3 class and social change 1945-1951

Question 1

Impact of World War 2 on society: what did historians think would happen? what actually happened?

Answer 1

Many historians were sure World War 2 would make Britain a classless society.
Although barriers were diminishing due to the war effort, ‘mass observation’ a social research group found class distinctions were somtimes reinforced by wartime experiences. Eg. Working class children were being evacuated to middle class homes reinforced prejudice

Question 2

post war attitudes: what did parties campaign for?

Answer 2

both parties campaigned for greater state intervention. Labour focused on nationalisation and welfare.
A minority of labour thought the House of lords and elite public schools should be abolished

Question 3

What did the Labour landslide victory show?

Answer 3

hardships of the 1930s were not to be repeated.

Question 4

What did Labour wartime policy represent? However, what also emerged?

Answer 4

equality of sacrifice, provision, and the value of the working class. However, the ‘rudeness’ of the working class also emerged.

Question 5

what did the 1939 labour party look like?

Answer 5

upper class, despite being the ‘voice of the working class’

Question 6

Clement Attlee background

Answer 6

although he was seen as a middle class pm, he was from a family of solicitors, and more accurately upper class.

Question 7

Paul Addison quote

Answer 7

condludes war led ‘only to a very modest change in society itself’ not really rigid class changes

Question 8

homeowners middle vs working

Answer 8

60% of middle class were homeowners, 20% of the working class. These houses were msotly built in the south of england