The 1945 Election Flashcards
Who was leading prior to the election?
- Labour led the polls due to promise of social reform
- The Beveridge Report 1942 sold 600,000 copies.
What are 3 contributing factors to the election outcome?
- Conservative Weakness
- Leadership
- Labour Strength
What were Labour’s Strengths?
- Focused on Social reform
- Labour Propaganda
- Leftward shift in the population
- Support for Beveridge report
- Attlee worked on social reforms under Churchill
What are problems with Churchill’s leadership?
- He was 70 years old by 1945
- Still perceived as a warmonger after German bombing.
- Gestapo Speech
- Focused on international rather than domestic policy
- seen as out of touch
What were strengths with Attlee’s leadership?
- Calm during the Gestapo Speech
- Seen as a ‘working man’ - in touch
- worked on the War Cabinet during WW2
- Supported the Beveridge Report and implemented many reforms.
What were Conservative weaknesses?
- Less focused on social reform. Divided (Tory Reform Group)
- Too much focus on the war effort - people wanted social change.
- Too closely associated with appeasement.
- Only spent £3000 on campaigning. Believed Churchill winning WW2 would win the election.
What was the Gestapo Speech?
- shocked the nation as Churchill compared Attlee and the Labour party to the Gestapo.
- Exposed his focus on the War
- Attlee won sympathy for this as he remained calm.
What was Labour propaganda and how did this help to win the election?
Churchill’s weakness in peacetime policy was good for Labour to capitalise on.
What was the Beveridge report?
A report that highlighted the key areas for social reform in Britain.
Churchill ignored this whereas Attlee incorporated it into his policy.
What was the Leftward Shift in the public?
Attlee gained a better reputation in WW2 and the people began to listen to him.
More middle/upper class people were experiencing working class problems due to the Blitz, etc.
