macmillan - not symbolic of any class
  2. First PM educated at a state secondary school
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7
Q

What suggested that Wilson was, in private, insecure about his leadership?

A

Relied heavily on a personal team of trusted advisers from OUTSIDE the government and civil service - known as the ‘kitchen cabinet’

  • also included economic advisers and ‘inner circle’ MPs
  • many felt this restricted ministers access to him and re-enforced suspicions of party rivalries
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8
Q

What 2 countries was it accepted Britain were ‘lagging behind’ by 1964

A

West Germany and Japan

  • modernisation of the economy needed to bring Britain up to speed
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9
Q

What were some characteristics of the economy leading up to 1964?

A

Trapped in a cycle of ‘stop-go’

  • bursts of prosperity always led to inflation, runs on the pound and BoP crises
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10
Q

What deficit had Labour inherited in 1964?

A

£800M

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11
Q

What 2 usual economic solutions to a large deficit, did Wilson and Callaghan (Chancellor) want to avoid in 1964>

A

Deflation or Devaluation

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12
Q

What were the Pros and Cons of Deflation as a policy in 1964?

A
  • Would support the value of the pound and prevent inflation

However:

  • Aligned with the old ‘stop-go’ policies of previous gov’ts
  • Feared it would threaten commitments of extra spending on welfare and technology
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13
Q

What were the Pros and Cons of Devaluation as a policy in 1964?

A
  • Make imports more expensive and help exporters by making British goods cheaper in other countries - aid BoP (£800M deficit)

However:

  • Would make Britain weaker in scaling back activities across the globe
  • Fears Labour would gain reputation for it after Atlee had in 1949
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14
Q

Who led the Department of Economic Affairs? (DEA)

A

George Brown

  • working class trade unionist background
  • to the right of the party
  • had a serious alcohol problem and was seen as unpredictable
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15
Q

What were the aims of the DEA?

A
  • set growth targets
  • national system of economic planning councils
  • voluntary agreements with TU leaders
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16
Q

Why was the success of the DEA undermined?

A

In competition with Callaghan (Chancellor) and the Treasury

  • they even tapped Brown’s phone
  • abandoned in 1967
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17
Q

What was Harold Wilson accused of (in terms of managing his cabinet?)

A

Keeping key personalities happy, rather than picking the best team for the job

  • Brown moved to Ministry for foreign affairs - DEA dissolved
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18
Q

What was the price and incomes policy?

A

Set limits on prices rises and called for wage restraints between unions and employers

  • Managed by Price and Incomes board, to keep down inflation
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19
Q

Which Trade Unionist resigned from the cabinet over the Incomes Policy in 1966?

A

Frank Cousins

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20
Q

What strike in part caused the Sterling Crisis in 1966?

A

The National Union of Seamen

-Many on the Left shocked at Wilson’s critical attitude towards the strike

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21
Q

What final crises caused the government to accept devaluation in 1967?

A
  1. War in the Middle East affecting oil supplies
  2. National dock strike affected BoP - trade limited
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22
Q

By what % was the pound dropped by in devaluation in 1967?

A

14%

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23
Q

What actions (as well as devaluation) were taken in Labour in 1967?

A
  • Defence cuts
  • Hire purchase restrictions
  • raised interest rates

Little different to Tory ‘stop-go’ that preceded

Damaged Labours credibility

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24
Q

What 2nd application was refused just weeks after devaluation?

A

Entry into the EEC

  • made the governments economic policies look even more futile
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25
Q

What were Wilsons views on joining the EEC in 1967?

A

Mainly on economic grounds

  • much of the labour party did not want to join
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26
Q

Who replaced Callaghan in 1969 as Chancellor, greatly improving the economic situation?

A

Roy Jenkins

  • son of a Welsh miner
  • Pro-European and Labour Right
  • Founded Social Democratic Party in 1981
27
Q

What unpopular (yet successful) economic methods did Jenkins use to achieve a BoP surplus by 1969?

A
  1. Raised taxes
  2. Tightened government spending in all areas
  3. Prioritises BoP
  • This economic improvement made Labour confident of victory in 1970 general election
28
Q

What % of people said they had a favourable view of the Trade Unions in the early 1960s?

A

60%

29
Q

Which 2 strikes in 1966 and 1967 causes economic problems for the government?

A

Seamen and Dockers

30
Q

What type of strikes showed that ‘old-style’ union bosses were losing control?

A

‘Wildcat’ strikes

  • sudden and unofficial strikes by local activists
31
Q

What was the name of the policy proposed by the Heath opposition to deal with strikes?

A

‘Fair Deal at Work’ Policy

32
Q

What similar legislation was passed by Barbara Castle (Employment minister) to limit unofficial strikes?

A

‘In Place of Strife’

  • Castle herself suggested it could be ‘political suicide’
33
Q

What did ‘In Place of Strife’ propose?

A
  1. 28 day ‘cooling off’ period before a strike
  2. Strike Ballots could be imposed
  3. Industrial relations court for rulebreakers
  4. Gov’t could settle disputes between unions
34
Q

What was the reaction to ‘In Place of Strife’?

A

Voters and many Labour Right (such as Jenkins) supported

Protests from Labour Left + powerful union leaders - backed by Callaghan (Home Secretary) and 50 other MPs

  • eventually won by TUC and government backed down
35
Q

Why were many of Labour’s domestic policies (such as modernisation) overshadowed?

A

Economic problems and a lack of expertise in the cabinet

  • e.g the first minister for Technology, Frank Cousins, had no interest
36
Q

Research into what aviation project showed some commitment to technological modernisation by Britain?

A

Concorde

  • could not compete with USA on R&D
37
Q

What fundamental goal of the Labour party united Left and Right?

A

Technological Modernisation

38
Q

What was one of the main sources of underlying tension between factions of Labour?

A

Clause IV - commitment to nationalisation

39
Q

Who were Wilsons personal rivals within his cabinet, who he feared he may face a leadership challenge from?

A

George Brown, James Callaghan and Roy JenkinsW

40
Q

What 2 things made George Brown resent Harold Wilson?

A
  1. He had lost the leadership election to Wilson
  2. He had not been made Foreign secretary in 1964
41
Q

What 2 disagreements did Harold Wilson have with Roy Jenkins?

A
  1. Opposed Jenkins liberalising legislation
  2. Jenkins called for devaluation in the 1966 sterling crisis
42
Q

In reality, why was Wilson likely just paranoid about a potential leadership challenge?

A

Jenkins and Callaghan disagreed on key issues (e.g Europe, liberalising legislation and devaluation)

43
Q

What are some criticisms of Wilson in regard to his priorities?

A

He focused too much on maintaining party unity

44
Q

Though Wilson did not face any major challenges from the left of his party, who did he face challenges from?

A

Those on the far-left in unions and local government

45
Q

What war (1919-21) formed Northern Ireland?

A

Irish War of Independence

46
Q

How many counties in the North of Ireland joined the UK?

A

6 counties

  • left the 26 countries which would become the Irish Free State
47
Q

What is a unionist?

A

Supporter of the union of NI with Britain

48
Q

What is a nationalist?

A

Someone who supports a United Ireland

49
Q

What was the name of the NI Parliament dominated by Protestant unionists?

A

Stormont

50
Q

What were the main allegations of discrimination towards Catholic in NI by the mid-1960s?

A
  1. Less employment and housing opportunities
  2. Gerrymandering (manipulated electoral boundaries to ensure no Catholics elected)
  3. Unfair Violence by the RUC
51
Q

What was the name of the organisation that fought for independence in the Irish War (1919-21) and did not accept the partition of Ireland?

A

Irish Republican Army (IRA)

52
Q

What did unionists fear would happen alongside increased protests for Catholic civil rights in 1964?

A

The IRA would set up a new campaign

53
Q

How did unionists respond to the threat of a new IRA campaign?

A

Established ‘loyalist’ paramilitaries to ‘defend the union’

54
Q

Catholic Civil Rights marches in 1968 were planned to be violent events

True or False?

A

False - loyalists attacked them unprovoked and the RUC failed to protect Catholic protestors

55
Q

Where were the ‘Apprentice Boys’ (loyalist) attacked by nationalists during their annual march?

A

Bogside, Derry

  • conflict later became known as ‘The battle of the Bogside’
56
Q

What form of media helped to spread sympathy for nationalists and incited riots in other towns and cities?

A

Television broadcasts of RUC officers beating Catholics

  • these pictures even spread internationally
57
Q

What did the Stormont government eventually offer concessions to Catholic communities on, and what was the reaction?

A

Housing and electoral boundaries

  • loyalists hated this decision and organised further riots to oppose it
58
Q

What did Harold Wilson do in August 1969 to try and suppress the violence in Northern Ireland?

A

Sent in British arm troops to keep the peace

59
Q

By 1970 what was sentiment was considered to be ending?

A

The Post-war consensus

60
Q

Why was the conservative victory in the 1970 election somewhat of a surprise?

A

Labour had seemed to come through its ‘difficult’ times

  • Jenkins credited with financial/economic stability
  • Wilson was a popular campaigner
61
Q

In reality, why was the Conservative 1970 victory not surprising?

A

Heath had greater strengths than he was given credited for; Labours position was actually quite fragile

  • Heath was hard-working, despite being seen as dull
  • Conservative ideas (breaking from PWC) gained traction
62
Q

Alongside a change in society in the 1950s, what was needed to develop ‘personal freedom’ further?

A

Laws - to consolidate change

63
Q

Who was the Home Secretary under Wilson from December 1965, who found himself in a position to push through liberal reforms?

A

Roy Jenkins

64
Q
A

(Y12) Building a new Britain 1951-79 (3 decks)

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