Affluent Society 1951-64 POLITICS

Question 1

What 2 key changes were Attlee’s government known for?

Answer 1

Welfare state
Nationalisation

Question 2

What report was the welfare state based from?

Who founded the NHS and in what year?

Answer 2

Beveridge Report

Bevan in 1948

Question 3

What 2 factors contributed to Labour’s loss in 1951?

Answer 3

Korean War

Charges on prescriptions and glasses introduced by Gaitskell causing Bevan to resign

Question 4

Why was the 1951 election so significant?

Answer 4

First past the post system allowed the Conservatives to win with more seats but less votes than Labour

Question 5

What were 2 positives of Churchill?

What were 2 negatives of Churchill?

Answer 5

+wartime victory
+policies weren’t a radical break from Attlee

-old and ill health, stroke led to resignation
-international statesman not domestic politician

Question 6

What were 2 roles did Eden have before PM?

What event was Eden associated with?

Answer 6

+foreign sec under Churchill
+acting PM for Churchill

-Suez

Question 7

What domestic policy made MacMillan popular?
What role did MacMillan have before PM?

What belief prevented MacMillan from doing well?
What economic policy was badly associated with MacMillan?

Answer 7

+Housing minister for 300,000 house policy manifesto
+Foreign sec under Eden

-He believed unemployment was a greater concern than inflation
-Stop go policies

Question 8

What were the aims of the post war consensus?

Answer 8

Mixed economy
NHS and welfare
Full employment
Work with trade unions and employers

Question 9

What act enabled the Tripartite system, and in what year?

Answer 9

Butler Act 1944

Question 10

What made Butler stand out from other Home Secretary’s?
What legislation did he pass?

Answer 10

He was more liberal
Homicide Act and homosexuality decriminalised

Question 11

What were the reasons for Labour divisions?

Answer 11

Prescription charges
Opposition of Gaitskell from trade unions led by Frank Counsins due to his opposition to CND
CND

Question 12

Who won the 1955 Labour leadership election?

Answer 12

Gaitskell

Question 13

Why did Gaitskell fail at the 1959 election?

Answer 13

He put forward the abolition of Clause IV (commit Labour to nationalism) at a Blackpool conference

Question 14

What were the reasons for the Conservatives fall from power?

Answer 14

EEC rejection 1963
Macmillans Night of the Long Knives
Spy scandals e.g. Profumo Affair 1963
Out of touch compared to modernisation of Labour under Wilson