Unit 4 Flashcards
What does the term First-past-the –post system mean?
candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins. It does not require a majority, only a plurality.
What does the term marginal seats mean?
Constituencies where elections are closely contested, and a small number of votes can change the result.
What does the termboundarychanges mean (electoral system)?
Boundary changes: Adjustments to constituency borders, often made to reflect population changes, which can influence election outcomes by redistributing voters.
Reasons for the Conservative victory in 1951
- Labour’s government was exhausted after years of austerity.
- Conservative promises to build 300,000 houses annually.
- Discontent over Labour’s handling of post-war rationing.
- Churchill’s reputation as a wartime leader.
- The reorganization of the Conservative Party under Lord Woolton.
- Electoral system advantages (e.g., fewer votes but more seats for Conservatives due to boundary changes)
What isButskellism?
It represents the post-war consensus where both parties accepted Keynesian economic policies, a mixed economy, and the welfare state.
What is ‘stop-go economics?
A cycle of economic policies where periods of economic growth (“go”) are followed by government intervention to curb inflation or balance payments (“stop”), leading to economic instability.
What is GDP?
Gross Domestic Product: The total monetary value of all goods and services produced in a country within a specific time.
What is stagflation?
An economic situation caused by high inflation and stagnant economic growth, leading to unemployment.
Give 4 examples of how living standards improved between 1951 – 64.
- Higher wages and rising disposable income.
- The growth of consumer goods (e.g., refrigerators, televisions).
- Increased home ownership due to affordable mortgages.
- Expansion of the welfare state, including access to health services.
List the 4 conservativeleadersbetween 1951-1964.
- Winston Churchill (1951–55)
- Anthony Eden (1955–57)
- Harold Macmillan (1957–63)
- Alec Douglas-Home (1963–64)
The Suez Crisis (1956)
A military and political conflict where Britain, France, and Israel attacked Egypt after Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal. The crisis exposed Britain’s declining global influence and reliance on the US.
Labour Party factions
Revisionists: Advocated modernizing Labour policies and moving away from nationalization to appeal to middle-class voters.
Fundamentalists: Wanted to maintain traditional socialist policies like widespread nationalization and strong trade union influence.
Block votes
A system where trade union leaders cast votes on behalf of all their members at Labour Party conferences, giving unions significant influence over party decisions.
Labour electoral defeats
1951: Labour split over austerity and rearmament policies.
1955: Popularity of Anthony Eden and stable economic growth under the Conservatives.
1959: Labour failed to counter Conservative promises of continued prosperity.
Night of the Long Knives (1962)
Harold Macmillan’s drastic reshuffle of his Cabinet, replacing a third of his ministers to refresh the party’s image but undermining stability.
Conservative scandals
The Profumo Affair (1963): A sex scandal involving the Secretary of State for War, John Profumo, which damaged the government’s reputation.
The Vassall Affair (1962): A civil servant was exposed as a Soviet spy, raising fears of security lapses.
The Argyll Divorce Case (1963): Highlighted the scandalous behavior of prominent Conservative figures.
Social problems (1951–64)
Race:
Racist hostility toward immigrants (e.g., Notting Hill riots, 1958).
Tensions over immigration controls, such as the 1962 Commonwealth Immigrants Act.
Youth:
Rise of youth subcultures like the Mods and Rockers, leading to clashes.
Concerns over moral decline and juvenile delinquency.
Reasons for Conservative loss in 1964
Social: Rising discontent over inequality and racial tensions.
Economic: Perceived mismanagement, including rising unemployment and stop-go policies.
Political: Macmillan’s declining health and the unpopularity of Douglas-Home as a leader.
Foreign: Suez Crisis lingering damage and loss of international prestige.
