Part 3: Society in Transition Flashcards
In what period were attitudes to the class system in Britain first properly challenged?
It is the period 1951-1979 when attitudes to the class system are challenged more dramatically with the creation of a more liberal society.
Which were the four main groups of the British class system?
Industrial working class - factory workers, miners, craftsmen, dockworkers etc
Lower middle class - Small business owners, usually owned own homes
Middle class - Professionals like Doctors, Lawyers, Bankers and Civil Servants
Upper classes - Families who had inherited wealth, land and titles - often represented in the House of Lords
How were those in higher classes treated by those beneath them in social status?
The lower classes often treated them with -deference-, those in power were generally respected and trusted to lead the country’s institutions
How many British men died in WW1?
700,000
How was the upper class affected by deaths in WW1?
They were disproportionately affected, with many being forced to pay death duties - David Cannadine refers to this as marking ‘the decline of the aristocracy’
How did the experience of war affect equality in society?
It resulted in a more democratic society, resulting in the passing of the 1918 ROPA.
How did the hardships of WW2 help break down class barriers?
People sympathised with eachother because they shared the hardships of WW2 equally
