4. conservative domination 1951-64

Question 1

who won the 1951 election and with what majority

Answer 1

Conservatives won with a majority of 26 seats. Remained in office till 1964.
Labour won 130k more votes

Question 2

Why conservatives won the 1951 election? Labour weakness

Answer 2

Asscoiated with austerity. High tax and rationing.

Korean war 1950 = increased defence spending. Causing cuts in NHS, Introduced payments for presciprtions.

Question 3

Why conservatives won the 1951 election? Conservative strengths

Answer 3

compared to Better local organisation, finance and campaigned strongly

Party united over nationalisation

promise to build 300k houses

Question 4

Standard of living in the 1950s

Answer 4

Unemployment peak was 500k in 1959.(sense of stability)

Real wage rose

25% home Owners 1951
1964 44%

Question 5

Education changes

Answer 5

6000 more schools

Grammar schools for the poor

Uni increased

Question 6

Teenage culture change

Answer 6

Teddy boys and mods

Increased gap between generations

Music clothes etc. manufacturing for young people increased

Question 7

Multi cultural GB

Answer 7

Influx of immigrants from West Indies could lead to conflicts

Question 8

After 1951 conservatives

Answer 8

Britian had some industry run buy state

There should not be a economic cuts in welfare and health spending

Important to maintain full employment

Question 9

Butler and butskellism

Answer 9

Butler was chancellor, and his policies were similar to labour leader gaitskill.

Question 10

Stop go what was it

Answer 10

Question 11

Butler and butskellism

Answer 11

Butler was chancellor 1951-55
And his policies were similar to Hugh gaitskill of Labour Party

Question 12

Stop go economics explained

Answer 12

Question 13

Success of conservative economic policies

Answer 13

High level of Employment for most of the period

The economy supported a growth and welfare spending and house building

Many industries like cars and aircraft manufacturers expanded

Credit was available to increase SOL

Growth in infrastructure( motorways)

Question 14

Failures of conservatives economic policy 1951-64

Answer 14

Economic growth lagged behind EU as They didn’t join EEC

Share of world trade fell

Defence spending was high

Persistent inflation and a lack of modernisation

Unemployment 1963 was 800k

Question 15

Churchill as a peacetime PM 1951-55

Answer 15

Wartime leader rep and forgein affairs

At 77 he lacked Energy to offer strong leadership for the domestic affairs

1953 he has a stroke 

Question 16

Eden 1955-1957

Answer 16

Churchill handed over leadership to Anthony Eden.
It’s very charming personable figure and was highly experienced

Question 17

Edens 1956 suez disaster

Answer 17

Question 18

Macmillian 1957 -1963

Answer 18

Similar to Eden.

Faced the result of suez crisis and his calm leadership made him popular everywhere.

Warm witty and tv performer.

Butler as home sec he moved towards ending death penalty

‘Never had it so good’

Restored USA relations

Question 19

‘ a good butcher’

Answer 19

After 1961 MacMillan wasn’t able to stop growing econ problems

GB was not playing a significant part in major world events

John perfumo defence minister scandal compromised by his relationship with her.

Question 20

Home 1963-64

Answer 20

MacMillan retired.

Home was a lord who served with chamberlain.

Wasn’t chosen by parties but just a small group of senior tories.

He was on power for just under a year as labour won 1964

Question 21

Labour had lack of what

Answer 21

Unit

Question 22

Labours opposition from 1951-64
Nuclear disarnment

Answer 22

Nuclear disarnment- argued it took money out of social reforms and encouraged arms race.

Others didn’t want to be defenceless

Question 23

Labours opposition. Forein policy

Answer 23

Bevan disapproved of policy towards west Germany ( Join nato and re arm)
Rejected by leadership and bevan expelled in 1955

Question 24

Other reasons for labours electoral failures 1955-59

Answer 24

Attlee not as robust as Eden

Negative attitude to joining EEC ( they seemed old fanshioned)

1959 election campagin( unconvincing about raise in Spending on social without tax going up

1959
Con- 13.7 m
Lab - 12.5 m
Lib - 1.6 m
Most votes went to con from lib

Question 25

Other reasons for labour defeats and not their failure

Answer 25

Con offered low tax policies

Until 1961 economic prosperity

Macmillans personaitly

Question 26

What does the victory in 1964 show about labours performance before that?

Labour won more support when

Answer 26

A younger and more classless leader

Looked at future more and modernisation and tech change

Divisions less obvious