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Making of Modern Britain - own > Conservative Goverments, 1951-1964 > Flashcards

Conservative Goverments, 1951-1964 Flashcards

1
Q

When was Winston Churchill Prime Minister of the UK?

A

1951-1955.

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2
Q

What was Winston Churchill’s reputation based on?

A

His leadership during wartime.

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3
Q

What role did Winston Churchill play on the international stage?

A

He was an international statesman.

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4
Q

Who were some of the able ministers that worked under Churchill?

A

Eden, Butler and Macmillan.

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5
Q

What aspect of governance was Winston Churchill less interested in?

A

Domestic Affairs.

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6
Q

What factors affected Winston Churchill’s performance as Prime Minister?

A

Age and infirmity.

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7
Q

When was Anthony Eden Prime Minister of the UK?

A

1955-1957.

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8
Q

What was Anthony Eden known for being an expert in?

A

Foreign policy.

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9
Q

What experience did Eden have before becoming Prime Minister?

A

He served as Churchill’s deputy.

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10
Q

What were some of Anthony Eden’s personal qualities?

A

He was charming and popular.

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11
Q

In what areas was Anthony Eden unexperienced?

A

Domestic affairs.

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12
Q

What were some criticisms of Anthony Eden as a leader?

A

He was considered a weak leader and sometimes indecisive.

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13
Q

When was Harold Macmillan Prime Minister of the UK?

A

1957-1963.

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14
Q

What was Harold Macmillan’s reputation based on before becoming Prime Minister?

A

His success as housing minister under Churchill.

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15
Q

What personal qualities was Harold Macmillan known for?

A

He had a calm, reassuring presence.

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16
Q

How was Harold Macmillan viewed on TV?

A

He was good on TV.

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17
Q

What political stance did Harold Macmillan support?

A

He was a one-nation Conversative and supported the post-war consensus.

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18
Q

How was Harold Macmillan viewed later in his political career?

A

He became seen as old-fashioned.

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19
Q

What health issue did Harold Macmillan face later in his time as Prime Minister?

A

He suffered from ill-health.

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20
Q

What political stance did R.A.B Butler support?

A

He was a one-nation Conservative and supported the post-war consensus.

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21
Q

What was R.A.B Butler known for in terms of experience?

A

He was experienced, holding a series of high-ranking ministries.

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22
Q

What influential policies was R.A.B Butler responsible for?

A

The tripartite education system and the review of capital punishment.

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23
Q

How was R.A.B Butler viewed by some of his colleagues?

A

He was divisive and unpopular with some colleagues.

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24
Q

When was Alec Douglas-Home Prime Minister of the UK?

A

1963-1965.

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25
Q

How was Alec Douglas-Home become Prime Minister?

A

He was not elected as leader of the party; instead, he was appointed.

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26
Q

What was a criticism of Alec Douglas-Home due to his background?

A

He was a member of the aristocracy, which lead some to see him as out of touch.

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27
Q

What happened to the Conservative majority in 1953?

A

The Conservative majority increased from 17-60.

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28
Q

How did the Conservative majority change in 1959?

A

The Conservative majority increased again, this time to 100.

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29
Q

What is the post-war consensus?

A

Policy agreement between the Conservative and Labour party.

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30
Q

What is the alternative name for the post-war consensus?

A

Butskellism, named after Butler (Conservative) and Gaitskell (Labour leader).

31
Q

What was a key characteristic of the Conservative Governments between 1951-1964 regarding Labour reforms?

A

The Conservative government largely maintained and did not undo many reforms introduced by the Labour Government.

32
Q

What is meant by a mixed economy in the context of the post-war consensus?

A

It means that both government and private business play important roles in the economy.

33
Q

What system did the post-war consensus strongly support?

A

The NHS (National Health Service) and the welfare system.

34
Q

What was a key aim of the post-war consensus regarding employment?

A

Achieving full employment.

35
Q

What approach did the post-war consensus take toward trade unions and employers?

A

It emphasized working in partnership with trade unions and employers.

36
Q

What was the housing pledge made by the Conservative Party?

A

To build 300,000 houses a year.

37
Q

Who was the housing minister responsible for fulfilling the Conservative

A

Harold Macmillan.

38
Q

By what year did Harold Macmillan fulfil the Conservative Party’s pledge to build 300,000 houses a year?

A

By 1953.

39
Q

What was the education system was continued during this period?

A

The tripartite system.

40
Q

What are the three types of school

A

Grammar schools, technical high schools and secondary schools.

41
Q

What act introduced the tripartite system?

A

The Butler Act, 1944.

42
Q

What was the main goal of each school in the tripartite system?

A

Grammar schools for academically inclined students. Technical schools for those with practical skills. Secondary schools for general education.

43
Q

Which social service was continued to be funded after WWII?

A

NHS (National Health Service).

44
Q

Which act, passed in 1956, aimed to address air pollution?

A

The Clean Air Act, 1956.

45
Q

What did the Factory Act of 1959 regulate?

A

It set regulations to improve working conditions in factories.

46
Q

Which act of 1957 reformed laws surrounding murder?

A

The Homicide Act 1957.

47
Q

What was the purpose of the Wolfenden Report of 1957?

A

The report recommended the decriminalization of homosexuality and prostitution.

48
Q

Which key industries remained nationalised after WWII?

A

Iron and Steel.

49
Q

When was iron and steel denationalised?

A

1953.

50
Q

What was the governments attitude toward trade unions in the post-WWII period?

A

The government adopted a conciliatory attitude towards trade unions.

51
Q

What was the stance of the left of Labour on prescription charges in post-WWII period?

A

NHS should remain free at the point of delivery, with no prescription charges.

52
Q

What was the right of Labour’s argument for introducing prescription charges?

A

Prescription charges were necessary to address financial pressures on the NHS.

53
Q

What was the outcome of the prescription charges debate towards the end of Labour’s administration? (1945-1951).

A

A division broke out.

54
Q

Which two figures became rivals due to the prescription charge issue?

A

Bevan (Left) and Gaitskell (Right).

55
Q

What did Clause IV of the Labour Party’s constitution commit the party to?

A

Committed the Labour Party to the public ownership of major industries.

56
Q

What was the Left’s stance on Clause IV?

A

The Left was wholly supportive of the nationalisation as outlined in Clause IV.

57
Q

How did the Right view nationalisation in regard to Clause IV?

A

They increasingly saw this as only one possible policy to be used where appropriate.

58
Q

Why were trade unions concerned about Clause IV?

A

Labour party may abandon Clause IV and its commitment to public ownership.

59
Q

What happened at the 1959 Labour Party conference regarding Clause IV?

A

Gaitskell tried to amend Clause IV but backed down due to opposition from the Left.

60
Q

What was the Left’s stance on nuclear weapons at this time?

A

Left supported unilateral disarmament and supported the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

61
Q

What was the Right’s stance on nuclear weapons?

A

The Right was against unilateral disarmament.

62
Q

What stance did trade unionist take on nuclear disarmament?

A

Trade unionists favoured disarmament.

63
Q

What happened at the 1960 Labour Party conference regarding nuclear disarmament?

A

A motion was passed to support unilateral disarmament at the 1960 Labour Party conference.

64
Q

What did Gaitskell do at the 1961 Labour Party conference regarding nuclear disarmament?

A

Gaitskell managed to have the motion supporting unilateral disarmament reversed at the 1961 conference.

65
Q

How were the Conservatives perceived during the 1964 election?

A

They were seen as out of touch with modern society.

66
Q

What types of media targeted the Conservative government in the early 1960s?

A

Satirical media such as ‘The Week That Was’ and ‘Private Eye’.

67
Q

Why did Labour unity contribute to the Conservatives losing the 1964 election?

A

Labour had achieved greater unity under the leadership if Harold Wilson, which helped them present a cohesive, strong opposition to the Conservative government.

68
Q

How did the deaths of Bevan and Gaitskell impact the Labour Party’s fortunes in 1964?

A

Removed key figures who had been sources of internal division, allowing Labour to focus more on unity.

69
Q

How did scandal impact the Conservative Party in the 1964 election?

A

Scandals such as the Profumo affair and spy scandals damaged the Conservative’s image, eroding public trust.

70
Q

What was the Profumo Affair?

A

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.

71
Q

How did the spy scandals involving Blake and Vassel influence the 1964 election?

A

The exposure of spies such as George Blake and John Vassel, who were linked to the Soviet Union, tarnished the Conservatives’ image.

72
Q

How did growing economic concerns contribute to the Conservative loss in the 1964 election?

A

Stop-go economics, inflation, and a poor balance of payments.

72
Q

What was the impact of the rejection of the EEC membership application of the 1964 election?

A

Failure to join the European Economic Community (EEC) damaged the Conservative Party’s image.

73
Q

How did Macmillan’s leadership affect the Conservative Party’s loss in 1964?

A

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.

Making of Modern Britain - own (2 decks)

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