Churchill's attitude towards post-war reform Flashcards
What was the 1942 ‘Beveridge report’?
A report outlining suggested post-war social reforms
What were big wartime sacrifices in Britain?
- High Unemployment due to women taking factory jobs.
- Rationing
- Single mothers due to soldier casualties
- 2 million homeless
- 2.5 million evacuated
- 60,595 killed
What were key issues that needed to be resolved post-war?
- Aid for single mothers
- Healthy diet plans for children
- Better housing/living conditions
- Healthcare.
What were Beveridge’s ‘Five Giants’?
- Disease
- Idleness
- Ignorance
- Squalor
- Want
What causes ‘disease’?
No free health care - spreading disease
What causes ‘Idleness’?
Unemployment
What causes ‘Ignorance’?
Laissez-Faire government
What causes ‘Squalor’?
Poor living conditions
What causes ‘Want’?
Greed from the rich, lack of spending on the working class.
What was Churchill’s opinion of Social reform?
Supporter of social reforms
Who was largely responsible for the post-war reforms?
Members of the Labour Cabinet, Clement Attlee and Arthur Greenwood
How did the post-war social reforms tackle ‘Disease’?
- ‘means test’ (eligibility for benefits) was abolished
- 8/10 hospitals brought under national health by 1941.
- Diphtheria vaccine
- Free school meals and cod liver oil for mothers. Lowered infant mortality.
How did the post-war social reforms tackle ‘Idleness’?
- School leaving age raised to 15
- Split into Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary schools
- Free school meals and milk
- exams aged 11+
- Factory Acts: employed 6 million workers and increased wages
- increased fire services to 1500
How did the post-war social reforms tackle ‘Ignorance’?
- School leaving age increased
- 1942 British Rail nationalised
- exams aged 11+
How did the post-war social reforms tackle ‘Squalor’?
- 1 million homes made habitable
- Helped those who suffered during air raids
- Rail works nationalised
How did the post-war social reforms tackle ‘Want’?
- 1 million homes made habitable
- 8/10 hospitals brought under national health by 1941
- free school meals and milk
- 1500 fire services
