Liberalising Reforming Legislation

Question 1

What was the labour government’s initial stance on liberal reforms?

Answer 1

did not set out with a liberalising agenda

Question 2

What were most labour leader’s stance on moral issues?

Answer 2

more conservative views

Question 3

How were laws passed that were in relation to moral issues?

Answer 3

a free vote

Question 4

What is a free vote?

Answer 4

MPs having an individual votes rather than voting based on overall beliefs of the party they belong to

Question 5

What was the purpose of a private members’ bill?

Answer 5

to have backbench MPs propose legislation

Question 6

When did discussions about getting rid of the death penalty begin?

Answer 6

1950s

Question 7

What significant event happened in 1955 which gave the anti-hanging campaign a significant boost?

Answer 7

Ruth Ellis

Question 8

How did the conservatives previously deal with the increasing opposition to the death penalty?

Answer 8

reduced the amount it was used in 1957

Question 9

What labour backbencher lead the anti-hanging campaign within parliament?

Answer 9

Sydney Silverman

Question 10

What did Silverman aim for?

Answer 10

total abolition of the death penalty

Question 11

When was the first free vote held?

Answer 11

1965

Question 12

What did the free vote result in?

Answer 12

abolition of the death penalty for a trial period of 5 years

Question 13

When was the second free vote?

Answer 13

1969

Question 14

What was the result of the second free vote?

Answer 14

abolition made permanent

Question 15

What did Jenkins contribute to the internal prison system?

Answer 15

did not authorise the beating of prisoners - ceased after 1967

Question 16

How did Jenkins change the chance of getting a guilty verdict in court?

Answer 16

he removed the need for unanimity and introduced majority votes

Question 17

What was the system of getting a divorce like in the early 1960s?

Answer 17

• almost impossible for those in the lower classes
• needed evidence that one party committed adultery

Question 18

What act was passed in relation to divorce?

Answer 18

Divorce Reform Act - 1969

Question 19

What did this divorce act allow?

Answer 19

a no fault divorce

Question 20

What were the conditions of a no fault divorce?

Answer 20

1- living apart 2 years and both partners wish for a divorce
2- living apart 5 years and only one partner wishes for the divorce

Question 21

What was the impact of the introduction of this divorce reform?

Answer 21

huge increase in number of divorces
- 1950s - 2 in 1000
- mid 1970s - 10 in 1000

Question 22

What year was abortion illegal up until?

Answer 22

1967

Question 23

How were abortions performed when it was illegal?

Answer 23

• private clinics (for the wealthy)
• backstreet abortions

Question 24

How many illegal abortions were performed each year?

Answer 24

between 100,000 and 200,000

Question 25

How had abortions been campaigned for in the past?

Answer 25

Abortions Law Reform Association campaigned in 1945

Question 26

Who led the abortion reform into parliament?

Answer 26

David Steel

Question 27

What act was passed in regards to abortion?

Answer 27

Abortion Act - 1967

Question 28

What were the terms of the abortion act?

Answer 28

- only first 28 weeks - medical supervision needed - written consent from 2 doctors

Question 29

How were homosexual acts dealt with up until the 1960s?

Answer 29

men could be imprisoned for 2 years for participating in homosexual acts

Question 30

Who took up the case of homosexual rights?

Answer 30

Leo Abse

Question 31

What were the terms of the Sexual Offences act?

Answer 31

- both partners had to consent - both partners had to be over the age of 21 - had to be in private

Question 31

What act was passed in regards to homosexuality?

Answer 31

The Sexual Offences Act - 1967

Question 32

What was the issues with the fact that homosexual practices could only be in private?

Answer 32

'in private' was interpreted as no one else in the building - so a nearly impossible feat

Question 33

What type of education system had Britain being using?

Answer 33

Tripartite system

Question 34

Why did people have issues with the tripartite system?

Answer 34

it was seen as socially divisive

Question 35

What new type of school was introduced?

Answer 35

Comprehensive schools

Question 36

What was the purpose of a comprehensive school?

Answer 36

so that pupils could learn at their pace and be tested on their strengths

Question 37

How many students attended comprehensive schools in 1964?

Answer 37

1 in 10

Question 38

How many comprehensive schools were there by 1974?

Answer 38

1145

Question 39

Who was put in charge of the new schools?

Answer 39

Tony Crossland

Question 40

How did Crossland affect the new comprehensive schools?

Answer 40

his support sped up the production of comprehensive schools

Question 41

How did higher education change?

Answer 41

more focus on science and technology rather than arts based subjects

Question 42

What types of schools replaced colleges of technology?

Answer 42

poly-technics

Question 43

What type of university was created?

Answer 43

The Open University

Question 44

What was the purpose of the open university?

Answer 44

to allow women and the disadvantaged education

Question 45

Who was put in charge of open universities?

Answer 45

Jennie Lee