THE 60'S, 1964-70 FACTS TEST - NOT MOCK Flashcards
what was the result of the 1964 election in seats?
304 conservative and 317 labour.
why did wilson call another election for 1966 after having on in 1964?
to consolidate his position and get a bigger majority.
what was the result of the 1966 election in both seats and % of votes?
253 conservative, 363 labour.
41% conservative, 48% labour.
give 3 ways in which he was very different to Macmillan.
- state school educated.
- pipe smoking.
- Yorkshire accent.
who did wilson appoint as the chancellor of the exchequer?
Jim Callaghan.
how big a deficit had labour inherited in 1964?
£800 million.
why did wilson dislike the idea of devaluing the pound as a solution to economic problems?
- feared labour would always be associated with doing this as Atlee had done in 1949.
- could make Britain look weaker in the world.
why was devaluing the pound actually a good idea economically?
it would make imports more expensive and British goods cheaper abroad, so would help reduce deficit.
Which Trade Unionist did Wilson appoint to the new Department of Economic Affairs?
George Brown
Why could devaluing the pound not be avoided by November 1967? (4 reasons)
- bitter strikes in 1966-7.
- had just survived sterling crisis.
- Middle East war 1967 affected oil supplies.
- pound had already dropped 14%to £2.40.
Who replaced Callaghan at the Treasury and how did he ease the economic crisis?
Roy Jenkins - Using deflationary measures – raising taxes and tightening up government spending
Who was Wilson’s Employment Minister from 1967?
Barbara Castle
Why was the 1969 document “In Place of Strife” so controversial?
Castle was an ardent supporter of the unions but she knew they needed to be forced to act responsibly to ensure the economy remained stable. It included rules unions hated such as a 28 day cooling off period before strikes went ahead and strike ballots could be imposed.
Why was Wilson suspicious of Jenkins?
He’d been a Gaitskellite and he wasn’t in favour of many of his liberalising reforms. He thought Jenkins’ plotted against him in 1966 in support of devaluation.
What complaints were made about the treatment of Catholics in NI by the late 1960s?
- Discrimination in employment and housing.
- Discrimination by RUC police force.
- Electoral boundaries deliberately drawn to exclude Catholics from being elected.
Why did Wilson send British troops in to NI in 1969?
Catholics complained the RUC weren’t protecting them during civil rights marches and there had been 2 days rioting in the Bogside in Derry.
What element of the post-war consensus was crumbling by 1970?
The belief that the unions should have influence. Conservatives now felt their needed to be reform of TU to ensure the economy could recover.
What name is given to a consistency that isn’t a safe seat?
marginal seat.
What was the result of the 1970 election?
labour 287 seats and 43% share.
conservative 330 seats and 46% share.
How did Roy Jenkins facilitate the passing of Private Members Bills in the 1960s?
he was sympathetic to their proposals so gave enough parliamentary time for the reforms to be passed.
How did the 1955 Ruth Ellis case spur on the abolition of the death penalty?
she was a young mother and her lover had been abusive and unfaithful - last hung women in UK.
Name and date 5 pieces of reforming legislation of this era?
- 1969 abolition of death penalty.
- 1969 divorce reform act.
- 1967 sexual offences act.
- 1967 family planning act.
- 1970 equal pay act.
1969 Abolition of Death penalty
1969 Divorce Reform Act
What did Tony Crosland propose in Circular 10/65 in 1965?
all LEA’s should convert from the tripartite system to comprehensive schools.
