Post-War Britain Flashcards
What was the period after the war known as?
“Age of Austerity”
What two things increased as servicemen and servicewomen returned?
Unemployment and divorce rate
When was Beveridge Report produced?
1942
What were the 5 ‘Giant Evils’?
Want, disease, ignorance, squalor and idleness
Why didn’t Conservatives win the 1945 election?
- Relied on Churchill’s fame and popularity
- Criticised Labour policies rather than explain how they would deal with Britain’s problems
- Churchill seen as a “man of war” (rumours of wanting war with Russia)
- Linked Labour to Gestapo
- Labour wanted to follow Beveridge Report
What two groups mainly supported Labour?
First-time voters and armed forces
Who was Minister of Health?
Aneurin Bevan
Who was Minister of National Insurance?
James Griffiths
What did Labour want to look after people from?
“From the cradle to the grave”
What is a welfare state?
Help those who need it
How was “want” dealt with?
1946 National Insurance Act
Other Acts that dealt with want
- Industrial Injuries Act
- family allowance to mothers per child
When was Employment and Training Act?
1948
What was set up in 1948 to provide additional payments to those in need?
National Assistance Board
What did Bevan believe healthcare should be?
“Free at the point of delivery”
How was “disease” dealt with?
National Health Service (NHS)
What year was National Health Service?
1946
Services included by NHS?
- Family doctors (GP’s)
- Optician’s
- Dental care
- Maternity service
- Child welfare services
- Drugs and medication
- Hospital treatments
Who was against NHS?
- Conservative party
- Doctors
- British Medical Association
How long did it take for Bevan to reach agreement with doctors?
18 months
What was the agreement made with Bevan and doctors?
Doctors could carry out some private work whilst working for NHS
How much did NHS cost in its first year?
£500 million
What was no longer free after 1951?
Dental and optical services
When was National Health Service Act?
5th July 1948
When was Education Act set up?
1944
Quote that Education Act aimed for
“Diversity and equality of opportunity”
When did Education Act become a Law?
1947
What did Education Act do?
- Secondary education compulsory until 15 (later to 16)
- Provided meals, milk and medical services
What test did children take at age 11?
“Eleven plus”
What three different schools were children placed in?
- Grammar schools
- Technical schools
- Secondary modern schools
The number of children that went to what increased?
Secondary schools, colleges and universities
What policy was implemented to address squalor?
“Homes for all”
When was “homes for all” policy and who lead it?
1945 by Bevan
Short term solutions of squalor
- Homeless in army camps
- 130,000 “prefabs” by 1948
How many houses built between 1946- and 1951?
800,000
Why were new towns built?
To reduce overcrowding in cities
How were houses improved?
Installation of bathrooms and hot water systems
How many homes were council houses?
4 out of 5
Problem with council houses?
Could rent but couldn’t buy
Industries that were nationalised
Coal, gas, electricity, transport (railways, docks, canals, road haulage), airlines, iron and steel
How much of industry did government control by 1950?
20%
Why did government want nationalisation?
- Modernise industries with investments
- Thought industries should benefit whole nation
- Labour was socialist
- Improve working conditions
- Create jobs and welfare state
Why did Labour lose 1951 election?
- Life had hardly improved since war (rationing)
- Dislike high taxation
- Divisions in government
- Conservatives more popular as they were against nationalisation and rationing
What is nationalisation?
When government takes ownership of industries
