Consensus politics, 1945, 1950 and 1951 elections (T3)

Question 1

Where does the name post-war consensus come from?

Answer 1

• Name given by historians to an era in British political history
• Lasted from the end of WW2 to the election of Margaret Thatcher (1945-1979)

Question 2

How can the post-war consensus be characterised as a belief?

Answer 2

• Keynesian economics
• Mixed economy
• Nationalisation of major industries
• The NHS
• Commitment to full employment
• A welfare state
• Introduction of nuclear weapons

Question 3

Why did WW2 set the stage for consensus?

Answer 3

• The national gov.
• The war changed the role of the gov.
• There was a shift from a mainly free-market economy
• The Beveridge report
• Success of collectivism

Question 4

How did the National Government set the stage for consensus?

Answer 4

They proved the ministers from rival parties could work together + that a broad agreement on key policies could be reached

Question 5

What is success of collectivism?

Answer 5

An approach where certain problems are tackled by taking away some rights by the common good

Question 6

How did the war changing the role of the government set the stage for consensus?

Answer 6

The state was forced to take more control - Emergency Powers Act 1940

Question 7

How did the shift from a mainly free-market economy to a more mixed one set the stage for consensus?

Answer 7

The government used:
- Rationing
- the Essential Work Order
- Conscription
- Censorship 
All in a bid to engage Britain in total war

Question 8

By 1945, what fraction of British citizens were taking part in war related work?

Answer 8

1/3

Question 9

How did the Beveridge report set the stage for consensus politics?

Answer 9

• Beveridge envisioned a welfare state that could care for a person from cradle to grave
• The popularity of this report created a “sea change” in British politics
• Rival parties could not ignore its popularity id they wanted to be the party of the government

Question 10

How many copies of the Beveridge report were sold?

Answer 10

635,000 copies

Question 11

How did the Beveridge report affect the election results?

Answer 11

Labour’s promise to fulfil the report was a huge contributing factor in them winning the 1945 election

Question 12

Give 4 reasons why Labour won the general election in 1945?

Answer 12

• Leadership
• Campaigns
• Policies
• Public mood

Question 13

How did Attlee affect Labour winning the 1945 election?

Answer 13

He portrayed himself as a ‘man of the people’ - during WW2 Attlee had managed the home front showing that himself and the party were capable leaders

Question 14

Why were people unsure of having Churchill as the PM in the 1945 election?

Answer 14

During WW2 he had lead the country well, however people were unsure about having him as a peacetime leader

Question 15

How did Labour force an election after WW2?

Answer 15

They broke off the wartime coalition to force a general election

Question 16

For the 1945 general election - what was the Labour party’s campaign?

Answer 16

• Their campaign slogan was ‘let us face the future’
• Also used ‘labour for him’ or ‘labour for her’ on their posters
• Campaign posters had the British people on them

Question 17

How did Churchill’s campaign differ to Attlee’s?

Answer 17

–> Attlee toured the country
–> Churchill’s campaign was lacklustre
–> He was so confident in his victory after the war
—> Churchill’s spiteful Gestapo speech was seen as distasteful and poorly judged

Question 18

How did Churchill’s campaign let him down?

Answer 18

• The Conservative’s slogan was ‘let’s finish the job’

- Churchill’s spiteful Gestapo speech was seen as distasteful and poorly judged

Question 19

How did Labour’s policies help them in winning the election?

Answer 19

They promised to implement the policies of the Beveridge report - which was extremely popular at the time

Question 20

How was Labour’s manifesto better than the Conservatives?

Answer 20

-Labour’s manifesto was more specific, ambitious, detailed and thought through

Question 21

How did the Tories policies lead to them losing the 1945 election?

Answer 21

Churchill rejected teh the report and did not have a clear strategy for post war recover

Question 22

How did the public mood affect the result of the 1945 election?

Answer 22

Public wanted a change after the harsh war years, they associated the Tories with the high unemployment of the 20s and 30s and failed appeasement

Question 23

Who won the 1950 and 1951 elections?

Answer 23

Conservatives

Question 24

Why did labour lose the 1950 and 1951 elections?

Answer 24

• Rationing
• Austerity
• Taxation
• Labour becoming divided
• Tories seen as a united party
• Tory 1947 Industrial Charter
• Influx of young Tories

Question 25

How did rationing lead to Labour losing the 1950 and 1951 elections?

Answer 25

There was growing dissatisfaction and people were fed up

Question 26

Why was Austerity a reason for Labour losing the 1950 & 1951 elections?

Answer 26

After 1947 - Austerity wasn’t being perceived as bringing enough economic recovery quickly enough

Question 27

Why was taxation a reason for Labour losing the 1950 & 1951 elections?

Answer 27

Taxation at 45%at a standard rate was seen as too high

Question 28

Why was Labour becoming divided a reason why they lost the 1950 & 1951 elections?

Answer 28

Labour ministers were:

• Tired
• Beginning to divide
• Disillusioned

Question 29

Why did the labour party become divided around the time of the 1950/51 elections?

Answer 29

• Labour became divided after the Bevanite revolution in 1951
• Over the issue of nuclear weapons and the korean war

Question 30

Why was the unity of the Conservatives a factor of them winning the 1950/51 elections?

Answer 30

They were seen as a united party - especially over the nationalisation of iron and steel

This impressed the electorate

Question 31

What did the Conservative 1947 Industrial Charter show and what effect did this have in the upcoming elcetion?

Answer 31

It showed that the conservatives were willing to adapt and adopt consensus politics

This contributed to the Conservatives victory in the 1950/51 elcetions

Question 32

In 1950 what happened in the conservative party?

Answer 32

There was an influx of bright young Conservative politicians

Linking to Labour’s loss in the 1950/51 election

Question 33

What was the Liberal achievement in 1944?

Answer 33

The 1944 Education Act

Question 34

What was the Liberal achievement in 1945?

Answer 34

The 1945 Family Allowance Act

Question 35

What were the Liberal achievements in 1946?

Answer 35

• The 1946 National Insurance Act

- The 1946 National Health Service Act

Question 36

What was the 1944 Education Act?

Answer 36

Introduces universal secondary education split into three parts Grammar, Modern and Technological schools

Also created a Gov. minister for education

Raised school leaving age to 16 by 1973

Question 37

What was the 1945 Family Allowance Act?

Answer 37

Gave money to support those with children (child benefits)

Question 38

What was the 1946 National Insurance Act?

Answer 38

Paid for by taxes

Provided ‘benefits’ in cases of sickness, unemployment, retirement, maternity, widows, guardians allowances for orphans and a grant for funeral expenses

Question 39

What was the 1946 National Health Service Act?

Answer 39

Gave healthcare to all paid for by taxes but free at the point of need

Allowed creation of NHS in 1948 - Nye Bevan was Health Minister in charge of NHS