Affluent Society - Politics

Question 1

Who was Prime Minister from 1951-1955?

Answer 1

Wiston Churchill
Wartime hero (displaced after war by Labour leader Clement Attlee)

Question 2

Who was the Prime Minister from 1955-1957?

Answer 2

Anthony Eden
Poor reputation from the Suez Crisis 1956

Question 3

Who was Prime Minister from 1957-1963?

Answer 3

Harold Macmillan

Question 4

Internal Labour Divisions 1951-64 (weaknesses)

Answer 4

Bevan vs Gaitskell (left vs right) –> leadership battle after Attlee stepped down 1955 (Gaitskell won)

Link between CND and left

Opposition to Gaitskell leadership:
- Frank Cousins bitterly opposed Gaitskell over nuclear weapons (for nuclear disarmament) –> 1960 Scarbourough Conference
- Gaitskell wanted to abolish Clause IV –> met w/ opposition from left wing Labour
- Bevanite Quarrel (1951)

Question 5

Bevanite Quarrel

Answer 5

Bevan resigned over Gaitskell introducing prescription charges (1951)

Question 6

Clause IV

Answer 6

Labour policy committing the party to nationalism (Gaitskell wanted to abolish but met w/ opposition from Labour left + some union leaders)

Question 7

1960 Scarbourough Conference

Answer 7

Gaitskell speech to convice conference to reject nuclear disarmament

Question 8

Conservative manifesto 1951

Answer 8

Promised to build 300,000 houses a year

Question 9

Conservative domestic policy continuity

Answer 9

Education:
Continued the Tripartite system
- grammar schools
- secondary schools
- technical schools

Question as to whether system was fair

Question 10

Conservative social reforms

Answer 10

Clean Air Act 1956 - aimed to prevent smog
Housing and Factory Acts - aimed to improve living and working conditions
The Homocide Act 1957 - restricted when death penalty could be imposed
Wolfenden Commission 1957 - recommended that homosexual behaviour should no longer be a criminal act

Question 11

Conservative weaknesses - 1964 election loss

Answer 11

Spy scandles
- Profumo Affair
- George Blake = Soviet double agent 1961

Increased concerns over economy (e.g. rejected application to join EEC)

Macmillan lost polictical touch (Night of Long Knives)

Question 12

Night of Long Knives

Answer 12

Macmillan radically rehuffled his cabinet
Weakened the Conservative government

Question 13

Who was Prime Minister from 1963-1964?

Answer 13

Douglas Home

Question 14

Post-war Consensus

Answer 14

• belief in mixed economy
• support for NHS and Welfare State
• wish to ensure full employment
• working w both trade unions and employers