Conservative Goverments, 1951-1964 Flashcards
When was Winston Churchill Prime Minister of the UK?
1951-1955.
What was Winston Churchill’s reputation based on?
His leadership during wartime.
What role did Winston Churchill play on the international stage?
He was an international statesman.
Who were some of the able ministers that worked under Churchill?
Eden, Butler and Macmillan.
What aspect of governance was Winston Churchill less interested in?
Domestic Affairs.
What factors affected Winston Churchill’s performance as Prime Minister?
Age and infirmity.
When was Anthony Eden Prime Minister of the UK?
1955-1957.
What was Anthony Eden known for being an expert in?
Foreign policy.
What experience did Eden have before becoming Prime Minister?
He served as Churchill’s deputy.
What were some of Anthony Eden’s personal qualities?
He was charming and popular.
In what areas was Anthony Eden unexperienced?
Domestic affairs.
What were some criticisms of Anthony Eden as a leader?
He was considered a weak leader and sometimes indecisive.
When was Harold Macmillan Prime Minister of the UK?
1957-1963.
What was Harold Macmillan’s reputation based on before becoming Prime Minister?
His success as housing minister under Churchill.
What personal qualities was Harold Macmillan known for?
He had a calm, reassuring presence.
How was Harold Macmillan viewed on TV?
He was good on TV.
What political stance did Harold Macmillan support?
He was a one-nation Conversative and supported the post-war consensus.
How was Harold Macmillan viewed later in his political career?
He became seen as old-fashioned.
What health issue did Harold Macmillan face later in his time as Prime Minister?
He suffered from ill-health.
What political stance did R.A.B Butler support?
He was a one-nation Conservative and supported the post-war consensus.
What was R.A.B Butler known for in terms of experience?
He was experienced, holding a series of high-ranking ministries.
What influential policies was R.A.B Butler responsible for?
The tripartite education system and the review of capital punishment.
How was R.A.B Butler viewed by some of his colleagues?
He was divisive and unpopular with some colleagues.
When was Alec Douglas-Home Prime Minister of the UK?
1963-1965.
How was Alec Douglas-Home become Prime Minister?
He was not elected as leader of the party; instead, he was appointed.
What was a criticism of Alec Douglas-Home due to his background?
He was a member of the aristocracy, which lead some to see him as out of touch.
What happened to the Conservative majority in 1953?
The Conservative majority increased from 17-60.
How did the Conservative majority change in 1959?
The Conservative majority increased again, this time to 100.
What is the post-war consensus?
Policy agreement between the Conservative and Labour party.
What is the alternative name for the post-war consensus?
Butskellism, named after Butler (Conservative) and Gaitskell (Labour leader).
What was a key characteristic of the Conservative Governments between 1951-1964 regarding Labour reforms?
The Conservative government largely maintained and did not undo many reforms introduced by the Labour Government.
What is meant by a mixed economy in the context of the post-war consensus?
It means that both government and private business play important roles in the economy.
What system did the post-war consensus strongly support?
The NHS (National Health Service) and the welfare system.
What was a key aim of the post-war consensus regarding employment?
Achieving full employment.
What approach did the post-war consensus take toward trade unions and employers?
It emphasized working in partnership with trade unions and employers.
What was the housing pledge made by the Conservative Party?
To build 300,000 houses a year.
Who was the housing minister responsible for fulfilling the Conservative
Harold Macmillan.
By what year did Harold Macmillan fulfil the Conservative Party’s pledge to build 300,000 houses a year?
By 1953.
What was the education system was continued during this period?
The tripartite system.
What are the three types of school
Grammar schools, technical high schools and secondary schools.
What act introduced the tripartite system?
The Butler Act, 1944.
What was the main goal of each school in the tripartite system?
Grammar schools for academically inclined students. Technical schools for those with practical skills. Secondary schools for general education.
Which social service was continued to be funded after WWII?
NHS (National Health Service).
Which act, passed in 1956, aimed to address air pollution?
The Clean Air Act, 1956.
What did the Factory Act of 1959 regulate?
It set regulations to improve working conditions in factories.
Which act of 1957 reformed laws surrounding murder?
The Homicide Act 1957.
What was the purpose of the Wolfenden Report of 1957?
The report recommended the decriminalization of homosexuality and prostitution.
Which key industries remained nationalised after WWII?
Iron and Steel.
When was iron and steel denationalised?
1953.
What was the governments attitude toward trade unions in the post-WWII period?
The government adopted a conciliatory attitude towards trade unions.
What was the stance of the left of Labour on prescription charges in post-WWII period?
NHS should remain free at the point of delivery, with no prescription charges.
What was the right of Labour’s argument for introducing prescription charges?
Prescription charges were necessary to address financial pressures on the NHS.
What was the outcome of the prescription charges debate towards the end of Labour’s administration? (1945-1951).
A division broke out.
Which two figures became rivals due to the prescription charge issue?
Bevan (Left) and Gaitskell (Right).
What did Clause IV of the Labour Party’s constitution commit the party to?
Committed the Labour Party to the public ownership of major industries.
What was the Left’s stance on Clause IV?
The Left was wholly supportive of the nationalisation as outlined in Clause IV.
How did the Right view nationalisation in regard to Clause IV?
They increasingly saw this as only one possible policy to be used where appropriate.
Why were trade unions concerned about Clause IV?
Labour party may abandon Clause IV and its commitment to public ownership.
What happened at the 1959 Labour Party conference regarding Clause IV?
Gaitskell tried to amend Clause IV but backed down due to opposition from the Left.
What was the Left’s stance on nuclear weapons at this time?
Left supported unilateral disarmament and supported the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
What was the Right’s stance on nuclear weapons?
The Right was against unilateral disarmament.
What stance did trade unionist take on nuclear disarmament?
Trade unionists favoured disarmament.
What happened at the 1960 Labour Party conference regarding nuclear disarmament?
A motion was passed to support unilateral disarmament at the 1960 Labour Party conference.
What did Gaitskell do at the 1961 Labour Party conference regarding nuclear disarmament?
Gaitskell managed to have the motion supporting unilateral disarmament reversed at the 1961 conference.
How were the Conservatives perceived during the 1964 election?
They were seen as out of touch with modern society.
What types of media targeted the Conservative government in the early 1960s?
Satirical media such as ‘The Week That Was’ and ‘Private Eye’.
Why did Labour unity contribute to the Conservatives losing the 1964 election?
Labour had achieved greater unity under the leadership if Harold Wilson, which helped them present a cohesive, strong opposition to the Conservative government.
How did the deaths of Bevan and Gaitskell impact the Labour Party’s fortunes in 1964?
Removed key figures who had been sources of internal division, allowing Labour to focus more on unity.
How did scandal impact the Conservative Party in the 1964 election?
Scandals such as the Profumo affair and spy scandals damaged the Conservative’s image, eroding public trust.
What was the Profumo Affair?
The Profumo affair involved a sexual scandal with War Minister, John Profumo and Christine Keeler. She was also involved with a Soviet diplomat. Profumo lied about it in Parliament.
How did the spy scandals involving Blake and Vassel influence the 1964 election?
The exposure of spies such as George Blake and John Vassel, who were linked to the Soviet Union, tarnished the Conservatives’ image.
How did growing economic concerns contribute to the Conservative loss in the 1964 election?
Stop-go economics, inflation, and a poor balance of payments.
What was the impact of the rejection of the EEC membership application of the 1964 election?
Failure to join the European Economic Community (EEC) damaged the Conservative Party’s image.
How did Macmillan’s leadership affect the Conservative Party’s loss in 1964?
Macmillan’s leadership was weakened by his ill-health and the controversial ‘Night of the Long Knives’ in 1962 where he reshuffled his cabinet, leading to internal divisions and a loss of confidence in his ability to lead.
