Why Was the 'Welfare State' Introduced in 1945? Flashcards
Inadequacy of Existing System
Housing
Lloyd George’s gov unable to truly deliver on ‘homes fit for heroes’
Only 213,000 houses built before Geddes Axe cut spending
Housing shortage in 1920s +30s
By 1923, shortfall of over 800,000, by 1939, over 1 million
Inadequacy of Existing System
Unemployment Assistance
National Government made unpopular cuts to welfare spending
National Economy Act (1931)- 10% cut to benefits, ‘means test’ introduced
Unemployment Act (1934)- reversed cut to short term benefits, but not long term
Inadequacy of Existing System
Consensus
Previous system not extensive enough to tackle increased demand
Consensus developed that more government support needed post-war
Inadequacy of Existing System
Analysis
Limited and unequal interwar welfare provisions highlighted the need for a comprehensive system, setting stage for post-war reform
Impact of Second World War- Social Attitudes
Social Barriers
Total war required sacrifices- broke down class barriers, affected rich + poor
Evacuation of city children to the countryside- opened eyes to inner-city poverty
Impact of Second World War- Social Attitudes
Total Solutions
Conscription (1939), rationing (1940), universal bomb shelters- helped to boost public support for universalistic solutions
Government borrowed and spent huge sums for mililtary victory- same for improving society
Impact of Second World War- Social Attitudes
Analysis
Wartime unity and shared sacrifice fostered public demand for universal welfare solutions to address widespread inequality
Impact of Second World War- Society
Physical Impact
Blitz bombing- 43,000 civilians killed, over 139,000 seriously injured, 2 million houses destroyed- over 60% damaged or destroyed
Opinion polls 1945- 41% saw housing as biggest challenge
Impact of Second World War- Society
Healthcare
Before war- 41% of soldiers found unfit for combat
Huge number of injuries sustained- need to restructure hospitals, patchwork provision couldn’t cope
Impact of Second World War- Society
Analysis
Public attitudes shifting- not content with laissez-faire approach
The physical and health devastation from the war created urgent public support for gov intervention in housing, healthcare, and social services
Impact of the Second World War- Political Attitudes
National Government
Labour and Conservative ministers worked closely together- so sharing of ideas + approaches and broad consensus
Inclusion of Lab ministers in cabinet (Attlee + Bevin) softened attitudes to state-funded welfare
Impact of the Second World War- Political Attitudes
Beveridge Report
December 1942- radical action against ‘Five Giants’: want, disease, ignorance, squalor, and idleness
Argued for provision via centralised, state-funded, regulated system of welfare
Impact of the Second World War- Political Attitudes
Beveridge Report- Public
Sold 635,000 copies + influential in gov- White Papers supporting state-funded welfare published 1944
Labour capitalised on shifting zeitgeist- manifesto ‘Let Us Face the Future’ proposed radical overhaul along collectivist lines- idea of winning the peace
Impact of the Second World War- Political Attitudes
Analysis
Cross-party cooperation and the influence of the Beveridge Report led to a political consensus, making a state-led welfare system central to post-war reconstruction plans
