Workbook 1- The Post-War Consensus And The Age Of Affluence. 1951-1964.

Question 1

Who were the 4 Conservative Prime Ministers between 1951 and 1964?

Answer 1

Winston Churchill, Anthony Eden, Harold MacMillan, Alec Douglas-Home

Question 2

Years of Churchill’s premiership?

Answer 2

1951 - 1955

Question 3

Years of Eden’s premiership?

Answer 3

1955 - 1957

Question 4

Years of Macmillan’s premiership?

Answer 4

1957 - 1963

Question 5

Years of Douglas-Home’s premiership?

Answer 5

1963 - 1964

Question 6

What were Churchill’s key focuses as prime minister?

Answer 6

• Great international statesman but more concerned with domestic affairs
• Used non-Conservative peers to oversee ministries
• Managed rivalry between Eden and Butler within his government
• 300,000 new houses built per year
• Expansion of grammar and technical schools

Question 7

What were Anthony Eden’s key actions and challenges during his tenure?

Answer 7

• Macmillan resisted him, failing to rein in trade unions
• Placed greater emphasis on technical education
• Passed the Clean Air Act 1956 to improve air quality
• Resigned after the disastrous Suez Crisis in 1957

Question 8

What were the significant achievements of Harold MacMillan?

Answer 8

• Unifying the party as seen as a safe pair of hands
• Nicknamed “Supermac” due to economic growth in the late 1950s
• Increased the Conservative majority in 1959 by 100 seats
• Housing and town planning aimed to improve living and working conditions
• Abolished the death penalty and decriminalized homosexuality with the Homicide Act
• Resigned due to economic decline and “Night of the Long Knives” in 1963

Question 9

What were the key points of Alec Douglas-Home’s tenure?

Answer 9

• Compromise candidate to replace Macmillan
• Seen as out of touch with the electorate and the party establishment
• Oversaw reform of the party, education, and some economic growth
• Lost the 1964 election to Labour

Question 10

What was the post-war consensus among political parties in the UK?

Answer 10

• Agreement on a mixed economy with state involvement and private enterprise
• Support for the NHS/Welfare state
• Commitment to full employment and working with trade unions and employers

Question 11

What were the challenges faced by the UK in the post-war consensus period?

Answer 11

• Though the economy grew steadily and living standards increased, there was still a need for stop-go economics, higher imports, and rising wage demands
• Britain slipped behind foreign competitors like West Germany, the US, and Japan

Question 12

What were the reasons for the Conservatives losing the 1964 election?

Answer 12

1. Economic failures and employment issues.
   
   2. Rising inflation and lower real wages.
   3. Marginalised party figures like Butler.
   4. The Profumo Affair and other scandals (e.g., George Blake, Cambridge 5).
   5. Mockery by satirists/media.
   6. Unpopularity of the “Night of the Long Knives.”
   7. Outdated/old-fashioned image of the party.
   8. Lack of leadership clarity.
   9. Failed to manage expectations and retain public trust.

Question 13

What were the significant economic failures under the Conservatives leading up to 1964?

Answer 13

1. Trade balance was worsening.
   
   2. Imports were 20% higher than exports by 1964.
   3. Inflation rose due to wage rises and European failures (EEC/VETO).
   4. High unemployment (878,000 jobless).
   5. Criticism from trade unions due to lack of investment in industries.
   6. Internal conflicts within the Cabinet (MacLeod, Powell vs. others).
   7. UK rejected from EEC, diminishing global influence.
   8. Increase in taxes and balance of payments deficits.
   9. Inconsistent economic policies and budgets under Macmillan and Maudling.

Question 14

What were the key economic successes under the Conservatives leading up to 1964?

Answer 14

1. Global economic boom increased trade and prosperity.
   
   2. Unemployment decreased significantly from 878,000 to 297,000.
   3. Rise in wages.
   4. Significant budget surplus (£132 million) in 1960.
   5. Gross National Product (GNP) growing by 5% annually by 1964.
   6. Economic recovery from 1959 under Macmillan.
   7. Formation of the National Economic Development Council (NEDC) as a strategy for long-term economic growth.

Question 15

What were the main Labour divisions in the lead-up to the election?

Answer 15

• Splits occurred over ideological differences.
• The right wing led by Gaitskell vs. the left wing led by Bevan.
• Conflict on how to approach nuclear weapons and the welfare state.
• Opposition to the Conservative government was not always united.
• Disagreement on whether to follow a more socialist or moderate path.

Question 16

What is Keynesianism and how was it applied by the Conservatives?

Answer 16

• Keynesianism involves using government expenditure and fiscal policies to manage the economy.
• Conservatives applied Keynesian economic principles to reinvest in infrastructure and public services.
• They aimed to stimulate economic recovery and maintain employment.
• This approach, however, led to artificial booms, and not all investments were effective.

Question 17

What were Britain’s major foreign relations issues under the Conservatives government between 1951-1964?

Answer 17

EFTA and Attempts to Join EEC:
• UK initially distanced itself from European integration, creating the EFTA as an alternative.
• Applied to join the EEC in 1961, vetoed by French President Charles de Gaulle.
• This rejection highlighted the UK’s declining global influence.

Question 18

How did the UK relate to the US during the Cold War?

Answer 18

1. Nuclear Deterrent:
   • UK developed its nuclear deterrent, not always sharing secrets with the US.
   • Strong military cooperation, despite some tension.
   
   2. Key Events:
      • Suez Crisis (1956): Damaged UK-US relations, showing the UK’s reduced global power.
      • UK supported US policies in the Cold War, maintaining the “special relationship.”

Question 19

What was the impact of the “winds of change” speech and decolonisation in Britain?

Answer 19

• In 1960, Prime Minister Harold Macmillan’s “Winds of Change” speech marked a shift towards decolonization.
• Many African nations gained independence during the early 1960s.
• Generally peaceful, but it symbolized the end of the British Empire as a world power.

Question 20

What were the key social developments in Britain during the 1950s and early 1960s?

Answer 20

• Rising Living Standards:
• Expansion of homeownership, creation of new towns, and the growth of consumer goods.
• Affluence and consumerism characterized the era.
• Affluence and Consumption:
• TV ownership expanded, creating a shared culture.
• The rise of a consumer society, marked by the purchase of cars and household appliances.

Question 21

How did social class and “the establishment” change during this period?

Answer 21

• Class Structure:
• Decline in deference towards traditional elites.
• “Angry Young Men” and satirical media critiqued the class system.
• The Establishment:
• Criticized for being out of touch with modern society.
• Politicians like Harold Macmillan were seen as part of this outdated elite.

Question 22

What changes occurred in the role and position of women in Britain from 1951-1964?

Answer 22

• Increase in women’s participation in the workforce.
• Growing challenges to traditional gender roles, though change was slow.
• Emergence of feminist ideas, though limited by prevailing societal norms.

Question 23

How did youth culture evolve in Britain during the 1950s and 1960s?

Answer 23

• Youth Culture:
• Emergence of distinct youth subcultures like the “Teddy Boys” and “Mods.”
• Influence of American culture, particularly through music and fashion.
• Rise of youth as a significant consumer group.

Question 24

What were the implications of the racial and immigration issues in Britain during this period?

Answer 24

Rise in Immigration:
• Large-scale immigration from the Commonwealth countries.
• Led to racial tensions and the introduction of immigration controls.

    Race Relations:
•	Racial conflicts, such as the Notting Hill Riots in 1958, exposed deep-seated racial issues.
•	These tensions marked the beginning of a more multicultural society.