Lesson 5 Flashcards
Why did the Conservatives win the 1955 election
Anthony Eden took over from Churchill as Prime Minister and announced a general election only 9 days later
He did this as he wanted his own electoral mandate and victory independent of Churchill
Eden emphasised a property owning democracy
Tories win 49.7% while Labour lost 46.6%
First time since 1900 an incumbent govt increased their majority in the House of Commons
Why did Labour lose the 1955 election
The Labour Party had a seriously damaged reputation
61 bevanites defied the Labour Party leadership and abstained in favour of a House of Commons vote on the key question of nuclear weapons.
Gaitskell also took over from Attlee
How did Edens domestic policy weakness effect him as prime minister
All previous experience in foreign policy
Within 6 months some in the Conservative Party were voicing disquiet about his leadership
Anxious about making decisions and conscious about his lack of knowledge
He attempted to move MacMillion from the foreign office to treasury in October 1955 he did not until December 1955
Causes of the suez crisis
1952 Egypt had a new nationalist government with colonel Nasser becoming president in 1956
Decided to nationalise the Suez Canal in order to raise funds for the Aswan dam
Eden was determined to resist Nasser
Consequences of the suez crisis
The Israelis invaded Egypt as part of a secret plan with Britain and France, which the brits and French then seized control of the canal.
This led to the USA being outraged at Britain that they had not been informed
Eisenhower condemned the invasion and threatened to remove sterling
