History Britain (1951-64 rn)

Jamie Small's flashcards

Which leader is associated with the suez crisis?

Anthony Eden

What characterised the ‘post-war political consensus’?

Agreement among national partieson key policies such as welfare, nationalisation, and foreign affairs.

which Labour party figures represented the opposing factions during the 1950s? (2)

Aneurin Bevan and Hugh Gaitskell

What electoral system did Britain use at the time? (1)

The First Past the Post system, where the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins.

What was the key points of contention between labour party factions during the 1950s

The main points of tension were to do with Clause IV and Nuclear Disarmament.

Who became prime minister after Anthony Eden resigned in 1957?

Harold Macmillan

Who became president after Churchill retired?

Anthony Eden in 1955

Which election saw the conservatives increase their majority to 100 seats?

The 1959 general election saw the Conservatives increase their majority to 100 seats.

The ‘Profumo affair’ contributed to, what?

the decline of the Conservative government in the early 1960s.

What were the the key points of the post-war consensus among parties? (4)

The key points included a commitment to a mixed economy, the welfare state, maintaining full employment, and nationalisation of key industries.

what was the economic growth average for the 1950s (%)

The economic growth average for the 1950s was around 3% per year.

what welfare policies did the conservatives expand during the 1950s?

The Conservatives expanded policies such as the National Health Service, housing programs, and social security benefits.

what were the main two factions of the Labour party in the 1950s called?

The main two factions of the Labour party in the 1950s were the Bevanites and the Gaitskellites.

what did people associate the Labour party with during the 1950s that caused them to be so unpopular?

They were associated with the rationing and high taxation of the post war years.

what was the annual real wage increase during the 1950s in Britain?

approximately 2.9% increase each year.

by what % did home ownership increase from 1951-1959? (%)

Home ownership increased by 50% during the 1950s

What were the TV ownership figures from 1951 to 1964?

TV ownership increased from 4% to over 90% of households in Britain during this period.

How many houses did the conservatives get to building in the 1950s?

The Conservatives built over 300,000 houses a year at some points during the 1950s.

What major economic events shaped Britain’s attitude in 1951?

The suez crisis, the korean war, and the rise of the EEC

What economic policy became known as ‘stop-go’ economics?

Fluctuating between stimulating and curbing economic demand.

Which event exposed Britain’s financial weakness in the 1950s?

The Suez crisis of 1956, mainly because it led to the withdrawal east of Suez

What was the main cause of inflation during this period?

Rising oil prices and increased government spending.

Why did Britain apply to join the EEC in 1963?

To boost trade and economic growth.

What did the Beeching report recommend?

reduction of the rail network in Britain.

How much did Britain ask for in the IMF loan in 1961?

£714 Million. Mostly bought upon by balance of payments deficits

How low were manufacturing exports as part of the British GDP by 1963? (%)

Manufacturing exports were 18% of the British GDP by 1963

How much did real wages increase from 1955-64? (total %)

Real wages rose 72% during this period.

What % of the population owned a TV by 1964?

94% of people owned a TV by 1964

what was the unemployment average between 1955-64? (%)

unemployment was around 1.5% during this period.

How much did Britain’s share of global trade decline from 1955-64?

Britain’s share of global trade dropped by 10% during this period, from 25% to 15%.