Social developments Churchill - Macmillan

Question 1

Summary of 1951-1964 society

Answer 1

• Britain in 1951 was still very much living in the shadow of WW2, the landscape was still damaged, rationing existed and were only just coming to an end. Young men were still expected to complete 2 years national service
• Class attitudes were reinforced by film and media (as were gender stereotypes)
• The welfare state had meant there was significant social change
• People in 1951 felt they were living on the brink of a new technological world ‘modern world’

Question 2

New commonwealth

Answer 2

• These are the countries which had recently gained independence, India, Pakistan, the west Indies, as compared to the ‘old commonwealth’ countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa
• This term was a useful way of differentiation between non-white and white populations

Question 3

Demographic change

Health and life expectancy -

Answer 3

There was generally a higher standard of health and life expectancy. This created demographic changes such as birth rates continuing to run ahead of death rates throughout the post-war period
- Medical treatment and standards of nutrition improved due to the NHS and welfare state

Question 4

Demographic change

Migration

Answer 4

• Inward migration from the Irish republic started in 1948
• about 250,000 immigrants arrived in Britain from the west indies and other parts of the new commonwealth
• There was also considerable outward migration from Britain, particularly to Australia which was offering assisted passages to anyone and of Brits to North America
• A lot more people were leaving then coming in (people still got annoyed for taking of jobs) huge split between white and black. Rise in racism

Question 5

Demographic change

Urbanisation

Answer 5

• How and where people lived also changes
• Huge difference between Urban and Rural. Living outside of towns meant your life was still dominated by agriculture
• Mass car ownership would soon mean urbanisation would affect the countryside as people moved out
• Britain’s urban infrastructure was run down and in desperate need of modernisation.
• 1951: the Conservative government set the target of building 300,000 homes each year
• Town centres found themselves separated from the suburbs by derelict homes
• Communities were split up.
• Huge demand for roads and motorways to be established so that people could live in the suburbs and still work in the centres. This also changed the idea of holiday and leisure.
• The use of cars began to push housing developments further outside of towns and cities.

Question 6

Roads

Answer 6

• Construction of the M1 and M6 began in 1958
• Between 1957-63, 1,200 miles of new roads laid.
• British Railways, nationalised in 1948 struggled to keep up with roads which offered a cheaper and more convenient source of transport.
• The Beeching report of 1963 recommended the closure of 30% of all lines
• The ‘Romantics’ see this as a travesty whereas the ‘Realists’ understood
• Either way it created drastic social change, with many rural areas isolated.

Question 7

Housing

Answer 7

• 1950 Conservative Party Conference: Churchill committed the party to building 300,000 homes per year.
• As Housing minister between 1951-1954 it was Macmillan’s job to achieve this and he fulfilled this target over these years, although the pace slowed enormously post 1954. By 1964, the Conservatives had overseen 1.6 million homes being built.
• In 1957 Macmillan passed the Rent Act which abolished rent restrictions and controls.
• What this meant was 6 million homes were put on the rental markets. Unfortunately, rents were too high for the lower end of the market, but for your middle classes it was now possible to rent easily.
• Also, they helped to facilitate making Britain a property-owning democracy. Macmillan’s government encouraged banks to give mortgages out easily so that people could own their own homes thus living up to his words of that people had ‘Never had it so good’.

Question 8

Employment and pay

Answer 8

• ‘Never had it so good’ criticism: unemployment was considerably higher at periods between 1951-1964. Unemployment rose from 367,000 to 878,000 by1963
• A continuous rise in living standards. People were buying more consumer goods and though inflation rose, real wages kept ahead of inflation at all times
• On top of wages, it became very easy to get credit. Borrowing large sums of money, which they could pay over a number of years meant people could afford goods they had never been able to afford before. This included ‘purchase hire’ goods.
• A consumer boom began during this period with car sales being up by 400%. In 1950-1965 cars being sold rose from 1.5 million to 5.5 million due to credit.