The Welfare State Flashcards
1
Q
How did war lead to the development of the Welfare State? (4)
A
- After WW1, government promised “Homes for Heroes” for returning veterans after noticing the working class needed better homes after their service
- 1932: 25,000+ houses were built in the Becontree Estate that had gas, electricity and other luxuries
- Classes were mixing for the first time during evacuation and the rich saw the state of children in poverty
- After the Boer War, there were some reforms which gave free medical checks and pensions for over 70s
2
Q
Who was William Beveridge? (4)
A
- Liberal MP
- 1902: Wrote report on the people’s right to be free of “5 Giants”
- Want: poverty
- Squalor: poor housing
- Idleness: unemployment
- Disease: inadequate healthcare provisions
- Ignorance: lack of education
- Report suggested ways the gov. could improve social security and the quality of life “from the cradle to the grave”
- Reports led to the establishment of the Welfare State under the LABOUR government
3
Q
Who was Clement Atlee? (4)
A
- British Labour Prime Minister 1945-53
- Promised to act on Beveridge’s report - created the National Health Service Act (1946) and then the NHS in 1948
- NHS ensured everyone could receive FREE medical, dental and optical services
- Before the NHS, 8 million had never seen a doctor before
4
Q
Who was Aneurin Bevan? (3)
A
- Minister of Health under Clement Atlee
- Created the NHS
- NHS:
- ensured a better distribution of doctors
- increased life expectancy
- allowed for major breakthroughs in medicine e.g. transplant surgeries
- increased the emphasis on preventative medication
5
Q
Why did Bevan face opposition?
A
- British Medical Association (BMA) fear doctors employed by the NHS would lose money
- Winston Churchill and other conservative MP’s thought the cost of the NHS was too great
