Reasons for social change 1960-79

Question 1

What was the case of Derek Bentley?

Answer 1

He was part of a two man robbery in November 1952 and was hanged in January 1952 as a result of this. However, it was not deserved as he had mental difficulties and said, ‘let him have it’, which probably meant the pistol, not the bullet.

Question 2

What was the case with Ruth Ellis?

Answer 2

She killed her own lover in April 1955, despite being abused, and was sentenced to death as a result. She was the last woman in Britain ever to hang.

Question 3

What was the case of Timothy Evans?

Answer 3

He was hanged in 1950 for killing his own daughter. However, evidence suggests it was a serial killer and was therefore given a pardon in October 1966. He was the first to be given such a pardon.

Question 4

What act was on of the first steps to add to ‘liberalisation’?

Answer 4

The 1957 Homicide-act. It limited the number of crimes that would lead to the death penalty.

Question 5

What was the first real ‘liberalisation of society’?

Answer 5

The abolishment of the death penalty, in 1965, when it was replaced with life imprisonment.

Question 6

How many times did Sydney Silverman try to abolish the death penalty?

Answer 6

3 times (1947, 1956/1957 and 1964, where he succeeded)

Question 7

What percentage of the people of Britain wanted to keep the death penalty in 1945, compared to 1965 and 1970?

Answer 7

1945 = 60%
1965 = 67%
1970 = 70%

Question 8

How many divorces occurred in 1965 compared to 1976?

Answer 8

1965 = 3/1000
1976 = 10/1000

Question 9

Why was the contraceptive pill becoming more important throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s?

Answer 9

• Only 15% of married women used the pill by 1969.
• The pill went on sale in 1961 but it wasn’t up until 1970 that women could get the pill from their GP.
• It was not until 1974 that the pill was available to all.

Question 10

When was abortion legalised and why?

Answer 10

1967, because MP dr. David Steel persuaded the parliament to legalise it after there were 100,000 injuries from ‘backstreet’ abortions and 40 deaths in 1966 alone. Also 70% of the public approved this reform.

Question 11

What act decriminalised homosexuality?

Answer 11

The 1967 Sexual offences Act

Question 12

When was the first ever gay march?

Answer 12

1971

Question 13

What were some films and shows that tried to put minorities in a more positive light in the 1960’s and 1970’s?

Answer 13

• Film ‘To Sir With Love’ (1967)
• Sitcom ‘Til Death Do Us Part’ (1965-75)
• Sitcom ‘Love Thy Neighbour’ (1972-77)

Question 14

What were some racist groups of politicians in the 1960’s and 1970’s?

Answer 14

• Oswald Mosley, founder of British Union of Fascists.
• Peter Griffiths used the slogan ‘if you want a nigger for a neighbour, vote labour’, in his campaign for the 1964 general election.
• The National Front party, formed in 1967, firmly opposed immigration.

Question 15

Which MP was firmly against immigration and was sacked in 1968 after making the ‘rivers of blood’ speech?

Answer 15

Enoch Powell. A petition was signed and got 30,000 signatures, along with 75% of British public agreeing with his speech.

Question 16

What was the Commonwealth immigrants act?

Answer 16

In 1962, it meant that immigrants had to have prearranged jobs or skills needed for the economy of Britain. This was controlled with employment vouchers.

Question 17

What is the difference between the 1962 and 1968 Commonwealth Immigration Act?

Answer 17

1962 = only prearranged jobs/skills needed (controlled with employment vouchers)
1968 = on top of 1962 act, (grand)parents were needed to be allowed in (controlled with employment vouchers)

Question 18

What was the Immigration Act?

Answer 18

In 1971, it replaced the employment vouchers with 12 month permits, meaning they could only stay in Britain for a certain time.

Question 19

What did the Race Relations Act do?

Answer 19

The 1965 and 1968 Acts banned racial hatred and discrimination in public places, such as, restrictions like ‘no coloured’ or ‘Europeans only’ used by landlords and employers.

Question 20

Was the Race Relation Board successful?

Answer 20

The 1966 Act was not very successful, with only 10% of complaints on the board ever being upheld.

Question 21

What did the 1976 Race Relations Act do?

Answer 21

It toughened laws against racial discrimination. It also set up the Commission for Racial Equality.

Question 22

By 1979, was there a positive acceptance of people from minority ethnic groups?

Answer 22

No, but it had improved massively since 1945.

Question 23

What carnival helped banish widespread memories of the 1958 riots?

Answer 23

The Notting Hill Carnival

Question 24

What did the CND do?

Answer 24

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (1958) aimed to promote public anger against nuclear weapons, especially in Britain.

Question 25

How many people marched in 1959 compared to 1961?

Answer 25

1959 = 20,000
1961 = 100,000

Question 26

What percentage of the marchers were under 21?

Answer 26

40-50%

Question 27

Did the CND accomplish what they wanted?

Answer 27

No

Question 28

How many students were there in 1962 compared to 1965?

Answer 28

1962 = 216,000
1965 = 310,000

Question 29

What were some key moments in the development of the Woman’s Lib movement?

Answer 29

• The National Housewives’ Register, begun in 1960, organised meetings and by mid-1970’s, it had 20,000 members.
• The first Women’s National Liberation Conference was held in 1970.
• A feminist magazine, called ‘spare rib’ was launched in 1972 and gained 30,000 readers. It demonstrated against the miss World competitions.
• The Women’s Aid Federation was set up in 1974, which helped to develop facilities and women and children who were a victim of domestic violence.

Question 30

What were some things that showed Women’s Lib was limited?

Answer 30

• The Sun newspaper introduced page 3, in 1970, where a topless model would be found.
• Women’s magazines like ‘Women’ or ‘Women’s realm’ still focused on traditional gender issues.
• Only 10,000 women were active in the Women’s Liberation Movement at its peak.
• In schools, subjects like Woodwork and Metal work were still seen as ‘boys’ subjects, while Cookery and Typing were seen as ‘girls’ subjects.

Question 31

What were some of the most influential Women Lib’s protests?

Answer 31

Female sewing machinists at the Ford car plants in Halewood (Liverpool) and Dagenham (East London).

Question 32

What did the Ford strikes achieve?

Answer 32

They closed the factory for 3 weeks and got a pay deal which got them over 90% of the men’s rate of pay for similar work.

Question 33

Who was called in to settle the Ford strikes?

Answer 33

Barbara Castle, which was quite humiliating for women as men would rather have the own sex sort themselves out.

Question 34

How many female MP’s were there in 1955 compared to 1975?

Answer 34

1955 = 24/630
1975 = 23/635

Question 35

Who was the first (and only) female Prime Minister of Britain?

Answer 35

Margaret Thatcher, in 1979

Question 36

Did Margaret Thatcher do anything for women’s rights?

Answer 36

Not really…