Society in transition

Question 1

How had women been campaigning for women’s rights?

Answer 1

•NUWSS (the suffragists) through political means
•WSPU (the suffragettes) through direct action

Question 2

Why were politicians at the time reluctant to give women the vote?

Answer 2

• the franchise would completely change, political groups would have to rebrand to appeal to women also
• scared of women challenging the patriarchy and gaining more political power

Question 3

Why were Liberal politicians at the time reluctant to give women the vote?

Answer 3

• they had imprisoned and force fed suffragettes on their hunger strike during the war through the cat and mouse method
• therefore women wouldn’t vote for liberals if they gained the vote

Question 4

Why were civilians against women gaining the vote?

Answer 4

• wanted women to return to their traditional roles after the war, liked society the way it had always been

Question 5

Why were many women against the idea of extending the franchise?

Answer 5

• were used to their traditional roles but wanted more respect for their work in the home

Question 6

why did politicians change their mind about women getting the vote?

Answer 6

•Fears of how women would vote were starting to vanish
• 1915 new coalition government – easier to achieve agreement
• 1916 David Lloyd George replaced Herbert Asquith as PM –
encouraged The Times to become pro suffrage
• More MPs were committed to the cause and reform was inevitable
• End of WSPU militancy - their pause in campaigning viewed as patriotic and should be rewarded
• Other nations had granted women the vote

Question 7

Was there a lot of political advancement after women received the vote in 1918?

Answer 7

• 8.5 million women gained the vote but only 17 women stood to be MPS, one elected - Countess Markieqicz, didn’t take her seat ashore she was an Irish Republican

Question 8

What were Old Etonians?

Answer 8

A former student of Eton College, a prestigious public school for boys.
•Many dominant positions in society are occupied by Old Etonians

Question 9

What were death duties?

Answer 9

A tax paid by the inheritors of a property over a certain value.

Question 10

What does gentry mean?

Answer 10

wealthy and powerful individuals who owned land and had titles such as Duke and Viscount

Question 11

How did WW1 lead to the decline of the ‘landed elite’?

Answer 11

• the wealthy couldn’t make as much money off their land because those working on it had been sent to war. •Therefore they couldn’t raise rent and afford to keep their country estates

Question 12

How much land were the gentry forced to sell off between 1918-1920 and 2?( was this amount significant?

Answer 12

• a quarter of the land owned in Britain was sold
• the aristocracy had previously owned 98.5% of agricultural land

Question 13

What factors led to the emergence of a ‘new upper class’?

Answer 13

•expanded white colour jobs available - 34% growth in commercial and financial jobs in London between 1911 and 1921

Question 14

What is the National Trust and how did it form the lives of the aristocracy?

Answer 14

• 1937 Country Houses scheme allowed the trust to take ownership of country homes and open them to the public for a certain amount of days per year
• Wealthy families in exchange could live in the estate for two more generations and could avoid paying death duties whilst maintaining their position in society

Question 15

How did the upper class distinguish themselves from the upper middle class?

Answer 15

• took part in the Season, including events like the debutante ball that the middle class couldn’t access
• old etiquette

Question 16

What impact did the wartime inflation have on the middle classes?

Answer 16

• middle class savings and incomes stagnated, whilst working class wages rose, threatening middle class positions

Question 17

How did home ownership distinguish the middle class form the working class?

Answer 17

• 60% of the middle class owned homes compared to 20% of the working class
• the middle class mostly lived in new suburbs such as Metroland, physically separated from the working class in the overpopulated cities

Question 18

How WW1 affect the working classes?

Answer 18

•Wages fell for the poorest in society and many families had to get by on less than £5 a week

Question 19

When was paid holiday introduced and how did this affect the working class?

Answer 19

• 1938 Holidays with Pay Act
• In 1935 only 1.5m out of 18.5m workers had paid holiday whereas in March 1938 7.75m workers took paid holiday

Question 20

How was the class system still present in leisure time?

Answer 20

• the different classes went to different places for example in Newcastle the middle classes went to Tyneside whereas the working class went to Whitby Bay

Question 21

How did WW1 actually boost the middle class?

Answer 21

• 34% growth in commercial and financial jobs in London between 1911 and 1921

• 700 000 to 1.25 million jobs in science and technology between 1931 and 1951
•170 000 to 1.4 m clerking jobs available for women between 1911 and 1951

Question 22

How did the 1938 Holidays with Pay Act impact how many working class people went on holiday?

Answer 22

•In 1935 only 1.5m out of 18.5m workers had paid holiday
•By March 1938 7.75m workers took paid holiday

Question 23

How did the gains post ww1 fail to materialise?

Answer 23

• the state provided a basic safety net for the working class, however many people still lived in slums with poor living conditions
• Housing programmes were introduced in the 1940s - loads of tower blocks were built, but removed people from their local community and were often dangerous to live in

Question 24

Why was there a lack of working class protest about their living standards?

Answer 24

• Trade Union membership fell by 40% during the 1920-22 recession and failed to recover in the aftermath of the General Strike - not representing the working class
• After the war, class barriers lowered and some of the working class began to prosper - had more self assurance

Question 25

What was the impact of WW2 on the working class?

Answer 25

• the war effort restored staple industries like coal, steel, textiles that had declined after WW1 - working class then expected these industries to be maintained post war • working class universally supported Labour post war to represent their interests • working class started standing up to deference • expected a reward through welfare state after the war

Question 26

How did British society become multi racial at the start of the 20th century?

Answer 26

•1945 - whites made up 99.8% of the population • 1979 - whites made up 96% of the population

Question 27

What did the 1920 and 1925 Special Restrictions Act do?

Answer 27

‘coloured seamen’ who did not have proof of British status had to register as ‘aliens’

Question 28

1938-40 Kindertransport Act

Answer 28

brings European Jewish children to Britain – approx. 10,000 children were allowed to settle with British families

Question 29

Why did racial discrimination get worse after WW1?

Answer 29

influx of ‘coloured’ seamen after WW1 - were accused of being accused of stealing demobbed servicemen’s jobs, led to race riots in port cities in 1919

Question 30

How many Jews settled in Britain between 1933 and 1939 and why?

Answer 30

• 300 000 • Trying to escape Nazi persecution

Question 31

What stereotypes about Jews stimulated anti semitism?

Answer 31

• said to take jobs, be capitalist and we’re forcing up rent and unemployment

Question 32

What event fuelled anti semitism in Britain?

Answer 32

• The Battle of Cable Street 1936, where the BUF planned to march through the East End, where large populations of Jews lived •

Question 33

Why did working class people look down on immigrants and people of colour?

Answer 33

finally someone lower than them in the social hierarchy

Question 34

How many racial minorities were invited to work in Britain during WW2?

Answer 34

•1000 West Indians came to work in munitions in Lancashire •Another 10 000 were ground crew with the RAF

Question 35

How did WW2 impact racial tensions/ prejudice?

Answer 35

• White and black American servicemen were stationed in Britain unsegregated, led to lots of race riots and prejudice against black people

Question 36

How many Poles came to live in Britain post WW2 and why?

Answer 36

• 100 000 • recruited as part of the Polish Resettlement Corps • did not feel able to return to Poland as it became communist

Question 37

How many Eastern Europeans came to live in Britain and why? Post ww2

Answer 37

• 85 000 • came as European Voluntary Workers, recruited by the British government as cheap labour was needed

Question 38

What industries were there a shortage of staff in?

Answer 38

NHS, textile firms, London Transport - advertised for these jobs in the Carribean

Question 39

Why were more Caribbean migrants seen after 1948 in big cities?

Answer 39

• able to settle because of the 1948 British Nationality Act • first boat that arrived was the Empire Windrush • in the following years 3000 migrants arrived from the Caribbean

Question 40

Why did Labour not support immigrancy?

Answer 40

• Labour party concerned with protecting jobs and defending the conditions of their members - Demobbed unemployed workers felt that their jobs had been taken by the immigrants : Labour need to represent their needs • Jewish immigrants considered to be capitalist and anti trade unionists - therefore opposed by British Labour

Question 41

Why did Labour support immigrancy?

Answer 41

• attached to values like international brotherhood and political asylum • stereotypes about Jews disproved through direct contact • Fascist parties provided strong anti alien and anti semetic views - Labour didn’t want to be associated with this

Question 42

Why did Labour not support back immigrants at the time?

Answer 42

George Isaac, Minister of Labour claimed it was an ‘entirely different threat’ - people were already reluctant about the Eastern European immigrants, this would be the final straw.

Question 43

What challenges did black people face before 1945?

Answer 43

• limited economic opportunities- refused jobs / housing due to stereotyping, racial prejudice • stereotyping limited the aspirations of black people, confined to jobs like being a musician

Question 44

Who was Walter Tull?

Answer 44

• played for Spurs and Northampton FC, faced racist taunts during games • became the first black officer despite the 1914 Manual of Military law ( colour bar) in 1917 - commanded white people • killed in battle, refused his medal due to his race

Question 45

Who was Paul Robeson?

Answer 45

• famous American musician, also a lawyer but couldn’t get any work due to his race.

Question 46

Who was Learie Constantine?

Answer 46

• famous cricketer from Trinidad and welfare officer in the RAF • refused service in a London hotel, sued and received compensation, turning point against struggles against colour bars in Britain • became a barrister • fought for racial equality in the Bristol Bus Boycott

Question 47

How did the 1945 General Election result affect British attitudes towards class?

Answer 47

• Labour won through the ‘Let’s face the future’ manifesto - all classes wanted reformed welfare available to everyone • Wealth then began to be redistributed through high taxation and death duties

Question 48

What did historian Arthur Marwick argue about the impact of the war on the class system?

Answer 48

the war, especially WW2, led to profound and lasting change

Question 49

How did the collectivism of WW2 affect British attitudes towards class?

Answer 49

• rationing, communal bomb shelters, conscription - everyone treated equally and making universal sacrifices

Question 50

how did WW2 affect British attitudes towards class?

Answer 50

• rationing • blitz spirit • evacuation • decline of deference due to social mobility • 1945 general election result - everyone looked after, redistribution of wealth

Question 51

what was the British New wave?

Answer 51

working class identity established, left wing, decline of deference

Question 52

Did British society become more accepting towards homosexuality in the 60s?

Answer 52

Yes - 1967 Sexual Offences Act, driven by 1957 Wolfeden Committee - change was gradual 1971 first gay pride parade in london No - between 1967 and 1972, number of men arrested for public indecency trebled No - 1963 poll reflected that 93% of respondents believed homosexuals to be ill

Question 53

Did pop culture and entertainment become more liberal in the 60s?

Answer 53

yes - censorship was removed through the Obscene Publications Act in 1959 and Theatres Act 1968 yes - in the 70s david bowie and elton john came out as bisexual, camp behaviour on tv more common yes - 1967 up the junction depicted back street abortions no - people has a very strong reaction to up the junction, society still very religious no - Mary Whitehouses National Association for Viewers and Listeners got 500,000 signatures

Question 54

how had pop culture/ entertainment became more liberal gradually?

Answer 54

• Lady Chatterly’s lover - 1928 was banned for being too explicit • in the 60s the explicit films were just legalised through the 1959 obscene publications act and 1968 theatres act • 1974 - adult film Emmanuelle fourth most popular in the uk • 1972 Dr Alex Comfort’s ‘The Joy of Sex’ was a bestseller

Question 55

when was divorce legalised and was it accepted?i

Answer 55

1969 divorce reform act - couples can divorce due to unreconcilable differences , divorce rates increased from 3/1000 in 1965 to 10/1000 in 1976. - however people were often shunned for divorcing, in the 60s and 70s 95% of women were married by 45 according to Geoffrey Gorer’s ‘Sex and Marriage in England today’ 1971

Question 56

How did the average marriage age for women change between 1945 and 1970

Answer 56

1945 - average marriage age 25 1970 - average marriage age 23 attitudes to marriage weren’t changing

Question 57

how many women were reported to be bored in their role by the late 50s?

Answer 57

60% - had been moved into the suburbs, isolated, wanting more

Question 58

How did advertising in the 50s reflect attitudes towards women at the time?

Answer 58

depicted them in housewife roles, promoting new household goods

Question 59

did women gain more personal freedom in the way that they dressed?

Answer 59

• 20s fashion returned, reflecting women’s more rebellious desires - however it as very sexualised, presenting women as dolls like twiggy.

Question 60

when was the first birth control pill introduced and how did this demonstrate progress for women?

Answer 60

1961 - after the first year over 1 million women were using the pull • however men often used this sexual freedom to their advantage, pressuring women into sex with no consequence

Question 61

when was abortion legalised and did this show society was more liberal

Answer 61

yes - 1967 abortion act, by 1979 112,000 abortions were carried out. No - the Corrie bill later proposed to limit the grounds of abortion no - proposed by a backbench mp David Steel for medical reasons as in 1966 there were 40 deaths and 100,000 injuries from backstreet abortions

Question 62

why was the 1948 nationality act significant

Answer 62

•by 1956, 47,000 immigrants had migrated from the Commonwealth to Britain • people had been encouraged to come due to labour shortages in the nhs, textiles, london transport

Question 63

why were the 1956 race riots in nottingham and notting hill significant?

Answer 63

• reflected intolerant British attitudes towards immigrants • exposed the failure of local councils to integrate society • as a result 4000 Caribbean umma grants migrated back

Question 64

Why was Enoch Powell’s Rivers of Blood Speech 1968 significant in terms of race relations?

Answer 64

•displayed to the British public that it was deemed acceptable to the British public to discriminate against ethnic minorities • Heath sacked Powell immediately after - some people disagree with this racism? • a poll suggested 75% of people supported Powell’s opinions, reflected intolerant views towards immigrants

Question 65

Why was the Race Relations Act 1965 significant?

Answer 65

the first act to start providing immigrants legal representation against discrimination - passed due to event such as the race riots and bristol boycott

Question 66

What did the 1971 immigration act do and why was this significant?

Answer 66

• 12 month work permits introduced, people only allowed to migrate to Britain if they already had a parent/ grandparent in Britain • reflects that British attitudes towards immigrants remained the same, resistant to increased immigration

Question 67

How many Caribbeans volunteered to fight in the war?

Answer 67

16,000

Question 68

Why did racist attitudes in Britain develop especially after WW2?

Answer 68

• racial tensions between black and white GIs in Britain during the war • 1963 Mau Mau rebellion in Africa against British colonialism for Kenyan independence • West Indies beat England in Cricket World Cup in 1975 - ideological shock

Question 69

How did music reflect society becoming more liberal?

Answer 69

• rock and roll of the 50s symbolic of the cult of youth, rebellion against traditional views • 1970s - david bowie popular, camp icon • late 70s - punk, rebellion against government, gave rise to female independence and confidence

Question 70

when was coronation street released and why was this so significant?

Answer 70

• relatable to the working class, especially in the north, and depicted strong female characters like Alice Tanner • TV represented and inclusive of all classes

Question 71

When did The Week That Was air and why was it so popular?

Answer 71

•1962 • satire show that combined current affairs with comedy, attracted 12m viewers per show • reflected that deference was beginning to waver through scandals like the 1963 Profumo Affair, British New Wave

Question 72

what were popular sitcoms in the 60s and 70s that reflected views in Britain ag the time?

Answer 72

• steptoe and son (1962-75) - about a working class father and son, reflected british new wave, 28m viewers • til death do us part (1965-75) reflects racist right wing attitudes

Question 73

What was the role of the mass media in the development of youth culture?

Answer 73

• shaped fashion trends - americanised jeans, hippie in the 60s • pirate radio - rebellious, rock n roll, six-five radio special averaged around 10m viewers • consumer goods were aimed at teenagers with more disposable income

Question 74

How did fashion trends in the 50s and 60s reduce class barriers?

Answer 74

• during/ after war in austerity, people only had one outfit per year, encourage to make do and mend • women’s fashion designed by the likes of Mary Quant from the mid 60s to make it impossible to tell their class - mass produced and similar designs sold in high streets across the country

Question 75

How was there an increase in social mobility post WW2

Answer 75

• death duties, • debutante hall ended by queen elizabeth in 1958 - decline of the elite

Question 76

Role of women 1965

Answer 76

•1 in 3 husbands believed their wife should not work • 6% firmly believed a woman’s place was at home

Question 77

What did Micheal Schofield’s ‘The Sexual behaviour of Young People’ 1965 studies find?

Answer 77

• only 18% of girls and 10% of boys in a sample of 2000 teenagers had had sex with more than 3 people • his survey found that most teenagers were still virgins at 19

Question 78

Findings of a 1965 survey about sex education

Answer 78

• 2/3 of boys and 1/3 of girls had never had any advice on sex

Question 79

When was the death penalty abolished and suicide decriminalised?

Answer 79

• 1965 murder act abolished the death penalty • 1961 suicide act decriminalised suicide in England and wales • however over 60% of British respondents in a poll still supported the death penalty

Question 80

Roy Jenkins motivation behind a liberal reforms

Answer 80

• wanted Britain to be a ‘civilised society’ as opposed to the ‘permissive society’ - declining moral values

Question 81

Women in work post WW1

Answer 81

• by 1918 over 1 million women employed in the metal and chemical industries • yet returned to domestic roles post ww1 - number of women in work returned to 1914 levels (approximately 5.7 million)

Question 82

Women accessing different opportunities post WW1

Answer 82

• by 1918 2.5 million women were ‘in service’ as a maid, cook or cleaner • lack of education for women meant they couldn’t access greater opportunities • clerical work was the biggest growth for female employment in the 1920s with over 1 million employed as typists or clerks by 1921, 1.3 million in 1931

Question 83

Disparity in welfare for women

Answer 83

• unemployment benefit set at a lower rate than men

Question 84

What did the 1919 Sex Disqualification Act do?

Answer 84

• gave women greater opportunities when applying to work in civil service or law (not affecting all sectors however)

Question 85

Lack of progression in the workplace

Answer 85

• 1931 - 84% of the female workplace was single, divorced or widowed • 1965 sociologist Viola Klein found 60% of women did unskilled jobs

Question 86

Impact of 1975 Sex Discrimination CT and Employment Protection Act

Answer 86

• protected women legally in the workplace, however many senior roles continued to be unoccupied by women (glass ceiling) as well as unequal pay, largely from taking time out to have children

Question 87

When was the marriage bar removed and impact?

Answer 87

• From 1946 onwards • as a result by 1972 50% of married women retained their jobs

Question 88

Women in work post ww2

Answer 88

• 1951 1/4 of women worked • 1961 1/3 of women worked • 1971 1/2 of women worked • however, 86% of women in 1951 worked in clerical work, nursing, teaching, factory work, waitressing

Question 89

Impact of 1918 representation of the people act

Answer 89

• 8.5 million women gained the vote, but only one female MP elected: - opposed by Liberals due to treatment of suffragettes - many women just wanted more representation for their role not the vote -l

Question 90

Why did women not advance far in politics 1918-1945

Answer 90

• parties didn’t want to risk safe seats • women swallowed up into national organisations where their voices were drowned out, main political parties not prioritise women’s rights • organisations like the NUSEC lacked expertise and political machinery to launch a ‘Women’s party’, divided over campaigning for equal rights or equal valuation of gender roles

Question 91

Impact of Law of Property Act 1926

Answer 91

• married and single women allowed to hold and dispose of their own property

Question 92

Margaret Bondfield significance in politics

Answer 92

• first female cabinet member, appointed minister of labour 1929-1931 • previously became the first woman to chair the general council of the TUC

Question 93

Who was the first female MP to take her seat?

Answer 93

• Viscountess Nancy Astor 1919-1945, however got this seat through her husband • set up Women’s Power committee to deal with female issues in 1940

Question 94

Lack of female influence in politics 1918–1939?

Answer 94

• never more than 5% of MPs were women • number of female MPs peaked at 15 in 1931 • Women however more influential at a local level, dealing with social issues for education and welfare mostly - however by 1930 less than 15% of elected local councillors were female - hard to balance family life alongside this

Question 95

Women’s role during WW2

Answer 95

• by 1944 80,000 women worked on farms, often far from home, or for the Women’s land army • Over 200,000 women served in the military • more than 6million women had wartime jobs in factories

Question 96

Number of female MPs 1945 to 1974

Answer 96

• 1945 - 24/630 female MPs • 1955 - 24/630 female MPs • 1974 - 23/635 female MPs

Question 97

Significant female figures 1945-1979

Answer 97

• Barbara Castle Labour cabinet member, 1969 In Place of Strife • Margaret Thatcher, Minister of Education under Heath’s government, first female PM in 1979 • both however didn’t campaign for women’s rights

Question 98

When was the first birth control clinic founded?

Answer 98

1921 by Dr Marie Stopes in London on

Question 99

Developments in divorce 1937

Answer 99

•Matrimonial Causes Act proposed by independent MP, allowed for divorce if either partner had been unfaithful • Before this reform, average number of divorce petitions were below 4,800 per year - by 1951 it was 38,000

Question 100

Abortion reform act not having a particularly significant impact

Answer 100

• 1975 Abortion Amendment Act - time limit on abortions reduced to 20 weeks

Question 101

How many abortions took place in 1974?

Answer 101

Around 149,000 - number increasing annually, worried people

Question 102

How many people were using the pill in 1971

Answer 102

1 million

Question 103

Study results on women’s role 1950:

Answer 103

Study found 60% of women felt frustrated and bored in their role

Question 104

Why did women experience increased frustration in their roles 1950:

Answer 104

• increased leisure time gave them more freedom • growth of a consumer society - labour saving devices like washing machines left women more time to focus on their families • improvement in educational opportunities

Question 105

Greater protections in rights of women

Answer 105

• 1973 first Rape Crisis Centre opened • 1974 Women’s Aid Federation began to campaign for protection for women’s rights, led to the 1976 Domesgic Violence and Matrimonial Proceedings Act

Question 106

How many immigrants from the Commonwealth arrived in the first six months of 1962?

Answer 106

94,600 through fear of British closing its doors

Question 107

1971 immigration act

Answer 107

• introduced 12 month work permits • introduced grandfather clause - immigrants could only emigrate if they had a British born or naturalised parent/grandparent

Question 108

What inspired 1965 race relations act

Answer 108

• 1958 Nottingham and Notting Hill race riots - Teddy Boys targeting people of colour Bristol bus boycott 1955 •

Question 109

How many Jews were there in England by 1939

Answer 109

300,000

Question 110

Decline of the elite post ww1

Answer 110

• 19% of all peers and their sons died, 20.7% of Old Etonians died • estates worth over £2 million had to pay 40% tax (death duties) • taxes on incomes over £2500 rose from 2% in 1914 to 57% in 1925, increased again in 1929, 1946 and 1949 to fund the wars