THE AFFLUENT SOCIETY 1951-1964

By 1951

world dominated by US and USSR. WW2 damaged GB’s economy and showed limits of GB’s empire. GB was victorious and its empire meant it was used to being an important power

retreating empire

1947: GB ambassador declared bankruptcy and had to withdraw from Greece, Turkey and Palestine. Independence granted to India and Pakistan.

Dean Acheson 1962

‘Britain has lost an empire and has not yet found a role’

Atlantic Alliance

the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation formed in 1949 to defend the Western alliance in the Cold War, created a collective defence policy

The Schuman Plan 1950

proposed a Coal and Steel Community to integrate French and German heavy industry, to promote economic reconstructions, create closer ties and prevent the outbreak of future European wars.

Reasons GB didn’t join EEC in 1957

* not popular idea with leading politicians
* left suspicious of free market principles - ‘capitalist club’
* right preferred to maintain closer trade with the Commonwealth (NZ, Aus, Canada)
* GB felt it was a world power not ‘one of many European nations’
* issue for ‘continental europe’, Germans/France defeated

EFTA 1959

European Free Trade Association → (Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, GB, Switzerland) formed in 1959, alternative to EEC, created a free trade area. not as successful as EEC

1955

Messina Conference → EEC took shape, British delegation was present to observe but not join

1957

Treaty of Rome → established the EEC

EEC

European Economic Community → ‘The Six’ (France, Germany, Italy, Benelux). dominated by France/Germany. De Gaulle determined to protect the partnership from Britain

1961

the Macmillan gov submitted Britain’s application to join the EEC

what Britain thought the EEC could do

* boost industrial production for large-scale export market
* increase industrial efficiency with greater competition
* stimulate economic growth with the rapid economic expansion already seen in the EEC

why british attitudes changes towards the EEC

* GB growth was weaker than EEC members
* Suez crisis demonstrated GB’s limited strength in the world and reliance on USA
* ongoing financial concerns showed weakness and meant GB was not going to continue to dominate world affairs
* USA saw GB entry into EEC as a way to ensure the EEC resisted USSR influence

1963

Charles De Gaulle vetos Britain’s application after Heath’s negotiations had reached a successful conclusion. Other members were shocked/disappointed. Caused bad relations between GB and France

Suez Canal

important trading route between Europe and Middle East. vital route for oil shipments: 80% of Western Europe’s oil imports passed through the canal

Colonel Nasser

nationalist leader of Egypt who had fought for Egyptian independence against the monarchy

1956

Nasser announced nationalisation of the Suez Canal Company to provide finance needed for the Aswan Dam (which the US/UK pulled out from investing in)

military response not diplomacy (eden)

Eden was influenced by the belief that Britain was an imperial power and his experience in opposing appeasement - saw Nasser as ‘an evil dictator’, had little faith in diplomacy, wanted drastic action, eden supposed to be an expert in FP

Eden’s secret plan

secretly planned with France and Israel to return the canal to British control, involving Israeli invasion of Egypt and Britain and France to intervene as peacemakers

1956

(suez crisis) Israel invaded Egypt, British and French troops invaded, military action didn’t go as planned

short term consequences of suez crisis

* Labour Party opposed the conflict and anti-war protests were held, and public opinion was split on the need for intervention
* condemned internationally including the US
* GB not strong enough to stand up to US pressure, risking financial crisis
* Macmillan realised it was essential to pull out despite having to accept failure and humiliation
* Eden resigned for ‘ill health’ on 1957

problem with Eden’s plan

kept Suez arrangements secret from most of Cabinet and US. US annoyed at lack of consultation and fear that Nasser may now turn to USSR for help

long term consequences of suez crisis

* demonstrated GB’s reliance and need for support from the US
* highlighted GB’s weak economic and financial position
* doubted GB’s status as a major world power
* challenged GB as a force for good

impact of suez on domestic politics

* Eden under heavy attack from Labour and the national press (Manchester Guardian) accused for lying. Damaged his reputation
* rebellion by nearly 40 Tory MPs, colonial minister Anthony Nutting resigned
* chief whip, Heath, who was responsible for keeping the party in line was strongly opposed to Eden’s actions

decolonisation 1951-1964

* independence movements (Mau Mau rebellion; Malaya; Cyprus)
* international pressure (US wary of imperial power)
* financial concerns (cost of an empire)
* impact of suez

1952

start of Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya →

* nationalist uprising, Mau Mau fighters accused of committing atrocities
* revelations about treatment of captives in prison camps damaged British reputation.
* difficulty containing rebellion demonstrated problems with colonial policies

1957

Ghana became first African colony to be granted independence

1960

Nigeria and Cyprus gained independence

1961

Tanganyika and Sierra Leone gained independence

1963

Kenya gained independence

1962

Uganda gained independence

empire to commonwealth

**early 1950s**: GB believed they could manage a gradual transition and that colonial resistance movements could be controlled until they were ‘ready’ for independence

**after suez:** policymakers reconsidered pace of decolonisation

1960

Macmillan’s ‘wind of change’ speech - significant change in policy

‘wind of change’ speech

* in cape town, described the ‘wind of change’ blowing through the whole African continent.


* called for recognition of independence movements and move to decolonisation.
* seeking to persuade these countries to accept majority rule - SA preferred minority white rule and voted to break all ties with Britain

success of ‘winds of change’

the policy was successful, GB decolonisation completed more swiftly and with less violence than other colonial powers.

the korean war 1950-53

two governments (USSR North/US South) after WW2.

* north invaded south in 1950. UN sent forces to combat invasion.
* GB sent 90,000 soldiers, 2nd biggest after US.
* Ceasefire in 1953 - Korea split. 1000 GB troops died.
* Demonstrated GB willingness to play a role in world affairs but US was greater power

1958

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) formed

CND

powerful pressure group, wanted GB to reject nuclear weapons and follow a policy of unilateral nuclear disarmament. backed by intellectuals and middle-class protesters. anti-government protest, labour left wingers joined in.

1958

8000 people in a CND demonstration at Aldermaston (2nd march in 1959)

1952

Britain’s first test of the atomic bomb - GB 3rd country to develop nuclear weapons

1957

Britain tested its first ‘H’ bomb

Mutual Defence Agreement 1958

US agreed to share nuclear technology with Britain

1960

Britain abandoned the independent Blue Streak missile and became dependent on the American Polaris submarine weapons system

nuclear deterrent

Conservatives continued the policy that GB should develop its own independent nuclear deterrent - crucial to retain status as a world power

relations with US/USSR

dominated by the Cold War → GB, US and USSR were allies in WW2. GB and US stayed allies opposing the spread of communism. Macmillan established good relationships with Eisenhower and JFK

cooperation between GB/USA

* 1949 formation of NATO
* 1950-53 Korean War
* 1961 Cuban Missile Crisis (JFK informed Macmillan)
* GB was militarily overstretched and dependent on US power

tensions between GB/USA

* US didn’t support Gb in the Suez crisis
* The Burgess and Maclean spy scandal in 1951 and fears meant the US was cautious about sharing intelligence

1954

end of food rationing

post-war baby boom

1961 → population was 51 million, 2 million more than in 1951

1955

full employment achieved, only 200,000 unemployed (

1960

5 million employed in service industry - same number as all in heavy industry

‘give-away’ budget

run up to 1955 election - Rab Butler’s budget proved middle classes with £134 million in tax cute

trade improvements

improvements in world trade in late 50s meant GB could import 29% more goods than it had in 1951 for the same number exports

economic growth 1951-64

Britain’s economy grew 40% (but France 50%, West Germany 250%, Japan 400%)