lesson 2

Question 1

what was the impact of the 1946-47 harsh winter

Answer 1

1. particularly harsh winter
2. fuel crisis damaged industrial production.
3. unemployment rose
4. risk of inflation as trade was effected
5. balance of payments deficit as UK importing more than exporting

Question 2

how did the continuation of rationing effect the election

Answer 2

1. rationing on clothes until 1949 and basic food until 1950
2. this was to reduce the cost of imported goods
3. caused resentment among voters, conservatives pledged to end it.
4. voters wanted an end to rationing and austerity, Labour had become associated with this

Question 3

how did the 1949 devaluation of the pound effect the election

Answer 3

1. the govt were forced to devalue the pound
2. this increased the price of imported goods and made exports cheaper, to help with balance of payments deficiet.
3. this angered voters as the price of imported goods in shops went up.

Question 4

what were the Attlee govt economic problems in 1951

Answer 4

1. Rebuilding the post war economy
2. Repaying war loans
3. Building the welfare state
4. Cold War expenditures

1949 and 1950 - combat inflation Attlee introduced wage freezes and wealth tax

Question 5

how did the soviet spy scandals effect the election
( Burgees and Maclean )

Answer 5

1. labour were further embarrassed by the spy scandals
2. in May 1951 Guy Burgees and Donald Maclean defected to the Soviet Union
3. made the govt look weak on safeguarding the country national security

Question 6

the Labour splits over the Korean war

Answer 6

1. the bevanite left wing of the labour party were annoyed at the UKs entry into the korean war
2. even through Britain was apart of the UN force, Bevanites argues the govt were sheepishly following America into a third world war and nuclear exchange

Question 7

Bevan rebellion over prescription charges

Answer 7

1. there were serious splits in the labour govt over economic, welfare and foreign polices.
2. in 1951 forced by financial difficulties the govt had to make cuts in public expenditure which included introducing prescription charges
3. a number of ministers resigned arguing it contradicted the founding principles of the NHS

Question 8

conservative party modernization effected the election how?

Answer 8

1. Rab Butler
2. convinced the party to accept the post war consensus shown through his “Industrial Charter” in 1947
3. he also reemphasized one-nation conservatism
4. showed commitment to the welfare state and reforms introduced

Question 9

how did the conservative party reorganization effect the election?

Answer 9

1. Lord Woolton
2. party chairman reorganized the party’s finances and constituencies
3. also organised a campaign

Question 10

what was the conservative party manifesto?

Answer 10

1. Promised to denationalise steel and iron industries
2. Pledged to end rationing
3. Ease austerity
4. build 300,000 homes a year

Question 11

how did the first past the post electoral system effect the outcome

Answer 11

Winston Churchill won his first general election.

The conservatives won with 48% woke Labour had 48.8% this was due to flaws in the electoral system.

The conservatives had 321 seats and Labour 295

Question 12

the conservative acceptance of the post war consensus

Answer 12

In Rab Butlers modernisation of the Conservative Party, he emphasised the need to accept a welfare state and the post war consensus

1. Industrial charter 1947
2. Butskellism