the affluent society 1951-1964

Question 1

L5 - Winston Churchill facts

Answer 1

Promoted one nation conservatives to important positions
Focused on international affairs such as Cold War
Didn’t support decolonisation
Had able ministers in cabinet

Question 2

Who were some one nation conservatives in Churchill’s cabinet?

Answer 2

Florence Horsburgh - minister for education
Anthony Eden - foreign secretary
Rab Butler - chancellor of exchequer

Question 3

When did Churchill resign?

Answer 3

1955 due to failing health
Continued as a MP until 1964
Replaced by Anthony Eden

Question 4

Anthony Eden facts

Answer 4

Expert on foreign policy
Had opposed appeasement in 1930s so is trusted by public
Regularly deputised for Churchill
Limited experience on domestic policy
Wanted to keep influence over foreign policy and foreign secretary
Indecisive

Question 5

Who were some one nation conservatives in Edens cabinet?

Answer 5

Harold MacMillan - foreign secretary until dec 1955, replaced Eden. Because chancellor of Exchequer
Selwyn Lloyd - replaced macmillan as foreign secretary, considered unsuited to the post
Rab Butler - chancellor of exchequer until Dec 1955, became deputy PM

Tension between macmillan and butler

Question 6

What were the May 1955 election results?

Answer 6

Previous was in 1951. Snap election so Eden could be elected by public and not just merely a replacement of Churchill. Won 345 seats, 60 majority.

Question 7

Why did Conservatives win the election?

Answer 7

End of rationing promised
Promised to build 500000 houses a year
Promised tax cuts
Labour divisions
1952 coronation, high morale, conservatives close to queen

Question 8

What was the Suez crisis 1956?

Answer 8

October - November. Suez Canal had been under British control since 1937, shortcut to reach British colonies but Nasser nationalised the canal in July 1956. Eden took Britain into Egypt to recover the canal.

Question 9

Why was the Suez Canal important to Britain?

Answer 9

Cut off 5000 miles from Britain to Asia
80% of ships using it were British
Egypt became a republic in 1953 under Nasser. Egypt was in the British empire until 1922 but troop were still there.
Britain agree to remove troops by canal by June 1956

Question 10

Causes of Suez crisis

Answer 10

Gaza raid 1955 made nasser determined to strength Egypt’s army. US wouldn’t help so they made a deal with Communist Czechoslovakia
Britain and USA we’re funding the Aswan Dam but they pulled out
26 July 1956 - canal nationalised

Question 11

What happened during the Suez Crisis?

Answer 11

Britain and France made a plan in secret to invade. Isreal on 29 Oct would land in Sinai and Britain and France would issue an ultimatum of to stop fighting or they’d interfere.
Israel accept and Nasser refuses

31 Oct, Britain and France invaded
5th Nov, British troops land at canal and are in control by 6th

600 Egyptians died soldiers, 1000 civilians died

Question 12

Consequences of Suez Crisis

Answer 12

US and USSR condemned invasion, Britain and France are now 2nd rank powers
Britain economy crashed, USA blocked IMF loans unless they would cease fire, so is humiliating so Britain abort the mission.

Question 13

When did Eden resign?

Answer 13

9th January 1957 due to ill health but his standing at home and abroad had been shattered due to Suez so he couldn’t have carried on.
Harold MacMillan took over.

Question 14

Were the public anti-Suez?

Answer 14

Majority of the people supported Eden. Left wing newspapers lost readers like the Observer and the Guardian. Left wing politicians condemned. Public weren’t bothered by it or supporter. Polls on 11 November and 2 December 1956 said over 50% in favour of Eden. Some people liked it because it felt patriotic and Britain had a place in the world again.

Question 15

L6 - what were some things MacMillan did in his leadership?

Answer 15

Night of the long knives 1962 - cabinet reshuffle
Living standards of trade unionists increased
Foreign policy, repaired relations with America, speeded decolonisation process, accepted Britain’s future was in Europe
Domestic policy, concerned with unemployment, neither capitalist nor socialist society, 300,000 houses a year, improved trade
One nation conservative
Period of affluence
Skilled in media
Appointed Butler as Home Secretary

Question 16

What were the October 1959 election results?

Answer 16

Snap election 1 year before. Won 365 conservative, 100 majority.

Question 17

Why did conservatives win election?

Answer 17

You’ve never had it so good…
Posters with happy family, dad works and comes home to his family not late. Family sits for a meal, no rations, Labour had rationing. Tv in house

Clean air act 1957, prevent smog of early 1950s
Homicide act 1957, restricted when death penalty would be imposed
Wolfenden commission, recommended that homosexual behaviour shouldn’t be a criminal act

Presents conservatives as a new, modern party who were in touch with the electorate

Question 18

MacMillan and affluence

Answer 18

Macmillan’s premiership has often been described as having a feeling of affluence (having a great deal of money or wealth). People who lived through rationing now had a post war boom.

Question 19

What was the postwar boom?

Answer 19

Productivity increase (efficiency)
|
Increased investment
|
Higher employment
|
High wages
|
Higher demand and consumption
|
Growth in business confidence
|
Increased investment

Question 20

What was the average of unemployment in 1950s?

Answer 20

2% significant because the were sticking to the post war consensus which is appealing.

Question 21

What problems could high wages and demand create?

Answer 21

High wages: people have lots of money to spend so business increase prices. INFLATION
High demand: Britain might have to import more goods. BALANCE OF PAYMENTS

Question 22

What is Stop Go economy?

Answer 22

Method of correcting the economy when inflation rose and balance of payments entered a deficit. It could also be used to manipulate the economy into an effluent period when there was an elections approaching, called Budget politics (using budget to gain politically, socialist idea, affluence gives votes)

Question 23

What are the steps of the stop go economic cycle?

Answer 23

1. Government action: low interest, cut tax, rising wages. Affluence
   2: impact: affluence- rising consumer spending, full employment, high demand, high wages. Problem- inflation, BOP
   3: government action: high interest, increased tax, wage freezes, less money to spend, reduces demand
   4: impact: reduced consumer spending, low demand, unemployment (business not making money), output decreases, deflation, BOP corrects

Question 24

Examples of budget politics

Answer 24

In 1951, BOP deficit of 700mil. Butler applied a STOP, and by the end of 1952, there was a BOP surplus £300mil.
1953-4, Butler applied GO.
1955, full employment, rising wages, demand. STOP phase after election, interest raised.
In 1957, GO phase

Question 25

Never had it so good examples

Answer 25

Between 1951 and 1963, wages rose by 72%
Car ownership rise from 3 million to over 7million
Ownership of TV from 340,000 to 13 million
M1 built in 1959
Working week reduced from 48 to 42 hours
Housing boom
6000 schools built

Question 26

Conservative Party divisions

Answer 26

Chancellor of exchequer had 4 people in MacMillan’s 7 years. Tension between him and them.

Question 27

Chancellor Peter Thorneycroft’s ideas

Answer 27

Wanted to end stop go
Wanted to limit wage increases and reduce public spending
To assist issue of inflation and BOP
MacMillan refused and Thorneycroft resigned in 1957

MacMillan was more interested in public opinion

Question 28

When did Britain apply to join EEC?

Answer 28

1961, no response until 1963. Britains growth was behind that of other countries like West Germany. EEC would have free trade, no tax on imports

Question 29

What was the NEDC?

Answer 29

National economic development council
Neddy
1961
Set up to plan the economy with 3 groups: trade union, government, business managers
Attempt to address economic decline and establish a long term economic plan

Question 30

What was the NIC?

Answer 30

National incomes commission
Nicky
Manage wages and prices
Attempt to address inflation
Not very successful because people threatened to strike if not given wage rises and the government gave in

Question 31

What is the beeching report?

Answer 31

Summer 1963
Attempt to cut public expenditure
Closed 30% of Britain’s rail network
Public outages
Rural areas became more isolated

Question 32

Who was the new PM?

Answer 32

MacMillan resigned in October 1963 because of illness and scandals. Alec Douglas Home. Never elected, seen as part of the establishment and out of touch. He was PM For 2 weeks without being in House of Lords or commons. No vote called for him in the Conservative Party.

Question 33

What were some economic policies under Home?

Answer 33

Reginald Maudling was CofE. Lowered interest rates and taxes. Worsened worker productivity so needed to import more goods= BOP deficit of £800mil by 1964.

Question 34

What were the October 1964 election results?

Answer 34

Not a snap election. Labour won by 4 majority, 317 seats.

Question 35

L7 - what is Macmillan’s legacy?

Answer 35

Residing over an age of affluence and rising standard of living
His refusal to abandon the policy of working towards full employment
Commitment to the mixed economy
Building the Property Owning Democracy
Humanising the Conservative Party
Committing to decolonisation
Failure to stem the economic decline

Question 36

Labour Party and Attlee as leader

Answer 36

Attlee stayed as leader until 1955, and the party was still split. Bevan called for him to withdraw in 1954, others wanted a younger man in lead

Question 37

Who was Hugh Gaitskell?

Answer 37

Labour politicians, right wing of party. Disagreed with Bevan, took over in 1955 after Attlee, died in 1963. Gaitskellites VS Bevanites (left)

Question 38

What did the left of Labour want?

Answer 38

Believed that enhancing the welfare state by Attlee was only the beginning, the party should commit more greatly to nationalisation and the direction of the economy and society. Want large trade unions to have more influence in policy.

Question 39

Labour Party opinions on Suez crisis

Answer 39

Left - Germans thought the same about Hitler. Behaving in same way as Nazis, no success in invading
Right - aggressive, a UN police force should have intervened, canal is blocked by what Britain did, unlawful

Their attack on the conservatives didn’t work because most people weren’t against Suez, a minority would have supported Labour

Question 40

What is unilateralism?

Answer 40

Many of the Labour left were unilateralists, so wanted to get rid of nuclear weapons before other countries to encourage them to aswell. Patriotic reasons- resources were diverted from the needy, and ideological reasons- didn’t want USSR to fall far behind west in arms race

Bevan did NOT support even though he was left

Question 41

What is the CND?

Answer 41

Campaign for nuclear disarmament. Attracted anti-American and pro-soviet people.

Question 42

Who is Frank Cousins?

Answer 42

Leader of Transport and General Workers Union in 1956 and led large trade unions who also called for unilateralism. Led the unions into taking more left wing positions.

Question 43

Why did Labour lose the 1959 election?

Answer 43

Argument over clause 4
Rule book for the party, written in 1919, committees Labour to full nationalisation of industry. At the conference, Gaitskell suggested removing Clause 4, thought it was too left wing (isolated business owners from Labour). Got heavy fire from the left, so he backed down.

Conservative policies - affluence campaign, cut taxes, Go stage

Question 44

How did Labour divisions worsen?

Answer 44

1960 Labour Party Conference. Bevan died of cancer in April. Labour left argued that Gaitskell betrayed the party’s principles by trying to remove Clause 4, and not committing to unilateralism. Cousins attacked Gaitskell for this at the conference.

Question 45

What was the CDS?

Answer 45

On the right of the party, some Gaitskellites had formed a group called the CDS, campaign for democratic socialism, (a pressure group) who argued the way the left used TUs to pressure their extremist minority views in the majority was un democratic.

Question 46

What issues compounded the Labour divisions?

Answer 46

Labours cloth cap image
Party of working classes only, not nation as a whole

Stance over the EEC
Conservatives realised they need to join EEC in late 1950s, applied in 1961. In 1962, Gaitskell declared Labour was against joining= party doesn’t look forward thinking

Question 47

L8 - which countries became independent in 1926?

Answer 47

Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the old commonwealth countries. They had large white populations of European descent. Lived under governments and considered capable of running their own countries. Racist views held at the time meant that other British colonies with non white peoples weren’t granted independence even when they asked. After WW2, the struggling economy and political system meant it was difficult to maintain the empire

Question 48

How did Britain manage the transition from colonies to independent countries?

Answer 48

As the empire began to fall, it was replaced by the Commonwealth, countries can choose to join or leave. Began in 1931. They did it to continue British influence so they would continue to cooperate with Britain. It is a third force, separate from the US and USSR. And if Britain completely withdrew from the former colonies, there could be instability and susceptibility to USSR influence.

Question 49

What was the transition from colony to member of commonwealth like?

Answer 49

British decided they would oppress independence movements until they judged that countries were ready for independence. Difficult to do, very slow process

Question 50

What was the context of Mau Mau rebellion 1952-1960?

Answer 50

People from Britain and Europe migrated in Kenya to settle in farming areas, which caused problems as they pushed out the Kikuyu tribe who were there for hundreds of years. From 1920, the British government introduced laws to protect the settlers

Question 51

What was the Mau Mau Rebellion?

Answer 51

A secret group, Mau Mau, attacked and killed anyone loyal to British government. Targeted Kenyans of white European descent and white settlers but also Black Kenyan if they were suspected of supporting the government. In 1952, British government declared a state of emergency. Extreme force and violence was used against Kenyans even some without ties to Mau Mau, many were tortured on false charges. Some died when tortured, some survived and were refused a fair trial. 32 white settlers were killed, 2,000 black Africans by May Mau. 11,000 Kenyans killed by British. Around 160.000 Kenyans arrested. By the 1960s, the rebellion ended, British government met with Kenyan representatives to negotiate independence, and 33 seats were reserved for black Kenyans, 20 other. 12 December 1963, declared independent.

Question 52

What was Macmillan’s wind of change speed?

Answer 52

1960. Turning point in foreign policy towards its empire. Speech in South Africa. First sign that the British government accepted the empire was over and sped up African independence. Called for decolonisation and recognised independence movements. Britain wants to steer uncommitted countries away from communism.

Question 53

L9 - what is intergovernmental authority?

Answer 53

Countries work together and can vote on issues. Individual countries maintain some level of sovereignty (independence)

Question 54

What is supranational authority?

Answer 54

An authority that goes beyond national boundaries and makes decisions on behalf of the member countries

Question 55

What is stage 1 of European integration?

Answer 55

May 1950 - Schuman Plan proposed the creation of the ECSC. April 1951 - the European nations pooled their most productive resources, coal and steel, into ECSC. Britain declined involvement. Attlee did not want to lose sovereignty, neither did Conservative Party.

Question 56

What is stage 2 of European integrity?

Answer 56

1957 treaty of Rome, created European economic community EEC. Inner six France West Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, luxembourg. Key terms: establishment of a common market, protectionist policy to abolish custom duties between member states, adoption of a common agricultural policy 1962.

Question 57

What is the Common Agricultursl policy 1962?

Answer 57

To provide income support to farmers by ensuring artificially high prices for their products regardless of demand. Supranational idea. This mean food products were higher in member states than elsewhere. This encouraged farmers to produce more since they could sell to government. But it gave farmers a guaranteed buyer so they would produce as much as possible. Established common tariff on agricultural imports from non member countries. Britain dislike, they’d have to cut commonwealth trade.

Question 58

What is the political character of the EEC?

Answer 58

Dominated by west Germany and France, which helps them to have peace since Germany invaded France before. Smaller 4 nations gain resources.

Question 59

What is stage 3 of European Integration?

Answer 59

January 1960, treaty of EFTA signed with the outer 7. Allowed member countries to make free trade agreements with non EFTA countries so Britain could continue to trade with Commonwealth.

Question 60

Differences between EEC and EFTA

Answer 60

EEC is political, efta isn’t
EEC is supranational efta is intergovernmental
EEC can’t trade with anyone else efta can
EEC has common agricultural policy and efta doesn’t, they have preferential market access to goods instead so not charged for agricultural trade abroad
EEC had disadvantage for the economy and EFTA could grow easier

Question 61

Why did Britain change its mind and want to be in EEC?

Answer 61

The economy was stunted. Share of world trade fell from 29% in 1948 to 13.7% in 1964. Between 1953 and 1961, production rose only by 30%, Frances was 75%. Britain was trading more with West Europe than commonwealth. EFTA failed to compete with EEC or benefit Britain.

MacMillan was pro European, need to enter EEC, days as a great power over. Decision marked an evolution in British attitudes to Europe.

Suez was a shock to British policy makers, not an independent world power anymore, EEC could boost power and influence in world.

Kennedy thought Britain should join EEC, worried De Gaulle would lead Europe away from NATO and wanted Europe to keep looking towards America.

Question 62

What is stage 4 of European integration?

Answer 62

1961, Britain applied to EEC. 1963, rejected by De Gaulle. He didn’t know if they could trust Britain enough as they’re too committed to commonwealth.

Question 63

Why couldn’t Britain join EEC in 1963?

Answer 63

French determination to keep Britain out. De Gaulle saw EEC as a third force between 2 superpowers, didn’t want American influence by Britain joining.
France was humiliated in 1940 and wanted to reassert itself.
He wanted eec to be independent from American influence.
He saw britains economic weaknesses and the links to commonwealth would drain resources

Question 64

Consequences of rejection

Answer 64

Balance of payments deficit. Britain are humiliated. Britain is no longer. A global power. Isolated from Europe.

Question 65

L10 - what is Britain’s position in the world and where do they want to be?

Answer 65

In a current position of power globally, want a good relationship with USA, slowly losing power, want to maintain association between UK USA and west Europe, and strengthen commonwealth, and influence capitalism onto Asia and Africa

Question 66

Special relationship positive examples

Answer 66

War loans: $3.75 billion dollars to UK to repay
Marshall aid: Britain got largest amount
CMC: Kennedy kept MacMillan informed during this
MAD: US will share nuclear technology with Britain
Polaris: Britain was dependent on Polaris after Britain’s rocket was abandoned
EEC: Britain wants to be a mediator between Europe and US

Question 67

Special relationship united by capitalism

Answer 67

Korean War: US and Britain sent most troops against communist north
West Berlin: united in a country against communism, Cold War brings them close
Berlin Airlift: blockade meant Berlin lacked supplies. France, uk, USA drop supplies into the West Berlin for months, united again
NATO: Britain is a founding member, 1949 allies alliance, offers protection, Britain has to spend 2% of budget on military to join

Question 68

Special relationship negative examples

Answer 68

Suez: USA opposed the invasion, Britain was not strong enough to stand up to America and was in a financial crisis, has to pull out. Economy depends on USA
Burgess and Maclean affair: highly placed officers in British intelligence defected to ussr in 1951. They leaked vital secrets to Moscow, worries USA, and makes them less willing to share secrets with Britain.

Question 69

L11 - what were causes of social change?

Answer 69

Better health and life expectancy
Age of affluence
Inward migration from Ireland and new commonwealth
Outward migration to old commonwealth and America
Differences in town and country life, community in villages
Car ownership changed towns
Motorways, m1 1959
Holidays
Housing and towns
30% of rail network closed by Beeching

Question 70

What was the class system like?

Answer 70

Makes people look up to those above them and forces people into corners of society against each other. Rigid class structure

Question 71

What is class?

Answer 71

Broad groups who experience common social and economic change
Upper- aristocracy, born into
Middle- professionals and skilled trades
Working - manual labour
Class distinctions were clear

Question 72

What is the establishment?

Answer 72

Same backgrounds, upper classes, same heritage and social circle, same schools, dominated all sectors of society, couldn’t be penetrated, dominated politics in 1951. Schools like Oxford and Cambridge

Question 73

How did the Profumo affair challenge the establishment?

Answer 73

Profumo lied to House of Commons by denying a relationship with Christine Keeler. She was ready to expose him and he was left embarrassed. He was the secretary of war and Christine was also in an affair with a Russian spy, so this was a security risk. Profumo affair showed the establishment aren’t untouchable and they lie all the time, the public lost trust in them

Question 74

How did burgess and Maclean affair challenge the establishment?

Answer 74

No one suspected them because they worked hard and because they were both upper class. Hired easily due to their status, people trust the upper class too much and so the public won’t trust them anymore

Question 75

How did satire boom challenge the establishment?

Answer 75

Private eye magazine 1961- today. Started by Oxford students, PMs and political figures were targets of satire, mocked them.
That was the week that was BBC 1962-63. Sketches of taboo topics of politics, religion, royalty, sex, macmillan was criticised on here and they were criticised for the level of mockery. Weekly audience of 12 million

Question 76

How did CND challenge the establishment?

Answer 76

Campaign for nuclear disarmament began in 1958 and grew quickly as a social movement. Encouraged to challenge authority and demonstrated how people were less likely to follow lead of the establishment, people aren’t accepting what the government tell them. Lots of young people were open to change and questioning them.

Question 77

How did the modernity and meritocracy of America challenge the establishment?

Answer 77

JFK was young, modern and fashionable, closely tied to popular culture and used the press well. American success was built on meritocracy not class. Promotions were earned from talent. Through TV, radio, the American culture has more dominance

Question 78

How did affluence challenge the establishment?

Answer 78

People felt like they were in a different class
Rab Butler claimed that modern conservatism was ending class differences.
Working hours reduced, more schools, more houses so less homelessness, more TV ownership, motorways built, wage increase by 72%, car ownership increase and affordable household appliances on credit made people feel affluent

Question 79

Political impact of lost trust in the establishment

Answer 79

Churchill, Eden, MacMillan, Home are from private school and born into wealth.
Wilson, Heath and Callaghan do the 11+ to go to grammar school by intelligences more working class so ordinary and relatable

Question 80

L12 - what is a youth culture?

Answer 80

A set of values, behaviours and styles that are shared by a group of young people and distinguishes them from other generations. A refusal to accept the standards and behaviours of adults.

Question 81

Why did youth culture emerge?

Answer 81

Labour saving devices - girls not needed at home, more leisure time
National service - boys don’t have to do it after 1960, free time
Fashion - affordable clothes, trends, different to parents
High wages - money to buy records and fashion
Birth rate - post war baby boom, 1959 survey estimates 5mil teens, more visible
Technology - TV aimed at teens introduced
Living at home - parents have affluence so have more money

Didn’t live through WW2 or depression, different generation. Scandals of establishment aren’t a good example of behaviour. Satire boom

Question 82

Who were teddy boys?

Answer 82

1953. Fashion trend, Edwardian. Pricey Blazers, shirts, trousers, ties, leather shoes, greased back hair. Entire British subculture, the first group.
      Origins - daily express newspaper called them teddy boys by shortening Edwardian to teddy in 1954. Working class, like music and dancing, culture built around jazz and skiffle music, and eventually rock and roll. They caused a moral panic as a feral youth, violence sometimes, only some of them
      Some formed gangs and fought rivals in showdowns. Some held racist views and attacked immigrants, Notting Hill 1958 riots. Hostility to black families.
      As 1950a rock musicians faded away, so did the group. Ended in late 1950s.

Question 83

Who were the mods?

Answer 83

Late 1950s, Mod coming from modern in modern jazz
Clothing took precedence over all else, didn’t want dirty clothes, immaculate. Liked jazz and R&B music, went to jazz clubs and coffee shops to hear this, so coffee shops stayed open later than bars. Travelled by mopeds due to small salaries.
Wages improved after the war so working class families became better off and children weren’t heavily relied on to support family, so they became financially independent. Baby boom made more young people, in early 1960s, almost 40% of population was under 25. Education act 1944 helped schooling quality to improve, so had new employment chances, lower classes now went to university.
Moral panic, often fought with Rockers
Feminism - accepted women as her own being, so the female mod made her own choices. Own jobs own incomes. More freedoms for them

Question 84

Who were the rockers?

Answer 84

Late 1950s. Scruffy clothes, leather jackets, motorbikes, rock and roll. Rivalry with Mods led to moral panic. Some took drugs

Question 85

What is a moral panic?

Answer 85

Widespread fear of a certain group which is in disproportionate to the actual threat. The media identify a group as a threat to societal values, the media present them in a negative and stereotypical fashion and exaggerate the scale of the problem, moral entrepreneurs such as politicians condemn the group.

Question 86

May bank holiday 1964 clashes

Answer 86

Tension between mods and rockers. Hostile violence, no reason for this only because they’re rivals. Police are involved in the situation. In the night, deckchairs were scattered and broken, some on fire on beaches, crowd of 600 mods. Unsafe for families so causes fear and moral panic

Large scale, organised riots in a number of south coast holiday resorts. Main places in Margate, Brighton and Clacton. Media and police made the situation worse.

Question 87

L13 - what are the expectations of a woman in early 1950s?

Answer 87

The man was the head of the household.
If a woman was in a loveless or violent marriage, she was trapped since she had no career or money.
Shopping for food everyday since storing fresh food was difficult.
Weekly allowance from husband.
Dinner would be ready on the table for the man.
Housework and children care for women’s work.
Housewife had been prepare at school and home for her role.

Question 88

What are Labour saving devices?

Answer 88

Increased affluence, families could afford to buy or hire appliances to make housework more efficient. So they do housework, chores, clean around house

Question 89

How was life different for young women from their mothers by 1963?

Answer 89

Majority of girls left school by 15.
High employment straight from school to employment, freedom to work, what rights.
70% of wages was disposable income
Money spent on fashion etc

Question 90

Work and pay in 1952

Answer 90

Average woman had 2.2 children and didn’t work, if they did, average weekly pay was under £5. Unemployment stood at a low 2%, didn’t include majority of women, who were labelled economically inactive.
In 1952, 75% of women were married, average age of marriage at 21, place in the home.

Question 91

Work and pay in 1964

Answer 91

1952 equal pay for teachers introduced. 1955 conservatives granted equal pay for females working in civil service.
Most working class women left school unqualified and married young. Middle class women weren’t always content to settle for a life of domesticy. Jobs available to women were clerical with no prospects and poor pay. Working mothers were portrayed as selfish by media. Childminders were rare, nurseries for rich

Question 92

How did attitudes towards women change in early 1960s?

Answer 92

A Taste of Honey 1961 film highlights difficulties of being a single unmarried women in 1950s
Fashion designer Mary Quant designed the mini skirt. Became a defining look for women of 1960s and challenged traditional dress
Magazines such as Valentine in 1957 focused on finding your one true love lost popularity and magazine like Honey from 1960 focused on finding boyfriends

Some questioned their purpose and some embraced the change

Question 93

L14 - Why did people migrate to Britain?

Answer 93

Migration was encouraged by the government due to labour shortages after WW2. Led to the Attlee government passing British Nationality Act 1948. It allowed people from empire to commonwealth to enter Britain because they have a British passport. This encouraged those from new commonwealth (not white) to migrate, often just the male family figure.

Question 94

What was the empire windrush?

Answer 94

Marked the beginning of a multicultural Britain. Carried 1027 passengers from Jamaica to London in 1948, 492 were Caribbean migrants. The windrush generation are those who arrived between 1948 and 1971.

Question 95

What was it like for windrush generation?

Answer 95

High expectations of home and food but there was rationing and lack of homes due to demand after Blitz. Took jobs brits didn’t want so got low pay for hard work.

Question 96

What were the attitudes towards immigration?

Answer 96

Just 2 days after windrush arrived, 11 Labour MPs wrote to Attlee calling for a halt. For most people especially working class, there was tension over accommodation. When they first arrived, they lived in poor areas of cities where it was cheap. Blamed for squeezing white residents out of employment by taking cheap work.

Question 97

What was the reality of immigration to Britain?

Answer 97

More people are leaving Britain than coming to, from 1950-59, 1.3 million left and 676000 came in. This means immigrants aren’t taking all of their needs. By 1958, 210,000 commonwealth citizens had settled, 75% were man supporting family at home.

Question 98

What were the Notting Hill Riots 1958?

Answer 98

Happened in August and September. Teddy boys attacked Caribbean people and properties many were indiscriminately attacked and some fought back. Police were generally passive towards it. Large groups intimidated immigrants, no motivation other than skin colour

Question 99

What was the British Union of Fascists?

Answer 99

Leader Oswald Moseley exploited tge issue by printing thousand of racist leaflets on behalf of his union movement which called for repatriation, forcing people back to their country. Supported Hitler for its anti- semantic propaganda. Had same nickname as the SS. Only won 7.6% of the vote in election

Question 100

What was the commonwealth immigration act 1962?

Answer 100

Drawn up by Rab Butler. Aimed to limit immigration. Created a voucher scheme restricting right of entry to those who had actual jobs to go to. British subjects affected mainly were non white people. Led to a rush of immigration before the act in 1962. 70% in favour of it

Labour fiercely opposed the act but were forced to reconsider when they go into government. This control was desirable from the electorate.

Question 101

L15 - what were some economic problems?

Answer 101

Britains economy is not sustainable in the long term. Strong for now
Stop-go economic cycle had not been broken, workers got high wage rises but were not productive, trade with empire and commonwealth was not enough, EFTA didn’t match growth of EEC, balance of payments problems by 1962

Also they were rejected from the EEC in 1963 because Britain wanted ro improve their share of world trade and help BOP. This came at a bad time.

Question 102

How did they attempt to address inflation?

Answer 102

Selwyn Lloyd imposed deflationary methods in 1961 including a Pay Freeze for public sector workers. Government requested a loan from IMF. Neddy created in 1962 to plan economy long term.

Question 103

Why did the attempt to address inflation fail?

Answer 103

Lloyd was sacked and replaced by Maudling. GO phase under him to encourage consumer spending, led to a balance of payments crisis and inflation, and stagflation by 1963 (industrial production in decline due to lack of motivation, with inflation continuing)

Question 104

What happened to world trade (negative)

Answer 104

World trade declined from 25% in 1951 to 10% in 1975

Question 105

What happened to unemployment (negative)

Answer 105

Fell to 500,000 by 1964 but the deficit was £800mil so led to problems with inflation

Question 106

What happened to MacMillans team or treasury ministers (negative)

Answer 106

Resigned in 1957 because of stop go as it failed to plan a structured financial strategy

Question 107

How did holidays improve (positive)

Answer 107

Three or more day holidays increased from 27 mil in 1951 to 34 mil in 1961 and by 1959, 40% of manual workers considered themselves middle class

Question 108

How did weekly earnings increase (positive)

Answer 108

Increased by 75% between 1955 and 1965 . By 1975, 85% of homes had a fridge compared to 8% in 1951

Question 109

How was Britain’s defence spending (positive)

Answer 109

10% of GDP, not too bad since USA spent more, other European countries didn’t have the burden of maintaining these naval bases and nuclear arms programmes. £1.7 billion on defence by 1964

Question 110

Why was Polaris a political problem?

Answer 110

MacMillan desired nuclear technology so made a deal with Eisenhower. The holy loch was used as a US navy Polaris nuclear submarine base. Rise in support for CND, protests. MacMillan blamed this on the left wing press for scaremongering and said this bomb cannot explode as easy as a firework so is not a threat

Question 111

Why were conservatives not seen as the natural party anymore?

Answer 111

Out of touch with socially mobile affluent age. More than half the cabinet in 1960 were Old Etonians. MacMillan used politicians from the unelected House of Lourdes, looked undemocratic. Victims of satire

Question 112

Night of the long knives

Answer 112

July 1962. MacMillan made 32 alterations to 101 ministerial posts, cabinet reshuffle, because of the meritocracy in America, wanted younger men to be involved as average age was 59, economic problems and need fresh thinking, by-election (one constituency for new MP) in Orpington they were defeated by liberals in 1962 =lost popularity.
Caused tension in government and low morale in party, lack of unity, divisions so unpopular.

Question 113

Why were scandals a threat?

Answer 113

Vassal affair- civil servant spy for USSR
Kim Philby - foreign office official, spy for USSR, gov failed to catch him
Argyll divorce case - Duke of Argyll sued his wife for adultery of 88 men, 2 gov officials.
Profumo affair- threat to security as she had affair with Russian spy and Profumo, he lied to parliament about it. Establishment can’t be trusted

Question 114

Why was Home a problem as PM?

Answer 114

Became PM after MacMillan resigned, undemocratic process since he was chose by MacMillan not the cabinet and MPs. He was from House of Lords, so was not an MP that had been elected in by public. Divided party, public resignations.

Question 115

Why was Labour’s resurgence a problem?

Answer 115

Gaitskell reunited the party against joining EEC. He was replaced by Wilson. Gaitskell died in 1963, bevan in 1960, left and right gone. Wilson focused on modernising Britain in a time of change