The Making of Modern Britain 3

Question 1

Impact of the blitz on people’s attitudes towards poverty

Answer 1

• Evacuation made people aware of poverty
• Different classes mixed
• Rich people more sympathetic towards poor people’s housing inequality as they experienced it too during the war
• Both rich and poor suffers from bombings, both classes required government help

Question 2

Why the Labour government introduced the welfare state in 1945

Answer 2

• Beveridge Report showed true nature of poverty
• Public expected the government to do more for them as they worked well during the war
• Evacuation made people aware of poverty and put greater pressure on government
• Housing stock was in desperate need of refurbishment and replenishment
• Rationing ensured equal share during the war and wanted this to continue

Question 3

Solutions to 5 Giants

Answer 3

WANT: new National Insurance system

IGNORANCE: new education system

IDLENESS: new policies that provides full employment

SQUALOR: Ministry of Housing to build new houses and improve existing houses

DISEASE: National Health Service to provide free medical treatment for all

Question 4

Why was the Beveridge Report popular with people?

Answer 4

• Beveridge proposed a scheme that was open to all regardless of wealth
• NHS free
• Means test abolished
• Insurance scheme meant that everyone made a small contribution and recovers benefits should they require help
• Family allowance for families

Question 5

Name the 5 giants

Answer 5

WANT
IGNORANCE
IDLENESS
SQUALOR
DISEASE

Question 6

Why WWII changed attitudes towards welfare

Answer 6

• Rationing helped encourage the idea of universal sharing
• War highlighted problems that people faced could be solved by government
• Education made more people aware of poverty and put pressure on government
• Suffering and hardships of WWII made people determined to ensure that there was a better society once the war ended
• Government had to intervene in so many facets of life during WWII that it would be difficult to pull out from such commitments after the war
• Reforms introduced such as free health care for wounded victims, Emergency Milk and Meals Scheme, made people like government intervention

Question 7

What did the government provide to help the poor during the war

Answer 7

• The National Milk Scheme provided free milk for children under 5 to make sure children got vitamins
• Free nurseries were set up to look after children while mothers were at work
• Emergency medical care was provided free
• Immunisation provided free 1941 onwards