Post War Reconstruction (1945-51) Flashcards
Which famous report highlighted weaknesses in the current social climate?
The beveridge report of 1942
What were the five giants of the report and what did they highlight?
Want
Disease
Squalor
Idleness
Ignorance
Highlighted the causes of poverty
How many copies were sold of the report?
600,000
Showed desire for social change
What were some labour reforms set up DURING the war?
• 1 million homes made habitable for homeless people
• Means test abolished in 1941
• Free milk and meals for school children
• Rail networks nationalised
• School leaving age increased to 15 (Education Act of 1944)
• Factory Acts
How many workers were benefitted from the Factory Acts ?
6 million
Which act increased the school leaving age to 15?
Education Act of 1944
How many MORE seats did Labour gain in the 1945 election from the last election?
227 more seats
Why were people more likely to vote for Labour following their war time reforms?
Nationalisation seemed less dangerous because it was now in effect and worked well
Why did the tories lose the 1945 election?
• Churchill was not seen as a strong political leader, more of a war leader
What was said in Churchill’s “gestapo speech” and why was this significant?
Churchill claimed that Labour would have to have a secret police to enforce their policies
Infuriated the public and lost him support
Name some social acts passed by Labour post war
• 1945 Family Allowance Act (financial support for families)
•1946 New Towns Act (helped housing crisis)
•1946 National Insurance Act
•1946 NHS
•1946 Industrial industries Act (nationalised key industries)
•1948 National Assistance Act
How many prescriptions were issued in the first year of the NHS?
187,000
What was labour’s promise of the welfare state?
That it would take care of people “from the cradle to the grave”
What percentage of the population enrolled with the NHS?
95%
What percentage of doctors enrolled with the NHS? Why was this significant?
88%
Previously were against the NHS
How great was the shortage of trained staff for the NHS in 1948?
Only 10,000 dentists per 47 million patients
In which years did the spending for the NHS double?
1948-1951
When did the NHS begin to operate following the passing of the act in 1946?
1948
When did the first local NHS centre open?
1952
Showed major delays
What were some of labours weakenesses during this period?
• Austerity (rationing and high taxation still in place)
• Korean War (1950-1953) caused an increase in military spending
• Divide in party
Why was there a divide in the Labour Party over the NHS?
NHS was originally created to be “free at the point of treatment”, however dental treatments, prescriptions and glasses were made free
Caused Nye Bevan to resign
How many glasses were prescribed by the NHS in the first year?
2.5 million
How many dentist patients were treated within the first year of the NHS?
8.5 million
