British - Book 2 (1964-75)

Question 1

liberal policies of the Labour Gov

capital pun and divorce

Answer 1

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

• Arguments against CP advanced in 1950s - public opinion mixed - the anti-hanging campaign revved boost from Ruth Ellis (young mom who killed unfaithful lover 1955 - last women to be hung in UK)
• In 1957, tories had reduced offences carrying the death penalty but Labour backbencher Sydney Silverman continued to campaign tirelessly to win support for total abolition
• in 1965, on a free vote, hanging was abolished for a trial of 5yrs by in ‘69 was made permanent
• Jenkins refused to authorise the beating of prisoners which ceased after 1967, and he brought in ‘majority’ verdicts for english juries - helped to convict dangerous criminals BUT abolition didn’t reduce number of crimes

DIVORCE REFORM

• until 1960s divorce law demanded evidence that one party had committed adultery
• rich did this by using private investigators but for others divorce was impossible
• Jenkins thought laws were out of date
• Divorce reform act - 1969
• allowed for ‘no fault divorce’ following irretrievable breakdown of marriage
• couples could divorce if; they lived apart for more than 2 years, both or 1 partner wanted divorce OR they lived apart for 5yrs and 1 wanted divorce
• Not all MP’s in favour - split part
• huge increase in number of divorces - in 1950 were less than 2 divorces per 1000 couples BUT by mid 70s nearly 10/1000
• helped growing female indpendnace

Question 2

liberal policies of the Labour Gov

abortion and homosexual

Answer 2

ABORTION

• Until 1967, abortion (expect medical) illegal - only done in private clinic (rich) or backstreet abortion (poor)
• between 100,000-200,000 illegal abortians each year and 35,000 hospitalised due to complications
• 1958-60 backstreet = 82 dead
• The Abortion Law reform association campaigned in ‘45 after issues like thalidomide disaster 1959-62
• in 1966, the Society of the Protection of the Unborn Child set up to oppose
• Roy Jenkins ensued all-night commons sit-in to pass bill
• The Abortion Act 1967
• permitted legal abrtion in first 28 weeks under medical supevison of 2 doctors
• abortions rose from 4/100 (68) to 17.6/100 in 75

HOMOSEXUAL

• Up until 1960s men imprisoned for 2 years for homo acts
• the torie gov had rejected the Wolfenden recommendation to decriminalise homosexuality and labour gov 1964 divided
• Thanks to Jenkins support able to get enough parliamentary timer his private members bill to become law as the 1967 Sexual Offence Act
• Didn’t legalise it; just decriminalised when 3 conditions were met; both must consent, had to be over 21 and had to be in private
• welcome by men previously scared to be gay
• act was strictly interpreted - ‘in private’ =no one else in the same building, so it didn’t mean complete end of their persecution.

Question 3

how did education system change under labour gov

Answer 3

• The Tripartite System = grammar, technical and secondary modern
• problems with technical schools - not many of them, a few scattered around country
  -problems with secondary modern - had the leftover kids, filled with poor, less intelligent kids who all struggled
  AND new comprehensive schools = provide secondary education for all kids in given area (can’t choose pupils)
• By 1964, 1/10 pupils educated in comp school and x 10 as 1951 but sill small percentage
• Opposition from people like Tony Crosland - didn’t like tripartite system
• Circular 10/65 - issued to all Local Education Authorities requesting them to concert to comp schools
  (wasnt a requirement and most schools only did it in 1966 for the money)
• By 1970 only 8 authorities failed to do so = 1145 comp schools
• many middle class parents still didn’t trust comp schools so sent kids to direct grant/independent schools - so idea of comp schools instantly flawed

Question 4

Labours changes to higher eduction

Answer 4

• fears UK falling behind France, Germany and USA in sienec and technology education
• Introduced colleges of technology which replaced Polyethnics - concentrate on Science and tech and teaching not research
• 9 colleges of advanced technolgy became uni’s and then founded ‘new’ uni’s
• BUT middle-class children still dominated the old universities so it was hard to persuade anyone of the parity of opportunity
• the created open uni’s -1969 - offer high quality degree-level learning to those who never got opportunity to attend campus uni’s

Question 5

Social and Cultural change in 1960s

Youth Culture

Answer 5

• increasing living standards, spread of education and growth in leisure time helped create youth generation to question norms and right to choose
• youth clashed with parents over fashion, music, moral standards (question norms of sex and drugs)
• old gen concerned but promiscuity and drugs was kept under control
• alcohol, tababco and caffeine used more than illegal drugs
• survey in 1969 = more kids ilsetend to music at home than festivals
• youth culture defined by fashion = london capital of fashion world
• traditions abandoned - wear work clothes in evening, women wore trousers and men wore velbets and bright cols
• over 60s trends became more extreme and helped to override social (gender) issues
• BBCR1 1967 - listen to popular music
• TV ‘ top of the pops’ 1964 to spread trends
• all cheaper/ accessible thanks to new tech
• end of 60’s skinheads evolved from mods (bold,braces,DMs)
• Hippies rejected norms and establishment - embraced flower power, love and peace

Question 6

Social and Cultural change in 1960s

Vietnam War protests

Answer 6

• Summer 1965 = lecture on Viteman at Oxford
• Vitenamn Solidariy Campaign set up in 66 to gain support from uni students
• March 17 1968, violent scenes at anti-vietnam war demonstration in London in Grosvenor Squaure US embassy
• March 28th ‘68 - more violent protests - Battle of Grosvenor Square = 200 arrests
• Oct 1968 - 30,000 people peacefully protest
• 1968 many other anti-war protests combined with demands for student power in uni’s
• member of us embassy covered in red paint - 2 torrie MPS physically attacked

Question 7

Social and Cultural change in 1960s

expansion of social media

Answer 7

• evolution of TVs - widely available
• made live events; theatre, cinema, football now less popular
• by 1961 75% had TV in home and by 1971 91% had TVs at home ( more disposable income)
• because of this radios were less popular - but they survived thanks to invention of headphones
• Hugh Green took over BBC - changed dynamics, more shows, nudity and swearing
• ITV intorudced in 1955 - meant more products advertised on TV
• BBC2 introdcued in 1964 so BBC could be more populist - in 1967 broadcasted regular coloured shows
• youth wanted to listen to pop music so BBCR1 introduced with popular presenters like Tony blackburn
• The sun - 1964 - Ruphurt Murdock - liberal/ freedom of expression in his paper

Question 8

Social and Cultural change in 1960s

growth in leisure activities

Answer 8

• less people expected to work weekends - more leisure activities
• 1969 TV accounted for 23% of leisure time
• DIY & Gardening popular but cooking and needlework less due to new gadgets
• car usage developed rapidly - used for 77% of journeys as new tech made them cheaper
• meant people could travel easier and go fishing, camping…
• 1964 - Brittania Airways - meant brits could go away on holiday
• cost of flinging mainly for middle class but led to developments of posh restaurants and wine bars to accommodate new tests
• 1951-71 holidays increased from 2.7mil to 41

Question 9

Social and Cultural change in 1960s

Impact of science and tec

Answer 9

• 1960s - time of great development in science and tech
• 1961 - first person went to space - 1969 first man on the moon
• lab gov had made scientific / technological development their key aim
• despite economic problems their were some developments e,g Anglo-French partnership continued to develop the supersonic Concorde air craft
• 1965 tallest building in UK, post office tower - improve telecommunications

Question 10

Social and Cultural change in 1960s

reduction of censorship

Answer 10

• playwrights experimented with new styles of plays, more social issues and frankness - led to clashes with Lord Chamberlain
• new plays had to gain a licence from Lord Chamberlains office before opened and material could be refused if deemed inappropriate
• theatre owners could be prosecuted if play aired without approval
• The Royal Court Theatre London = centre of innovation
• After Edward Bonds controversial play ‘Early morning’ was banned in 1967 introduced bill to abolish theatrical censorship
• had support from Jenkins and famous actors Laurence Olivier
• bill passed in 1968
• so nudity on stage now permitted - so 13 members of ‘Hair’ stood naked for 30 seconds in 1968

Question 11

Social and Cultural change in 1960s

female equality

Answer 11

• belief women had to be houses/cook/clean for fame strong in 60s and 50s - specially working class
• second-wave feminism started in USA by Betty Friedan 1963 argued women were unfulfilled in restricted lives
• spred to UK - where growth in female education (especially mid-class) added to frustration
• few made it to top professions only 5% on women reached managerial posts by 1970
• working class girls - educated in domestics traits, left school and married young
• no shortage of jobs for women as paid less than men and only jobs in service sector
• working moms saw as selfish and unnatural by media
• childminders rare and private nurseries for rich
• the NHS (family planning act 1967) = provide contraception/ advice
• illegitimate birth rose to 8.2% in 1970
• many ‘womens lib’ groups appeared - campaign for equality and womens national coordination committee
• 1970 equal pay act

Question 12

Social and Cultural change in 1960s

moral attitudes

Answer 12

• ‘permissive society’ (liberal, free speech…)
• sexual liberation - changes to public and private morals/openness
• critics said was decline in moral standards, encouraged the pill, spread mass media
• catholic church hostile to contraception
• sexually transmitted infections on rise especially youths by end of century
• 1964 - Mary Whitehouse wrote her concerns for change - led to National Viewers and Listeners Association 1965 (had no impact)
• spread of drug culture (coc and heroine addicts 10 times more popular)
• by end of 60s soft drugs common place
• hippies promoted drug culture even Beatles used LSD
• Dangerous Drug Act 1967 - unlawful to posses drugs such as coc and can
• James callahgn - ‘halt to the rising tide of permissiveness’ refused to legalise cannabis ‘68
• report in 1965 found views may be exaggerated - majority of teens either virgins or married

Question 13

Social and Cultural change in 1960s

immigration and race

Answer 13

• influx of immigrants from commonwealth =social tensions
• survey found 1/5 objected to work with black/asian and 50% refused to live next door
• 1965 - race relations act - couldn’t discriminate in public places (but discrimination in housing and employment excluded)
• complains referred to the race relations board but upheld only 10% of 1241 complains in 1972 and people didn’t complain as knew had low chance
• 1968 - influx of kenyain asians so gov passes New Commonwealth Immigration Act - limiting right to return to UK for non-white
• kenyian asian influx led to Enoch Powell ‘rivers of blood speech’ ‘68 and was condemned by establishment and gov
• Led to protest by dockers and meat packers and found 75% agreed with powell
• 1968 further Race Relations Act - banned housing and employment discrimination and Board strength (still loopholes)

POSITVIVE ASPECTS OF IMMIGRATION

• notting hill carnival annual event from 1964 - helped mix communities with traditional food, music and dance from west indies
• asian corner shops and Chinese takeaways introduced
• youth culture drew from ethnic communities in music, fashion and street life
• enjoyed west indian style of music (jazz and ska) or attracted by eastern customs following the Beatles use of meditation, yoga,love and peace as well as soft drugs

Question 14

Decolonisation 1970

Answer 14

• labour wanted to continue policy of ‘winds of change.’
• give independence to commonwalth countries

DONE FOR SEVERAL REASONS

• Post ww2, empires were a thing of the past
• the economic cost of maintaining these countries
• military responsibility of these countries
• still a permanent member of UN which gave security and some power

DOWNSIDE

• this was britains acceptance of no longer being a world force. Couldn’t sustain an empire/commonwealth
• public/political opinion was that Britain should be a force and have a more permanent role

IN REALITY

• UK could no longer realistically compete with Russia and USA. Marshall Plan evidence of this - needed usa money (but thus tied them into USA foreign policy
• economic reasons led to a withdrawal from ‘east of suez’ (middle east, singapore, malaysisa)
• devaluation and continuation of development and upgrading of nuclear weapons meant UK couldnt commit to military spending overseas

Question 15

events in Rhodesia

Answer 15

• example of britains position in world;
• wanted to give independence to Rhodesia but white Europeans living there were against
• In 1963 the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland broke into 3 separate entities. one of which was south Rhodesia who wanted independence from UK
• Ian Smith PM of Rhodesia (1965) he issued a Unilateral Declaration of Independence for country without authority
• Wilson tried to amend this by enforcing oil sanctions in 1967 but they concluded futile
• with his failed diplomacy and both the Labour left and commonwealth upset wilson gave in
• making him look weak and unfit to govern - lost his credibility in foreign affairs and couldnt live up to his foreign policy aims
• became unrecognised state

Question 16

second application into EEC

Answer 16

• labour still split on issue
• economic factors led to UK applying again in 1966 but with many against the application
• De Gualle was willing to allow entry is they ended their ‘special relationship’ with USA
• UK said no and were rejected in 1967
• shows how dependant they were on the USA and that Europe didn’t need them - worthless to them

Question 17

Uk involvement in Vietnam

Answer 17

1964 = escalation in US involvement in Vietnam

• UK had to keep USA on side due to Marshal plan and loans
• wilson was pro-american
• Vietnam was a no win situation - usa wanted Britain to be involved - public and political protests put Wilson’s gov at risk
• UK couldnt afford it
• in the end no one was happy - wilson offered moral support but no military support
• usa felt this was not enough, the public felt UK should be against war.

Question 18

1970 election

Answer 18

• Edward Healths conservatives came from a poition of apparent hopelessness to win
• 1st occasion on which british people hurled findings of opinion polls (admittedly with less reliable sience) back in their faces
• Labour had previously survived tough economic times and hoped their improvements would win another term
• election was one of the biggest political upsets of 20th century
• wilsons gov had impressive economic record of 1966-70 - the country was successful due to intelligent policies and the particular skill of Roy Jenkins (most successful chancellor since ww2)

BUT

• Some blame wilsons overconfidence in calling an early poll
• others thought that the unexpectedly poor trade figures in May were significant
• other (unfairly) criticised Jenkins 1970 budget for being too cautious
• some speculated englads dramatic world cup exit (winning 2-0 then lost 3-2 in extra time against germany) played its part as wilson associated himself with team after 1966 victory
• perhaps lost as too many supporters thought victory was guaranteed and stayed at home
• set backs of 1966-9 e.g. empire/EEC

Question 19

Why did tories win 1970 election

Answer 19

• heath had greater strength than accounts for and was not establishment - new face of tories
• refusal to include immigration in campaign
• decrease in liberal share of votes - simply just best of of group

Question 20

political and economic timetable 1970-5

Answer 20

1970 - surprise election victory for torries under heath

1971 - decimalisation/convert of currency

1972 - unemployment about 1mill for first time since ’30s
- bloody sunday - derry

1973 - oil price crisis and energy shortages - 3 day week imposed
- Sunningdale agreement for power - sharing in northern Ireland

1974- heath narrowly defeated in February election

• collapse of sunningdale agreement after Loyalist Workers strike
• victory of Harold wilson and labour in October general election

1975 - EEC referendum brings 2;1 majority for yes vote
- heath replaced as torrie leader by Margaret thatcher

Question 21

who was edward heath?

Answer 21

• like wilson, heath went to a state school and therefore a held a different image to the previous Etonian tories leaders
• he was never devious - colleagues regarded him too honest for his own good and not skilful enough at pleasing political allies
• those in his cabinet who strongly supported him included the Chancellor, Anthony Barber…
• those in his cabinet who were lukewarm towards his economic policies included Education Secretary Margret Thatcher

Question 22

heaths aims and reforms

Answer 22

AIMS

• To secure British entry into the EEC - having been chief negotiator in 1961-3
• to develop policies on industrial relations and economic modernisation
• In jan 1970 the torries held the Seldon Park meeting - setting out tough approaches to economic problems such as allowing inefficient business to go bankrupt rather than propping them up with state aid
• Manifesto would include; tax reform, immigrant control, better law and order and cuts in public spending

KEY REFORMS

• Decimalisation - in line with other european countries
• reorganisation of local governments
• school leaving age up to 16 (1972)

KEY WORD - one nation conservatives
* reflect belief that society exits and develops organically and that members have obligations to each other - particular emphasis on the paternalistic obligation of higher classes to those bellow them (still element of postwar consensus but the beginning of the end)

Question 23

Heaths problems

Answer 23

THE FAMOUS ‘U-TURN’

• Heath u-turened in 1972 over free enterprise principals he had a desire to maintain full unemployment and so he gave state aid to key industries especially Rolls Royce instead of leaving them to it
• heavily critiqued by Eunoch Powell and Thatcher who opposed intervention in industry
• result = post war consensus remained but didn’t come out with best image

OPEC (Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries)

• fixed production levels of oil/petrol so prices wouldn’t fall low when supply was plentiful
• 1973 -OPEC oil crisis
• due to Yom Kippur war OPEC declared an oil embargo and exports stopped
• prices rose by x4 usual levels and long queues formed at petrol stations
• due to this the NUM demanded huge pay rise in Nov 1973 as they more demanded and was good chance to exploit situation
• Dec = 3 day working week from 1st Jan - 7th march 1974
• commercial uses of electricity would be limited to 3 days consumption each week and couldn’t work long hours then either
• essential services (hospitals) exempt - TV stopped at 10.30 to save electricity

MINERS STRIKE 1974

• Dangerous job = public sympathy and NUM had special place in union movement
• many felt the NUM had good case for improved pay and conditions despite NUM winning big pay reward after 1972 strikes
• victory proved that industrial muscle was strong enough to get its own way
• public supported them and caused balance of payments crisis
• heath called a general election for Feb ‘74 and despite favourable opinion polls Labour won by 5 seats

Question 24

Heaths Priorotyies

Answer 24

1) ENTRY INTO EEC
- Needed parliamentary approval, although there were doubters within tories (those who believed in commonwealth)
- labour were divided on issue - some pro such as Jenkins but left were hostile - labour leadership neither for/against just wanted to unify party
- in end 69 rebel labour MPs voted for and helped tories win the vote which left labour split

NORTHERN IRELAND

• heath inherited problems in NI since 1968 when civil rights movement challenged the domination of the Belfast parliament of the protestant unionists
• there was a sectarian violence (fight between sects of religion/ideology) Protestant/ Catholics and British army struggled to keep peace
• since 1912 unionist fed up of tories
• many regarded British army as the enemy and a demonstration in Derry (30th jan 1972) led soldiers shooting 13 civilians - Bloody Sunday
• Heath suspended the Belfast parliament and in ‘73 was Sunningdale agreement (plan for power saving gov but due to miners strikes and political crisis agreement collapsed and violence continued for another 24 yrs

Question 25

Heaths Economic problems

Answer 25

DEATH OF MACLEOD
- heath hoped that Ian Macleod (new chancellor) would be tory equivalent of Jenkins but he died siddenly in 1970 at 56, heath lost key asset

THE ‘MILK-SNATCHER’
- The new chancellor Anthony Barber introduced tax cuts and cuts in public spending one was ending free mild for over 7s. Ending atlees 1946 free milk act giving 1/3 pint every day to all kinds under 18 to help development

THE ‘BARBER BOOM’

• Saw a rapid rise in wage inflation
• Many businessmen blamed this rise on power of the trade inions and their willingness to hold the country to ransom through strike action
• however inflation didn’t see rise in economic growth and unemployment acutely increased which is unusual during inflation
• known as stagflation (unemployment and inflation increasing)

THE U - TURN

• The stagflation in UK led to the need for state aid in some key industries e,g rolls royce which demonstrated heath u turn
• Rolls Rocye nationalised in 1971
• Gov money also given to Upper Clyde Ship Builders

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT ‘71
- similar to castles ‘in place of strife’ it;
*set up industrial relations court\
* created a ‘cooling off’ period
* provided for strike ballots
- Confederations of british industry e.g TUC opposed act
- indistrial relations court was ineffective and unemployment rose over 1mill, major stakes in 1972
- Miners strike ‘72 during a cold winter lasted 6 weeks - movement of coal round country stopped and had to agree a wage settlement with rightwing backlash
BUT
- stages 1 and 2 successful
- number of working days lost through strike action cut in half compared to 1972
-there was a lot of government investment to boost economy
- unemployment dropped to 500,000
- gov became more popular drawing level with labour in opinion polls

Question 26

The February 1974 election

Answer 26

Labour = 301 seats = 37.1%
torries = 297 seats = 37,9%
-labour won but was hung parliament - no major power - meant not conclusive that wilson would lead next gov
- increased number of seats with other parties - liberal, Scottish national…
- heath didn’t want to upset Ulster Unionists, would have won anyway, but Enoch Powell joined them and wasn’t prepared to support heath
- after Heath attempted deal with Liberals but failed
- March 4th 1974 wilson back in power

Question 27

Wilson returns

events and feelings

Answer 27

• Wilson was far from a free-hand in parliament and relied on other parties to pass legislation
• economic situation poor, huge inflation and 3 billion deficit
• Trade unionists too powerful
• Labour party were less unified than ever
• wilson was older, less energetic and less certain of how he wanted to govern
• he was anxious to call another election to get a working majority (enough votes in House of Commons to defat all other parties even if they all combined together)

Question 28

Wilsons Aims

Feb-Oct 1974

Answer 28

• decided against making a deal with Liberals as he didn’t want to compromise and instead ruled without a majority believing there would be another election soon
• Wilson abolished the Industrial Relations Act and pay bored (showed unions he wasn’t looking for confrontations)
• social contrast introduced instead - appealed to both sides
• ended 3 day week
• Wilson’s new chancellor Denis Healy issued 2 budgets (march then july) aiming to deal with the economic crisis without annoying trade unionists

Question 29

October 1974 Election

Answer 29

• Labour 319 seats
  torries - 277 seats
• by oct ‘74 wilson felt safe enough to call another election to gain a working majotiy
• voters still associated heath and tories with strikes and 3 day week
• wilson only just won working majority by 3 seats but total lead was 42 seats

Question 30

Wilsons aims after October ‘74

Answer 30

• Self preservation and avoid disasters
• previous drive for tech and modernisation gone
• new focus in domestic policy and party unity
• was against EEC membership when heath called referendum in ‘72 but he now let it go ahead to avoid splits
• 1975 pay restrain policy introduced dividing party

Question 31

why did heath step down as leader of tories

Answer 31

1975

• despite loosing 3/4 elections still pop in party wouldn’t go against him
• backbenchers tried to force a leadership contest
• Enoch Powell left party and others forming gap for Thatcher who wanted a free economy
• she was perhaps to the right of heath and mac but certainly not anti-europre in ‘75 part of yes campaign
• semmed to have little chance against heath but won by exploiting party situation not her policies
• nobody really liked sulky backbencher heath anymore

Question 32

James Callaghan

Answer 32

1976-79
- replaced wilson
- good links to unions
- a ‘safe pair of hands’
- 1976 - poor balance of payments putting pressure on sterling and concerns UK didn’t have enough reserves of currency to support it
- speech in ‘76 warning party warning ‘cosy world’ where gov ensured full employment was gone
- wanted to remove ‘ two evils’ - unemployment and inflation
- had to handle IMF crisis - got £3billion loan in return they made huge spending cuts - economy did recover but proved UK in economic decline
- devolution - transfer of power to a lower level of gov
Calaghn promised to tackle issue in Wales and Scotland and put in clause that at least 40% of electorate had to approve for devaluation to pass
held a referendum on 1 March 1976 and Walses were completely against - Scotland many voted in favour but it didn’t pass due to clause

Question 33

what was the winter of discontent

Answer 33

1978-9

• Labour needed to control inflation by limiting pay increases
• coldest winter for 16 years
• TUC rejects Labours proposed 5% wage increase and unions demand it increased
• ford lorry drivers achieved 15% increase which encouraged others to demand same
• Huge wave of industrial action, hospital porters, grave diggers, train drivers, bin men ….
• ‘crisis, what crisis?’ Callaghan
• average of 10% increase was achieved
• public opinion was against unions
• Labour/callaghn looked weak
• mid ‘78 opinion polls high
• foced to call election May 1979

Question 34

1979 election

Answer 34

• Callaghan’s decision to wait to hold election was a mistake after the events of ‘the winter of discontent’ as by spring 1979 political landscape had changed, worse economic position and reputation of trade unionists was damaged
• March 1979, gov lost vote of confidence in parliament after scottish devaluation issue and gov forced to resign for 1st time since 1924
• winter of discontent all over media and most e.g the sun, supported the tories (used unpopularity of gov against them)
• strikes of 1979 showed weakness of unions and labour
• but with all these issues labour only dropped 3% overall
• but tories benefited from a sharp drop in support of liberals and scottish nationalists
• result wasn’t a landslide but gave tories a comfortable working majority of 43 seats

Question 35

were the 70s more progressive than the 60s

feminism

Answer 35

-continuation from 60s
- became a worldwide movement with 1977 bringing first International Womens Day
- Womens liberation meetings around country - disturbed miss world 1970
- smoke bombs and sink bombs thrown at Bob Hope
- womens liberation stages protests for equal pay and free 24 hour nurseries
- 2 types of feminism
RADICAL - felt society was too dominated by men and campaigned on specific issues like reproductive rights
SOCIALISTS - Wanted equality so women could have financial independence

Question 36

key legislation 1970s

womens rights

Answer 36

• 1975 - sex discrimination act / ended discrimination against men and women based on gender
• equality opportunities commission - oversaw the SDA (Limited success - 9 cases in 7yrs and 10% of claims successful as difficult to prove)
• women now able to take out a mortgage without male guarantor
• 1975 equal pay act
• employment protection act - maternity leave and stopped dismissal based on pregnancy
• BUT Trade unions still dominated by men - only began to address issues in ‘79
• ways around acts - jobs changes, other reasons…
• BUT wages did increase from 59% to 70% of what men earned

Question 37

were the 70s more progressive than the 60s

race and immigration

Answer 37

• 1971 immigration act - restricted people from new commonwealth coming to UK, needed job and at least 1 grandparent in UK
• Still many indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis coming in and Ugandans asians fleeing persecution (had uk passport) and exceptions made for them
• by 1974, 325,000 west indians in UK
• Lived together in specific areas
• had little political representation
• 1974=10 nonwhite councillors in London 1978=35 still not many
• 1976 race relations act - helped equality and stopped discrimination
• National Front created gained much support = demonstrations had 100 incidents and 2 murders and anti-nazi group (1977) same response
• thatcher gave anti-immigration speech (like Powell in 60s)
• ‘paki bashing’ became popular trait
• by 1970 only 70 police were from ethnic minorities - critiqued for being racist
• Notting Hill carnival riots - 1976 from tensions
• black footballers discriminated -1978 first black footballer for england Viv Anderson (monkey/banana)

Question 38

were the 70s more progressive than the 60s

youth

Answer 38

• caused concern for older gens
• youth subculture reflected social, political an economic battles at time
• 1975-6 punk movement influence by american bands like New York Dolls who rejected commercialism
• punks image designed to be shocking, bondage gear, ripped clothes, spike hair…
• Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm Mclauren opened boutique called SEX in London selling punk clothes
• punk concerts - violence, spitting, created a moral picnic
• sex pistols controversial song ‘god save the queen’ 1977 during jubilee - bbc refused to play it
• skinheads from mods, mainly working class, influenced by Jamaican music/culture

Question 39

were the 70s more progressive than the 60s

environmentalism

Answer 39

• a political philosophy covers a multitude of topics connected by their impact on the planet protection of wildlife, organic farming, and the dangers from radiation and nuclear waste
  -Pics taken of the earth from space made ppl care about the earth as it looked fragile
  ‘ecology’- health and nature of the environ- 70s grew enough support to impact ppls opinions
• Rejected consumerism and commercialisation
  1970 announced to be the year of European conservation
• Environmental pressure group ‘friends of the earth’- formed in the us 1969- expanded to include France, Britain and Sweden in 1971
• Original drive of CND was against atomic weapons- new anti-nuclear campaign- long term dangers of radioactive nuclear waste
• Between 1957 to 1979 5 incidents at the NP station in Sellafield
• Direct action split the environmental movement. The radical movement ‘greenpeace’ founded in Vancouver in Canada in 1971 against whaling
• Greenpeace uk was formed in 1977
  Outrage in 1975 when it was found that beagles in labs were forced to smoke 30 cigarettes a day to study the effects
• There were violent attacks by angry protesters on the labs from 1973
• The Animal Liberation Front, formed in 1976 adopted extreme violence, letter bombs were sent to politicians, including Thatcher in 1984.
• As well as pressure groups- general increase in interest in the natural environment and the need to conserve it- tv raised a lot of awareness
• 1979 David Attenborough’s ‘life on earth’ gained viewers worldwide bc of its new tec- colour photography
• Environment issues were also reflected in other types of media.- ‘Watership down’ (rabbits forced to move through to road development) 1972- bestseller
  ‘the good life’ 1975- a couple trying to be self-sufficient in a suburban home
• Teddy Goldsmith 1972 published ‘ a blueprint for survival’ – advocated self-sufficiency and a de-industrialised society
• Formed political platform for the people’s party 1973
• Changed name to the ecology party in 1975 and put up 53 candidates

Question 40

Foreign affairs 1970

eec

Answer 40

• in 1973 UK finally joined EEC
• both tories and labour split on issue throughout 70s
• heath was pro-eurpoe, wilson want wanted unity
• Pompidou replaced de Gualle - he believed EEC need Uk as much we we need them so was inevitable wed be expected
• issue wasn’t rejection by parliamentary opposition
• tories e.g Enoch Powell believed UK strong enough alone but he eventually left tories
• labour = Jenkins pro-eurpoe and left were against
• wilson argued better terms and only compromise for labour was renegotiation and promise of referendum
• 69 rebel labour votes for tories

Question 41

Foreign affairs 1970

the European referendum

Answer 41

1975

• labour back in power in 1974 and had promised referendum in ‘75
• economic problems proved uk needed Europe
• most public in favour of joining
• yes campaign well funded
• most influential politicians on both sides were in yes campaign
• main no argument was it would be bad for British workers and we’d loose independence
• over 2/3 voted yes - confirmed entry
• still had political opposition - EEC felt UK were half hearted members

Question 42

Foreign affairs 1970

special relationship with USA

Answer 42

• heath more focussed on Europe than usa
• rejected US request to use UK as a link to Europe believed they should negotiate directly
• Kissinger especially unhappy and felt special relationship had been betrayed
• heath and nixon got on well and was more supportive of war in Vietnam
• Yom Kippur War - usa wanted airlift resources to isreal but eurpoe against due to middle east oil deal
• stronger relationship but strains under surface
• common aim of holding back communism
• underlying issue of USSR spys
• generally Us relationships with countries mirrored by what UK did e.g Uk relationship wit china improved with Wilson making may visits and in 1979 the Chinese Premier visited England and Europe