(Changing political landscape) Rise of consensus politics & political challenge, 1945-1979 Flashcards

1
Q

Who was in government 1945-51?

A

Labour

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2
Q

Who was in government 1951-1964?

A

Conservative

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3
Q

Who was in government 1964-1970?

A

Labour

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4
Q

Who was in government 1970-1974?

A

Conservative

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5
Q

Who was in government 1974-1979?

A

Labour

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6
Q

When was labour in government in this post-war period?

A

1945-51

1964-1970

1974-1979

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7
Q

When was conservative in government in this post-war period?

A

1951-1964

1970-1974

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8
Q

CONS govt 51-64 - what kind of society grew in this time?

A

Affluent society

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9
Q

CONS govt 51-64 - what was continued from Attlee’s labour govt?

A

Investment in welfare & housing

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10
Q

CONS govt 51-64 - there was continued investment in welfare and housing, but what was causing problems for the future?
Why?

A

Stop-go economics

Created masses of wealth in Britain, built up inflation.

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11
Q

CONS govt 51-64 - what was worse than what labour was expecting when Wilson took over as PM in 1964?
Give evidence.

A

Balance of payments

At £800,000,000

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12
Q

CONS govt 51-64 - what was set up as a way of regulating wage demands?
How successful was this?

A

The National Incomes Commission

Unsuccessful & TU unrest got worse in this period.

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13
Q

LAB govt 64-70 - _________ of __________ ______ had caused ________ linked to _______ ________.

A

a) balance of payments deficit
b) problems
c) stop-go economics

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14
Q

CONS govt 51-64 - why was The National Incomes Commission set up?

A

A way to regulate wage demands.

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15
Q

LAB govt 64-70 - what did problems caused by a balance of payments deficit linked to stop-go economics mean?

A

The pound had to be devalued by 14% in 1967.

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16
Q

LAB govt 64-70 - what had failed?

How?

A

Attempts to solve industrial problems

“In Place of Strife” written Barbara Castle and Harold Wilson (PM) was rejected in 1969.

17
Q

LAB govt 64-70 - where did this government see most of it’s successes lie?

A

In social transformation by passing laws that represented a substantial level of liberalisation.

18
Q

CONS govt 70-74 - who led this government?

A

Edward Heath

19
Q

LAB govt 64-70 - who led this government?

A

Harold Wilson

20
Q

CONS govt 70-74 - what did this government see?

A

The first attempt at abandoning the post-war consensus.

21
Q

CONS govt 70-74 - this government attempted to abandon the post-war consensus.
What eventually happened and why?

A

Massive economic problems & continued industrial unrest saw a U-turn.

22
Q

LAB govt 74-79 - what couldn’t be ignored or defeated?

A

Economic problems

23
Q

LAB govt 74-79 - how did Trade Unions feel and what did this do?

A

Undefeatable in their demands

Deepened social & economic divisions

24
Q

LAB govt 74-79 - what happened to the post-war consensus?

How?

A

Ended

Retrenchment

25
Q

LAB govt 74-79 - what did retrenchment do?

A

End post-war consensus

26
Q

LAB govt 74-79 - why did labour end the post-war consensus?

A

They accepted in 1976 that market forces would play a greater role in determining levels of employment.

27
Q

LAB govt 74-79 - what did the commitment to ending the post-war consensus help?

(2)

A

Improve education, helped with 1944 Butler Act & higher education reforms.

Diversifying of the economy, made possible by changes in technology & tourism.

28
Q

What was the consensus surrounding welfare in the post-war consensus marked by more than anything else?

A

Generational attitudes

29
Q

One of the things the consensus surrounding welfare during the post-war consensus was marked by was generational attitudes more than anything else.

Give evidence of this.

(3)

A

Harold Macmillan = shouldn’t return to pre-war years poverty & the wealthy had an obligation to provide for the poor.

50s/60s - few conservative govt members called for reduced welfare spending.

70s - New Right thinking challenged extent of welfare provision although NHS support continued, even as it became a victim of its own success.