conservative dominance 1951-1964 Flashcards

1
Q

Who were the 4 Tory leaders between 1951-64

A

Who were the 4 Tory leaders between 18591-64
- Winston Churchill (1951-55) - won the 1951 election
- Anthony Eden (1955-57) - won the 1955 election
- Harold Macmillan (1957-63) - Won the 1959 election
- Alec Douglas-Home (1963-64) - Lost the 1964 election

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Churchill’s 1951-1955

A
  • Butler rather than Churchill who drove the party.

he was 70, people believed this was a belated thank you for WW2.

  • Churchill was a figurehead, shown in 1953,when he was absent but not missed
  • Butler was responsible for modernising the party, industrial charter 1947
  • He also had a big role in the Education Act 1944. (was minister of education)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Sir Anthony Eden - 1955-57 - overview

A
  • Eden called election after taking over, he won gaining 24 seats
  • could be due to personal appeal but also butler
  • Suez crisis bad, viewed Britain as no longer world power
  • Less than 3 months after the crisis, Eden stepped down as PM.
  • Mood was very negative to Tory’s, lucky no election
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Harold Macmillan 1957-63 - overview

A
  • Macmillan 300,000 houses a year, labour only 100,000
  • named super-mac
  • BUT
  • unemployment rise from 250,000 to 800,000
  • night of long knives sacked 7 ministers
  • scandals
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Macmillan’s successes as PM

A
  • increased the Conservative majority to 100.
  • personal appeal
  • was on TV and got named ‘super-mac’
  • stated that Britain had ‘never had it so good’.
  • Butler helped (as Home Secretary) and changed appearance of party
  • Homicide act 1957 modern
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Macmillan’s failures as PM

A
  • surrounded by scandals such as prostitutes
  • By 1961, country was importing more than it was exporting, bad economy
  • unemployment rising by 550,000
  • 1962, more strikes
  • July 1962, ‘the Night of the Long Knives’ he sacked 7 cabinet ministers
  • did not help polls, given nickname Mac the knife
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How was Macmillan damaged by things out of his control?

A
  • Cold War showed Britain was no longer a world power
  • The French stopped Conservative attempts to join the EEC (De Gaulle)
  • The government were then hit by a number of scandals.
  • Macmillan was also ill and had announced his intention to resign.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Alec Douglas-Home 1963-64

A
  • Macmillan asked Queen to appoint Douglas-Home as PM.
  • process of choosing seemed ridiculous in a democratic age
  • man of aristocratic background to power, who was viewed as out of touch with the ordinary people.
  • This made it clear the Conservatives were still routed in the past.
  • There was resentment among some MP’s, Enoch Powell and Iain Macleod refused to serve under Douglas-Home.
  • he faced Harold Wilson
  • He lost
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What were Conservative strengths in the 1951 election?

A
  • More young politicians with new ideas
  • Challenged the nationalisation of iron and steel
  • Promised housing and meat
  • Wouldn’t reverse welfare state
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What were Labour weaknesses in the 1951 election?

A
  • associated with austerity, rationing and high taxes
  • failure to improve economy
  • split e.g. Bevan wanted more nationalisation and Gaitskell concerned for economy
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Liberals during 1951 election

A
  • Decline of the Liberals
  • more Tory voters
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

1955 election - conservative strengths

A
  • voters were happy with rising wages and living standards
  • period of affluence (wealth)
  • 1% unemployed after Churchill
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

1955 election - labour weakness

A
  • Gained the highest number of votes ever in 1951

BUT

  • divisions within the party - conflict between Gaitskell and Bevan
  • Attlee as visibly ageing and appeared weak
  • divided over nuclear weapons and disarmament
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

1959 election - conservative strength

A
  • the economy quickly recovered from the recession of 1958 under Macmillan
  • macmillan high approval rating
  • pre-election economic boom
  • Macmillan was very popular and centre so got lots of votes
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

1959 election - labour weakness

A
  • More British voters identified with middle class
  • Labour appeal to working class less affective
  • divided over nuclear with Bevan wanting none and Wilson wanting some
  • out of touch with public over economy
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

British empire 1950’s

A
  • by 50s, Britain was majorly decolonised
  • empire still needs to exist because of the Cold War, spread of communism
17
Q

why did the Suez Crisis happen

A
  • Egypt granted independence in 1922
  • full independence 1952 which abolished monarchy and created republic
  • 1956, Colonel Nasser decided to nationalise the Suez Canal
  • the canal was vital for British trade interests
  • British shareholders had a significant 40% share in the canal
  • angered PM, Anthony Eden
18
Q

events of the Suez Crisis

A

`- britain and France persuaded the newly-formed state of Israel to attack Egypt
- Britain and France used the Israeli attack as an excuse for military invasion and almost immediately began to bomb Egyptian airfields late October 1956
- paratroopers were deployed in early November to force the Egyptians away from the canal
- Britain and France acted against the will of NATO and the UN

19
Q

the Suez Crisis results

A
  • The international community condemned the action
  • The USA forced Britain to withdraw from Egypt
  • The Soviet union threatened military action against the “aggressor”
  • Anthony Eden lied to commons about it
  • retired on grounds of “ill health” in January 1957
  • england lost world power
20
Q

why were the Conservatives able to dominate labour for so long - wages

A
  • Wages rose faster than prices.
  • income tax cut in 1955 and 1959
  • feel good factor
  • average wage 1951 £8.30
  • 1964 £18.35.
  • oversaw and 500% increase in car ownership
21
Q

Why were the Conservatives able to dominate British politics for so long? - HOUSING

A
  • built 2.8 million across period
  • The Rent Act of 1957 abolished rent controls, meaning more houses were available to be rented.
  • 44% of population owned home in 1964, 20% higher than before WW2.
22
Q

Conservative issues employment 1951-1964

A
  • The Tories had continued Labour’s promise of total employment
  • unemployment continued to rise
  • increased by 143,000
  • emphasises 13 wasted years
23
Q

Tory economic policies during the period

A
  • Increased borrowing allowed more spending on healthcare and education
  • ‘Butskellism’ - more welfare state, both private and public enterprise, keynsian economics
  • Resulted in ‘stagflation’ - increase demand not supply
  • stagflation: high inflation, high unemployment, slow economic growth
  • Production costs were high in most heavy industry, Britain less competitive