Post-WWII Developments in Western European States Flashcards
Who initiated the development of Great Britain after WWII?
In one of the greatest political upsets, Clement Attlee and his Labour Party governed Great Britain after WWII.
What were economic and social reforms in Britain after WWII?
After Sir William Beveridge advocated for national health insurance, the Labour government formed the National Health Service, which provided for a comprehensive system of free health care.
What industries did Attlee nationalize?
Attlee and the Labour party nationalized major industries like the Bank of England, railroads, and the electric, iron, and steel industries. These industries largely were already under government control during the war years. Company management remained in the hands of professionals, and not much changed as a result.
What were economic conditions in Britain after WWII?
Economic conditions were quite grim. Britain was a major debtor to the United States, and the Labour party was forced to increase military spending because of overseas commitments and the start of the Cold War. This time period was generally referred to as the Age of Austerity despite the increase in social services.
What was the Politics of Consensus?
After the Labour Party lost power in 1951, the Conservative Party continued to support the social service network created by the Labour party and did not reverse the nationalization of industry. Although the major parties differed on details like funding levels, they were in general agreement about the role of government and social services.
Why did Britain’s economy decline?
Britain was overly reliant on old factories that were not as efficient. Britain also lacked the central economic planning that was critical to the French, and Britain had to deal with aggressive unions that wanted higher wages without an increase in productivity. Science was also not as important in British universities.
What occurred in Northern Ireland?
The British government was forced to send troops to the troubled province. British soldiers fired on civil rights marchers on what came to be known as Bloody Sunday, and it led to ta renewed surge in violence by groups like the Irish Republican Army that were opposed to the British presence in Northern Ireland.
Who was Margaret Thatcher? What was Thatcherism?
She was a conservative leader who became prime minister after the Labour government could not deal with a wave of strikes. Thatcherism included tight control over the money supply to reduce inflation, cuts in public spending, and a cut in taxes for high earners.
What were Thatcher’s policies in office?
She hoped to make Britain more competitive by reducing the power of unions and privatizing parts of the British economy under control of the government. She beat Argentina in a war over the Falkland Islands. She resigned after dissent over the introduction of market principles to NHS and the education system.
Who succeeded Thatcher’s successor, John Major? What were his policies?
Tony Blair. He advocated for policies of New Labour. Instead of renationalizing the economy, he focused on improving social services, reforming the House of Lords, and moving power to regional parliaments in Wales and Scotland. He also supported the Iraq War. He was succeeded by Gordon Brown, and after him David Cameron.
How did France confront its role in WWII?
Despite initially portraying the actions of the Vichy government as the actions of a small minority under the leadership of Petain, President Jacques Chirac, ruling in the 1990s and 2000s, finally addressed France’s role in the deportation of 66,000 Jews to Germany and other collaboration activities during the war.
What occurred under the French Fourth Republic?
Established after WWII. the Fourth Republic did not give the president strong powers, and therefore the position was refused by Charles de Gaulle. It granted the vote to women, but grappled with a series of colonial problems, such as a defeat in Indochina and a revolt in Algeria.
Why did de Gaulle return to politics? What did he establish?
The crisis in Algeria, which led to fears of a military coup, brought about the return of de Gaulle to poltiics and through a plebiscite established the Fifth Republic, which contained the powerful presidency that de Gaulle wanted.
How did France behave under de Gaulle?
de Gaulle was committed to restoring France to a leading place in the global stage and therefore vetoed Britain’s attempt to enter the Common Market. France also refused to sign the Limited Test Ban Treaty and exploded its first hydrogen bomb in 1968. It also withdrew from NATO’s unified command in 1966 and recognized the Communist government in China.
How did conditions after the war favor Communists in France? How were they removed from government?
Five million men returned home from German and needed jobs, and the transport system was shattered during heavy fighting, and the country needed coal and food. Although the Communists were part of the first postwar coalition government, they were pushed out of the coalition at the American’s insistence.
What was the Monnet Plan?
Created by Jean Monnet, it established the Commissaritat General du Plan (CGP), which let nonpolitical technocrats run the economy. With increased foreign investment and central planning, the French economy began to take off.
What was the effect of the Monnet plan over daily life?
France had many more new, prosperous consumers who bought more consumer goods. However, it left a sense that the French way of life was being Americanized.
Why did student riots occur in France?
The young became disenchanted over the sterile course of French life, as well as overcrowded universities. In 1968, massive student riots occurred at almost every university, and a brief alliance between workers and students threatened the French political system, but died when workers agreed to better conditions and wage increases. de Gaulle resigned a year later.
What was the French political system like after de Gaulle?
It was led by Gaullist leaders until the victory of Francois Mitterrand, a Socialist who focused on social reform and reducing unemployment than radical plans for socialization. He was replaced by Jacques Chirac, who ran on a platform committed to healing social ills, but social unrest grew in his second term. Nicolas Sarkozy the succeeded Chirac.
What was the political structure of Italy after WWII?
Although it was initially a monarchy, Italians shied from its fascist associations and a referendum established a republic. The Christian Democrats became the power of government, although the Communists remained a significant opposition party. This was due to the influence of Antonio Gramsci, who allowed for more flexibility in the Italian Communist ideology.
Why was Italy an economic miracle in the 1950s and 1960s?
It was achieved through the large role played by the state in the Italian economy through the Institute for Industrial Reconstruction, which controlled shipbuilding, airlines, metallurgy, and the chemical industry, with Fiat the only manufacturer to remain in priate hands.
What was Italy’s “southern question”?
It was the attempts to correct the longstanding poverty of the south, which was reenforced by the movement of people northward for the Common Market and Mussolini’s exile of political opponents to the south. Land reform was tried, but there is still a significant economic gap between north and south.
What turbulence occurred during Italy’s 1970s?
There were increasing economic problems, including high unemployment, inflation, and strikes. A revival of the mafia took place in the south, and political terrorism from the extreme left occurred. The Red Brigade kidnapped former Prime Minister Aldo Moro and eventually murdered him.
What is Italian politics like now?
It is politically stable, but there are frequent changes of government, and charges of corruption are frequent.
