Wilson - society Flashcards
Why was there a growth in leisure time?
Increased affordability of ‘mod cons’ helped to break down class divides and create more time for leisure activities i.e. Televisions
How did media change throughout the sixties?
Watching television accounted for 23% of all leisure time by 1969
Television therefore became a vehicle for social change and politicians needed to be media friendly
What was the impact of reductions in Censorship?
Following the obscene Publication Act (1959), which allowed serious works of art to use ‘obscene’ words and images, ‘kitchen sink’ dramas helped to highlight the social issues.
How was scientific developments influential in the zeitgeist?
The Cold War-fuelled Space Race and abundance of sci-fi television reflected a society that yearned for modernisation on every level i.e. Technological and social
What acts developed female equality?
1967 - Abortion Act
1969 - Divorce Reform Act
1970 - Equal Pay Act
How did a peace movement develop under Wilson?
Anti-Vietnam protests and groups such as the CND and radical ‘Committee of 100’ reflected a growing anti-war/nuclear sentiment, but this wasn’t shared by all
Who was the Home Secretary and what was his aim for British society?
Roy Jenkins, aimed to create a “civilised society” by encouraging and supporting progressive social thinking.
When were the Race Relation Acts? Was it Government legislation or a Private Member’s Bill?
1965 and 1968 - Government legislation
What did the Race Relation act do?
Prohibition of racial discrimination in public places and in areas such as employment and housing
Made incitement to racial hatred a criminal offence.
When was the Murder Act? Was it Government legislation or a Private Member’s Bill?
1963 - private member’s bill
What did the Murder Act do?
Temporarily replaced the death penalty with a mandatory life sentence
When was the Abortion Act? Was it Government legislation or a Private Member’s Bill?
1967 - Private Members Bill - introduced by a Liberal MP - David steel
What did the Abortion Act do?
Legalised abortion where the serious mental/physical risk to mother/child
When was the Commonwealth Immigration Act?
1968
What was the Commonwealth Immigration Act?
Restricted the future rights of entry previously enjoyed by Citizens of the UK and Colonies to those born there or who had at least one parent or grandparent born there.
When was the Theatre Act? Was it Government legislation or a Private Member’s Bill?
1968 - government legislation
What was the Theatre Act?
Ended theatre censorship
When was the Abolition of the Death Penalty? Was it Government legislation or a Private Member’s Bill?
1969 - government legislation
What did the Abolition of the Death Penalty do?
Made the Murder Act of 1963 permanent
When was the Divorce Reform Act? Was it Government legislation or a Private Member’s Bill?
1969 - Government legislation
What was the Divorce Reform Act?
Permitted divorce on the grounds of the ‘breakdown’ of a marriage.
When and what was the Open University?
1969 - allowing people to receive education in a way that would allow people to undertake a degree while also working or raising a family
How did Wilson aim to create a more equal and fair education system?
Wilson scrapped the previous system of secondary moderns and grammar schools and replaced it with comprehensive schools in an attempt to create a more equal and fair education
What was the consequence of Wilson’s new secondary system?
Due to variation in performance in comprehensive schools, meant that housing near successful schools increased, leading to poorer families being priced out, still maintaining some level of an elitist educational system
