1964-1970 Economics (Unit 2, Topic 2) Flashcards

Wilson's ideology and leadership, Economic policies and problems including the trade unions, Labour divisions, Trouble in Northern Ireland, The end of the post-war consensus, Loss of the 1970 election

1
Q

GDP?

A

Standard measure of the value added to created through the production of good and services in a country during a certain period

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1
Q

Prices and Income Policy?

A

An attempt by the government to set a rate of increasing prices and rate of wage increase in the economy

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1
Q

‘Wildcat’ Strikes?

A

Action taken by unionised workers to support or disprove something also known as surprise strikes

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2
Q

What were Britain’s Economic Issues?

A

Britain was lagging behind with lots of inflation and ‘stop go’ economics, the post war didn’t show growth economically

Moreover they inherited a deficit of £800 million. The common issues were deflation and devaluation. Deflation reduced inflation but was not the way Labour wanted to go. Equally devaluation would make imports expensive but make exports cheaper for other countries. Creation of the Department of Economic Affairs

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3
Q

Who was Harold Wilson?

A

He was a great moderniser and was described as a down to earth guy. He successfully linked the Labour Party to modernisation. He had previously been a Bevanite, serving in Gaitskell’s cabinet however, he would challenge Gaitskell and lose.

He supported nuclear deterrent and attempted to reform trade unions. He was seen as classless, relaxed and skillful on TV, he smoked a pipe and spoke with a Yorkshire accent, privately educated. Access to him was limited and he relied heavily on his advisors

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4
Q

How did Labour deal with the Economic Issues?

A

Labour survived the crisis in 1965 and 1966, using devaluation to fix the economic crisis, they brought in a Prices and Incomes Policy. Overall there were more detrimental negatives compared to the small positives of the new policy

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5
Q

How were Britain’s Industrial Relations?

A

They relied on trade unions, sea men strikes and wildcat strikes as well as dockers striked.

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6
Q

How did Labour deal with the Strikes?

A

White Papers were produced, Place of Strife 1969 it created a 28 day cooling period between strikes, government could improve settlements, strike ballots imposed.

It was supported by MPs but protests from Jack Jones went on for months

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7
Q

What was the Concorde?

A

A plane costing £1.39 billion and was constructed by British and French engineers. It could travel twice the speed of sound and reach 60,000ft. It cost £1,200 per person. However it wasn’t beneficial in reducing inflation costs and restoring economy

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8
Q

What was Labours Rocket Development?

A

Black Knight Rocket and Black Arrow Rocket were costly research into rocket development, but they were abandoned due to high cost and inflation

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9
Q

What was the Invention of Colour TV?

A

1st July 1967, BBC 2 was able to release televised colour to the British public, 15th November 1969 colour came to BBC 1 and ITV. 13th December 1969 Scotland receives colour and TV licenses were introduced on January 1st 1968 they were £10 which was double the cost of black and white

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10
Q

What was Defence Spending?

A

The defence spending of the government was increased because of the Cold War between the East and the West. There was the Korean War just before Wilson came to power which kept the defence budget high. Wilson also wanted to catch up militant wise so spending money for this was essential

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11
Q

What was Labours position in 1970?

A

Labour was in a very fragile state, they had experienced a number of setbacks and perceived failures. Even trade unions would refuse to side with the Labour Party and were not one to be forced into reforming industrial relations. Within the Labour Party there were multiple divisions about ideas moving forward pulling the party into further turmoil

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12
Q

What was the Conservative position in 1970?

A

Heath was seen as having a greater strengths but was seen as inexperienced and not a master campaigner like Wilson. Heath was hardworking, conscientious and had an image of competence even of he was perceived as dull

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13
Q

What were the Religious differences between North and South Ireland?

A

Southerners were Catholics whilst the North was mainly Protestant

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14
Q

When did Ireland Split?

A

1922 after the Irish War of Independence 1919-1921

15
Q

Why was Ireland splitting Controversial?

A

Unionists supported Britain whilst Nationalists wanted a United Ireland

16
Q

How were Catholics treated in Northern Ireland?

A

Discriminated in housing, electoral and employment boundaries were set due to protestant majority

17
Q

How did Catholics challenge their situation in Northern Ireland?

A

Civil Rights movements started challenging the protestant views and Irish Republication Army feared of starting a new campaign marches and protests occurred in 1968

18
Q

How did Loyalists respond to the Catholics in Northern Ireland?

A

Set up parliamentary organisations to defend the union, annual march in Derry

19
Q

Why did Wilson send the Army to Northern Ireland?

A

In an attempt to keep the peace and stop rioting and protesting between Catholics and Protestants

20
Q

Why did the Conservatives win the Election?

A

-The economic problems weren’t fixed and trade unions were uncooperative forcing industrial reform relations

-Rising unemployment caused more poverty and unrest within the working class against the government

-Growing inflation and devaluation caused more people to not afford food and basic needs reducing the price of peoples goods made the majority of the people annoyed and disappointed

-Failure to control trade unions that don’t resolve the economic crisis and the country still having economic instability

-Immigration control forced more people on the streets due to lack of housing or jobs. People unhappy that the government didn’t control the immigration

-Not joining the EEC meant foreign relations didn’t improve and the economic crisis hadn’t improved and developed