T1 02-11 UK starter Flashcards
What is the name of the voting system used in the UK?
First Past the Post (FPTP)
Describe what a trade union is?
- An organisation made up of workers from a certain industry or business
- They fight for workers’ rights and pay
Explain the term coalition government?
If no party wins a majority, the biggest party may team up with another party
Explain why it is important for governments to have strong majorities in parliament?
It is difficult to get laws passed without a majority
What three major political parties existed at the start of the 20th century in Britain?
The Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal party.
What three political parties existed at the start of the 20th century in Britain?
The Liberals, Conservatives and Labour
What happened to the Liberal Party in 1916?
The Liberal Party split between supporters of Asquith and David Lloyd George
Describe how Britain was governed from 1916-1922?
A coalition government of Liberals and Conservatives led by David Lloyd George
Who was the leader of the Conservative Party for the majority of the interwar period?
Stanley Baldwin
Why did the 1911 Wages for MP Act help the Labour Party?
It gave them the ability to send working-class MPs to parliament
What kind of government did Labour have in 1924 and 1929-31?
Minority governments: dependent on Liberal support
Why did the Liberal Party decline in the interwar years?
- Splits in 1916 between Asquithites and Georgites
- DLG mistakes: Geddes Axe, Cash For Honours, Chanak Crisis
- RISE OF LABOUR!
Explain why the Conservatives could be seen as ‘competent’ across this period?
- Adapted well to new electorate post-ROPA
- No class war rhetoric vs Labour
- Baldwin’s reputation for economic competence
Explain how the voting system benefitted the Tories?
- Plural voting favoured the Tories
- They won over many new voters in 1918 with ROPA
What struggles prevented Labour from dominating interwar politics?
Minority governments made it difficult to pass legislation/have strong government
Suspicion of communist sympathies: Campbell affair, Zinoviev Letter
World events: Great Depression
What was the legacy of WW1?
Loss of export markets
750,000 deaths
£3.25 billion debt
What two things did people invest their money in after WW1?
Shares in industries
Luxury Goods
What was the impact of the recession 1920-21?
Unemployment rose to 12%
North-South Gap increased
Retrenchment measures introduced (Geddes Axe)
What was the impact of going back on the Gold Standard?
Pound overvalued by 10%
Exports became uncompetitive
Traditional industries hit hard
Interest rates rose
What was the impact of the Great Depression on Britain?
Unemployment rose to 2.5m
British exports reduced by 50%
Economy shrunk by 5% in 1931
Describe the term industrial relations?
Relations between industries and government
Explain what the term ‘Two Englands’ means?
The divide between traditional industry in the North and newer, light industries in the South
Describe how strike action changed after WW1?
During the war, DLG negotiated to keep it low.
It increased after WW1: 84m days lost to strikes in 1921
What was ‘Red Clydeside’?
A protest of 90,000 workers in Glasgow in response to working hours being cut. Tanks and soldiers were brought in to stop the protest.
What was the Triple Alliance?
An alliance of the Transport, Mining and Railway Unions, who striked in solidarity.
What were the consequences of the General Strike 1926?
Miners’ pay was slashed
The Trade Disputes Act 1927 weakened all union activity
What was the General Strike 1926?
When the Triple Alliance went on strike in protest of miners’ grievances (issues). It lasted 9 days in June before being put down.
What happened to the mines in 1921?
They were returned to private owners
Why was the coal industry going into decline after WW1?
Recession
Traditional industries were becoming uncompetitive
Coal pits overmined during WW1
Oil now available as fuel on ships
More countries mined coal themselves
What key event in 1925 caused the coal industry to suffer?
The return to the Gold Standard
Exports became overpriced and uncompetitive and interest rates rose, making borrowing hard.
What did the Samuel Commission recommend in May 1926?
The government should end the subsidy to miners
They should also cut wages by 13.5%
What were the key consequences of the General Strike 1926?
Trade Disputes Act 1927
Conservative Party strengthened
Mining Industry faced pay cuts
What were the key causes of the General Strike 1926?
Government actions
Economic Challenges - Declining traditional industries, return to Gold Standard
Removal of Support Measures - Private Ownership, Samuel Commission
What three political parties existed at the start of the 20th century in Britain?
The Liberals, Conservatives and Labour
What happened to the Liberal Party in 1916?
The Liberal Party split between supporters of Asquith and David Lloyd George
Why did the Liberal Party decline in the interwar years
Splits in 1916 between Asquithites and Georgites
DLG mistakes: Geddes Axe, Cash For Honours, Chanak Crisis
RISE OF LABOUR!
Explain why the Conservatives could be seen as ‘competent’ across this period?
- Adapted well to new electorate post-ROPA
- No class war rhetoric vs Labour
- Baldwin’s reputation for economic competence
- Handling of General Strike 1926
What struggles prevented Labour from dominating interwar politics?
- Minority governments made it difficult to pass legislation/have strong government
- Suspicion of communist sympathies: Campbell affair, Zinoviev Letter
- World events: Great Depression
Describe Labour’s election victory in 1929
Labour was elected with a minority government, which required the aid of 59 Liberals.
Conservatives won largest vote share.
What issue was Labour divided over in 1931?
Cutting unemployment aid by 10% to increase government funds
Who were the four Prime Ministers who led the National Government?
Ramsay Macdonald (1931-35), Stanley Baldwin (1935-37), Neville Chamberlain (1937-40), Winston Churchill (1940-45)
How did the National Government deal with the issue of extremism?
Passed the Public Order Act 1936, banning inflammatory political meetings and military-style uniforms
What happened to the Labour Party during the 1930s?
They reorganised under Clement Attlee and became the official opposition party. They gained 154 seats at the 1935 General Election
How did rearmament aid the country?
Eased economic difficulties → increased production and caused unemployment to fall
Describe Labour’s election victory in 1929
Labour was elected with a minority government, which required the aid of 59 Liberals.
What was the National Government?
The government formed after 1931,which included all the major political parties of Britain (Liberal, Labour, Conservative). Formed often during a crisis.
Who were the four Prime Ministers who led the National Government?
Ramsay Macdonald (1931-35), Stanley Baldwin (1935-37), Neville Chamberlain (1937-40), Winston Churchill (1940-45)
How did the National Government deal with the issue of domestic (homefront) extremism?
Passed the Public Order Act 1936, banning inflammatory political meetings and military-style uniforms
What happened to the Labour Party during the 1930s after the national government was formed?
They reorganised under Clement Attlee and became the official opposition party. They gained 154 seats at the 1935 General Election
How did rearmament aid the country?
Eased economic difficulties → increased production and caused unemployment to fall
How did the 1932 Import Duties Act benefit the British economy?
A 10% tariff on imports increased the competitiveness of British products
What were the limitations of imperial preference?
Countries in the Empire traded with those outside it
What were the negative consequences of the Unemployment Act 1934?
‘Means Test’ made unemployment benefits more selective → the poor became poorer and wealth gap opened up
How did coming off the Gold Standard in 1931 benefit Britain?
Increased the competitiveness of British products and allowed the reduction of interest rates → encouraged people to borrow and spend money
Describe the recovery that occurred by the late 1930s
Growth averaged 4% a year 1934-37
Unemployment fell to 8.5% by 1937
However, recovery was regional and on class lines
What was the Jarrow Crusade?
200 workers from Jarrow marched to London protesting over the closure of Palmer’s Shipyard → their main employer
Describe Labour’s election victory in 1929
Labour was elected with a minority government, which required the aid of 59 Liberals.
Conservatives won largest vote share.
What issue was Labour divided over in 1931?
Cutting unemployment aid by 10% to increase government funds
Who were the four Prime Ministers who led the National Government?
Ramsay Macdonald (1931-35), Stanley Baldwin (1935-37), Neville Chamberlain (1937-40), Winston Churchill (1940-45)
How did the National Government deal with the issue of extremism?
Passed the Public Order Act 1936, banning inflammatory political meetings and military-style uniforms
What happened to the Labour Party during the 1930s? Who had reorganised the party?
They reorganised under Clement Attlee and became the official opposition party. They gained 154 seats at the 1935 General Election
How did rearmament aid the country?
Eased economic difficulties → increased production and caused unemployment to fall
List the five Prime Ministers of the UK between 1931-51
Ramsay Macdonald (1931-35)
Stanley Baldwin (1935-37)
Neville Chamberlain (1937-40)
Winston Churchill (1940-45)
Clement Attlee (1945-51)
What were the three key reasons why Labour won the 1945 election?
Britain’s Wartime Experience
Conservative Weakness and Mistakes
The attractiveness of Labour
What was the nature of Labour’s election victory 1945?
A landslide majority - 146 seats
What changes did Labour introduce in office in 1945?
A welfare state: commitment to full employment, the NHS, more welfare measures
What is the post-war consensus?
The broad agreement between the main political parties after WW2 about policy
Why did Labour lose the 1951 election?
Conservatives adopted same policies
Rationing and prescription charges
Loss of key Labour politicians
Explain the term managed economy?
An economy which is heavily regulated and planned by the government = lots of state intervention.
Give an example of how the country transitioned to a managed economy during WWII?
Government ministries → aircraft production, food
Increased military expenditure and production
Give two examples of how Labour’s economic record could be seen as successful from 1945-51?
Achieved full employment through nationalisation
Economy grew 4% a year from 1948
Exports grew by 80%
Give two examples of how Labour’s economic record could be seen as unsuccessful from 1945-51?
Forced to devalue the pound in 1949
Austerity Britain - ongoing rationing and shortages
Underinvestment in industries stored up problems
List two industries nationalised by the Labour Party
Bank of England, Steel, Gas, Coal, Transport (Railways, Road Transport, Civil Aviation), Electricity
Which party governs for 13 years from 1951-64?
The Conservative Party
What does Harold Macmillan say about the public’s experience of the 1950s?
‘Most of our people have never had it so good’
What is Stop-GO economics?
When the BOP deficit gets too big, the government slams on the brakes by introducing controls such as high interest rates and spending cuts.
When the economy slows, they remove the controls
What are the negative consequences of Stop-Go Economics?
Stores up inflationary pressure
3 Conservative Treasury ministers resign in 1959
Which party and Prime Minister was in office 1964-70?
Labour under Harold Wilson
What is corporatism?
Managing and planning the economy by forming close relations between the government, employers and the trade unions
What is the IRC?
The Industrial Reorganisation Corporation
They encouraged efficient practices and mergers
What was Labour forced to do in 1976 to deal with growing inflation and deficits?
Request a loan of just under £4 billion from the IMF
→ had to agree to spending cuts of £3 billion
