Britain exam questions Flashcards
The labour gov 1964-70 and 1974-79 failed to solve the problems they faced.
how far do you agree?
20 marks
point 1- 6 points
point 2- 9 points
point 3-
- party unity- solved
- harold wilson leadership
- EEC referendum, 2:1, 1975
- Lib lab pact under Callaghan, 1976-8
- began with 4 seat majority, by 66 it was at 96
- social reforms and acts
- ignored split of 1950s - industrial relations- failed
- 50% of labour funding
- “took and gave”
- in place of strife, failed, 69
- after industrial relations act- social policy, didnt work
- days lost to strikes increased 1970-10.9 mil, 1974- 14.7 mil
- miners strike, 1972, 45% pay increase,
- oil crisis (73-74)
- winter of discontent, 1978-79, ford workers increase 15%
- jack jones opinion poll - economy
- inflation risen 33%
- unememployment rising
- created national plan but little cooperation with DEA so dispanded 4 years later
- world economic blizzard
- IMF loan under Callaghan, £3.9 bil, reduce spending by £2 mil
- focus on BoP instead of long term issues (800 mil deficit)
- Increased tax £923 mil to try and stop deficit (jenkins idea)
- made living standards worse.
- in 1967 made to devalue, £2.80-£2.40
- stagflation back
- nixon got rid of exchange rates, making american exports more expensive
Asses the reasons why the conservatives won in the 1970 election
20 marks
point 1- 5
point 2-
point 3-
- Edwards Heath
- unlike previous tories, grammar school not private
- classless, down to earth and relatable
- caused many to switch
- showed conservatives open to change
- used various platforms - conservative economic policies
- lab lost control of unions
- cons had a close relationship and were more likely to help
- key part of manifesto, they appealed
- united behind policy of privatisation which appealed to those who rejected nationalistion
- dedicated to social reform - weakness and failure of labour
- couldnt solved economic problems
- inflation hit 33% in 1969
- prices continued to rise, no real plan was clear
- in place of strife failed
- labour not able to counteract TU
- miners strike 1968
- forced to devalue pound
- lots of days lost to strike
- devaluation led to loss in votes
- lost faith in wilson
divisions within the conservative party were the main reason for their defeat in 1997.
how far do you agree
20 marks, 3 points
- division was very big
- especially in major’s term
- EEC polarised party
- Maastricht treaty 1991
- eurosceptics and europhiles
- when maastricht ratified, major forced to threaten resignation of Gov if his Mps continued to block legislation
- labour equally divided over the superstate in brussles being a danger (far left)
- conservative credibility suffered same as labours did over europe
- when there was no significant developments with europe there was no real divisions
- clearly not as key to their defeat as assumed - weak economic policy
- humiliation of black wednesday, 1993
- stock exchanged dropped 25% overnight
- cons not in control throughout
- major continued monteristic economic policy but nonetheless entered GB into exchange rates mechanism (ERM)
- sudden withdrawl triggered run on pound
- world wide economic situation mirrored britains
- labour were not campaigning on the strength of their own policies, but conservative failures.
The most important reason for Conservative political domination in the period from 1979 to 1997 was the weakness of the Labour party.’
How far do you agree?
20 marks
- labour weakness
2.
3.
Assess the reasons for the changing attitudes of British governments towards Europe in the period 1951-97
20 marks
- economy
- economic crisis to hard to handle alone
- relied heavily on europe to keep british economy, specifically trade, afloat
- EEC is one example, and the fact they tried multiple times shows a state of desperation
- had to join EEC to remain competative and have international significance
- british exports rapidly decreasing, 25% in 1950- 11% in 1970 - ideology
- originally hoped empire and common wealth would be stronger than EEC
- but with decolonisation, attitudes towards joining the EEC changed
- disliked closer union in treaty of rome
- over time many decided economic benefits of joining europe outweight the loss to national sovreignty
- not believed EEC would success at first
- doubted that french and germany could overcome centuries of hostility
- clear they could
3.decolonisation
-britain needed new trading market to be able to compete with other countries and maintain natopnal significance as it could no longer rely on colonies
-after indian independance in 1947 quickly lots of other countries declared independance
southern rhodesia
-economy suffered as a result which is why they began to rely on trade routes in europe more so.
