Britain Booklet 2

Question 1

What were the results from the 1964 general election?

Answer 1

Labour - 317 seats
Conservatives - 304 seats
Liberal - 9 seats

Question 2

What was Wilsons cabinet called and why?

Answer 2

‘Kitchen Cabinet’
As people perceived the inner circle of MP’s as informal.

Question 3

What was In Place of Strife?

Answer 3

In 1969, Barbara Castle came up with a set of rules to reduce the amount of strikes including..
- A 28 day cool off period
- Industrial Relations could prosecute people
Though people protested leading to a change in June 1969

Question 4

What were the 2 possible options to solve the ‘Stop-Go’ economic policy?

Answer 4

Deflation
Pro- supported value of £
Con - part of Stop Go

Devaluation
Pro - Imports more expensive so would turn balance of payments
Con - Britain and party would look weak

Question 5

What did Wilson do to solve the economy?

Answer 5

Set up the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) by George Brown but this did not work
-Proposals came to nothing
- did not help Gov cooperation
-Brown was impulsive and inconsistent

Question 6

How much did the £ value drop?

Answer 6

14% to 2.4US$

Question 7

What was Jenkins main success?

Answer 7

He helped with many legislations and made time for more to be passed (Successful home secretary)

Question 8

What was the Legislation of Capital Punishment?

Answer 8

1965 - Abolished for trial of 5 years
1969 - made permanent
Boost from Ruth Ellis case

Question 9

What was the Legislation on Divorce?

Answer 9

1969 Divorce Reform Act allowed “no fault” divorces
- Had to live apart for 2 years BOTH agree
OR
-Had to live apart for 5 years ONE agree
There was a huge increase in divorce rates
1950, 2 per 1000
1970’s, 10 per 1000

Question 10

What were the policies on abortion before it was legal?

Answer 10

Abortion was illegal until 1967
The only way to terminate before was private clinics and backstreet abortions, 100,000 to 200,000 illegal abortions per year, 35,000 in hospital due to complications, between 1958 and 1960 82 died.

Question 11

What were the legislations on abortion?

Answer 11

Abortion Act 1967 - legal termination within first 28 weeks with the only justification needed “mental suffering”

Question 12

What was the legislation of homosexuality?

Answer 12

Leo Abse led formation of 1967 Sexual Offences Act which led to legalisation of homosexuality if..
- Both partners consented
- both over age 21
- had to be in private
Did not abolish completely

Question 13

How was Education reformed?

Answer 13

Tony Crosland - Minister of Education
Comprehensive schools established by Local Education Authorities (LEA) to replace tripart system
-By 1970 only 8 authorities failed to change to Comprehensive, 1145 comprehensive schools

Question 14

How was higher education reformed?

Answer 14

The Robbins Report showed Britain lacked behind in higher education compared to France, Germany and USA, causing expansion
Polytechnics replaced colleges of Technology
Colleges of advanced technology became universities
By 1968
30 Polytechnics
56 Universities

Question 15

What was the Open University?

Answer 15

Wilson wanted to be remembered for this
Planned to provide high quality learning opportunities
March 1963 “University on Air”
Sept 1969 Headquarters established
BY 1980 it had 70,000 students awarding more degrees than Oxford and Cambridge

Question 16

What were the changes in the Media?

Answer 16

There was a large expansion
1961 75% had a TV
1971 91% had a TV
Money diverted from radio to TV
ITV launched 1955
Radios became more portable and teenagers could listen to their own music including pop from pirate stations from 1964

Question 17

What were the changes of Censorship

Answer 17

Censorship reduced largely
George Strauss introduced bill to abolish theatrical censorship (passed 1968)
Issues of sex, violence, politics and religion tackled.

Question 18

What were some films from the 1960’s that were not as censored?

Answer 18

Darling (1965) and Alfie (1966)

Question 19

What were the 3 acts introduced to assist female equality?

Answer 19

NHS (family planning) Act 1967 - allowed contraceptives
1970 Matrimonial Property Act - women taken into account in divorce
1970 Equal Pay Act

Question 20

What are some statistics that show female traditional standards?

Answer 20

Only 28% in higher education 1970 with 5% in managerial positions

Question 21

What was the conference set up and what did they demand?

Answer 21

National Women’s Liberation Conference in Feb 1970
- equal pay
- free contraception and aborion
- equal education and jobs
- free 24 hour childcare

Question 22

What were some statistics to show growth of holidays?

Answer 22

1951 - 21mil total, 2mil abroad
1961 - 34mil total, 4mil abroad
1971 - 41mil total, 7mil abroad

Question 23

What percentage of leisure time was watching TV?

Answer 23

23%

Question 24

What percentage of journeys were by car in 1974?

Answer 24

77%

Question 25

What was the speech in relation to Immigration and Race?

Answer 25

‘Rivers of Blood’ April 1968 by Enoch Powell, caused him to be sacked, but showed 75% of people supported him.

Question 26

When were the 2 Race Relations Act and what was done in them?

Answer 26

1965 - banned public discrimination
1968 - banned discrimination in housing, employment, insurance and other services

Question 27

What was set up in attempt to reduce issues with Race Discrimination?

Answer 27

Race Relations Board made to take and solve complaints though it only upheld 10% of the 1241 complaints

Question 28

What kind of society was Britain becoming between 1960 and 1970?

Answer 28

A permissive society (very liberal)
- General public changes
- Reduced censorship
- The Dangerous Drugs Act 1967 made it illegal to possess drugs

Question 29

What was Britain’s Relationship with USA in the 1960’s? (3)

Answer 29

• Wilson was Pro-American and key supporter of USA alliance
• US relations strained over Vietnam War as it was hugely unpopular in Britain
• President Johnson wanted some more troops from Britain but Wilson refused military involvement

Question 30

How were Britain’s relations with Europe?

Answer 30

• Not committed to EEC entry (Conservative policy)
• 1962 Gaitskell fought against it
• Europhiles were passionate about EEC entry (Roy Jenkins and George Brown)

Question 31

What were Wilsons opinions on the EEC?

Answer 31

He was ambivalent to it as he preferred the economic benefits of the Atlantic Alliance

Question 32

What was demanded by De Gaulle for Britain before they could enter the EEC?

Answer 32

In 1967 he demanded Britain detach from the “Special Relationship” which was refused so in November 1967 there attempt into the EEC was vetoed

Question 33

What was the foreign policy in Rhodesia?

Answer 33

• PM Ian Smith declared unilateral declaration of Independence without majority vote
• Rhodesia did well without Britain (Oil through Mozambique and trade with South Africa)