Change In Political Landscape 1918-79 Flashcards
What political parties dominated British politics for over 200 years before 1979?
Conservative and Liberal parties
The Conservative Party was formerly known as the Tories, and the Liberal Party was known as the Whigs.
What major political change occurred in Britain due to the rise of the Labour Party?
The Labour Party appealed to the working classes and became a serious political force
The Labour Party was founded in 1900 to represent union interests.
Who was the first Labour prime minister and in what year did he take office?
Ramsay MacDonald in 1924
His leadership marked a significant shift in British politics.
What was a significant challenge for the British government after the Second World War?
Massive reconstruction and demobilisation of soldiers
This period required extensive economic and social adjustments.
Which Labour leader became prime minister after Winston Churchill in 1945?
Clement Attlee
Attlee’s government focused on moderate socialist policies.
What was the primary aim of Clement Attlee’s government?
To create full employment and a welfare state with free healthcare for all.
What term describes the years between 1945 and 1979 regarding political consensus?
‘Consensus’ years
Both Labour and Conservative parties generally agreed on economic policy during this time.
What was the prevailing belief of both major political parties regarding economic policy during the consensus years?
Full employment was more important than tackling rising prices (inflation).
Who was elected prime minister in 1979, marking a significant shift in economic policy?
Margaret Thatcher
Thatcher’s election ended the consensus on economic policy.
What does the term ‘trade union’ refer to?
An organisation formed to protect the rights of workers in a particular trade, industry or profession.
What year was the Representation of the People Act passed, and what did it achieve?
1918; it increased the electorate by seven million.
What significant political change occurred in 1928 regarding voting rights?
The Reform Act granted women the vote on the same terms as men.
What event occurred in 1926 that involved a national response from workers?
The General Strike in May 1926.
What was the outcome of the 1935 election in terms of party performance?
The National Government won with 53.7 percent of the vote.
What was the significance of the 1931 National Government formed by MacDonald?
It was a coalition government formed to address the Great Depression.
Fill in the blank: The Labour Party was founded in _____ to represent union interests in parliament.
1900
True or False: The Conservative Party won the 1945 election.
False
Labour won the 1945 election under Clement Attlee.
What year did Ramsay MacDonald first become prime minister?
1924
What was the political landscape in Britain at the start of 1918?
At the start of 1918, women could not vote in general elections, and the Labour Party had not yet made a significant impact against the Conservative and Liberal parties.
What significant political change occurred by the end of 1979?
By the end of 1979, Britain had a female prime minister, and the Liberals held less than two percent of seats in parliament compared to Labour’s 42 percent.
What remained consistent in Britain’s political system between 1918 and 1979?
Britain remained a parliamentary democracy dominated by two parties, with the Conservatives performing consistently well in the polls.
What major political change occurred between 1918 and 1931?
The major political change was the replacement of the Liberals by the Labour Party as the main rival to the Conservatives.
What was the significance of the change in party fortunes between 1918 and 1931?
This change was of long-lasting importance as the Liberals were relegated to third place for the rest of the century.
Who was the Prime Minister from December 1918 to October 1922?
David Lloyd George served as Prime Minister from December 1918 to October 1922.
