Conservative 1951-1964 Flashcards
What was special about the result of the 1951 election
Conservatives won with 48% of the popular vote in comparison to Labour’s 48.8%
When did the UK acquire Atomic Weapons
1952
In 1951 how many people were there per car
1 car for every 16 people
Who were the leaders of the Labour party throughout the 50s-early 60s
Clement Attlee - until 1955
Hugh Gaitskell - 1955-1963
Harold Wilson - from 1963
What was the increase in men’s weekly wages from 1951-1961
£8.30 to £15.35
When did rationing officially come to an end
1954
Why did Hugh Gaitskell cease to be Labour leader.
Died of the flu whilst visiting USSR.
Who was Ernest Bevin
High ranking member of the Labour party and foreign secretary who died just before the 1951 election.
What caused the Bevanite split.
Nye Bevan’s (architect of the NHS) disagreement with the Gaitskellites over prescription charges.
Why did the Bevanite movement die out
Bavan himself died in 1960
How was Churchill’s second premiership characterised
Lots of foreign trips and holidays, leaving Eden in charge of domestic issues
What was the relationship between Eden and Churchill
Eden didn’t like Churchill as he thought he was too old and was waiting fro him to retire
Officially why did Eden resign
Ill health
Who was R.A Butler (RAB)
Churchill’s Chancellor
Macmillan’s rival for leadership after Eden’s resignation, but despite being popular with the public the party didn’t agree.
What was Butskellism
Centre-Left ideology - Postwar consensus
Mixed economy, NHS
Employment, Trade Unions
What did MacMillan say about his time in office
“Most of our people have never had it so good”
When was the Suez crisis
29 Oct 1956 – 7 Nov 1956
How old was Winston when he retired in 1955
80
Who was the leader of the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU)
Frank Cousins
What were the divisions within the Labour party of Nuclear disarmament
Pro - Gaitskell
Against - Cousins, Bevan,
When was CND founded
1957
What happened at the 1960 Labour party confrence
Gaitskell arguing with audience over disarmament, booed
What was the seat change for the Conservatives in the 1955 election
+23
What was the seat change for the Conservatives in the 1959 election
+20
What were the reasons for the result of the 1951 election
Electoral System
Attlee’s fatigue
Labour’s reputation for high tax and rationing
Korean War
Churchill’s popularity
Conservative shake up of economic policy
Scrutiny of Labour’s nationalisation of Steel
Consensus politics
What were the reason for the result of the 1955 election
Bevanite Split
Popularity of Butskellism - Economic success
Attlee was old
Stop-Go
Ending Korean War
What were the reasons for the result of the 1959 election
Macmillan’s popularity
Fast move on from Suez
Butskellism
Social Reform - 57 Homicide act
Labour Divisions
Labour fail to capitalise of Suez failure
Rushed Labour policy which was questionably whether it was economically viable
Stop-Go
What was the 1957 Homicide Act
Limits to the death penalty
Reform to sentencing based on motives for murder
How many houses were built from 1951-1964
1.7 million
When did the Conservatives undo Labour’s nationalisation of Steel
1953
Which two social reform acts were passed in 1961
Licensing Act - legalised drinking in restaurants and hotels
Betting & Gambling Act - legalised said activities
What was the name of the American policy of investment in Europe following WWII
Marshall Plan
What was the BoP deficit in 1964
£800 million
What was Unemployment in 1964
501,000
What was the economic impact of the Suez Crisis
Exposed UK weakness causing a run on the pound
Who were the Conservative Chancellors 51-64
RAB Butler 51-55
Macmillan 55-57
Peter Thorneycroft 57-58
Derick Heathcoat-Amory 58-60
Selwyn Lloyd 60-62
Reg Mauldling 62-64
Why did Thorneycroft resign
He was told by Macmillan that he couldn’t cut public spending (Peter T was a monetarist)