Post-war years 1945-1951

How did "Competing Claims" lead to a Labour victory in 1945?

Labour campaign effective as it showed Tories as Hitler-appeasers.
Labour wanted people to remember the poverty and unemployment of the 1930s and campaigned for housing,free healthcare etc.

How did "Beveridge and reform" lead to a Labour victory in 1945?

1942 Beveridge report -manifesto of social reform.
Bestseller-its idea spread through public psyche

How did "campaigning" lead to a labour victory in 1945?

Tory campaign built on Churchill's victory-used "scare tactics" to discredit Labour
Labour had a strong campaign-employment,HOUSING,nationalisation,social security etc.

How many seats did Labour win in 1945?

393

What were the 5 major features of Labour's domestic politics/post-war consensus?

1.Government committed to maintain full employment by using Keynesian methods (eg boosting state spending to increase economic activity)
2.Encouragement of role of trade unions
3.Mixed economy-nationalisation of key industries
4. Welfare state-NHS,Social security etc. (Funded by general taxes or insurance)
5.Government focus on equality-progressive taxation,welfare spending

What were features of Labour's foreign policy under Clement Attlee?

Transition from Empire to Commonwealth
Nuclear weapons
NATO
Britain to join EEC

What were the 5 great evils as identified by the Beveridge report?

1.Want (poverty)
2.Disease (Healthcare)
3.Ignorance (Education)
4.Squalor (Housing)
5. Idleness (Employment)

How many council houses did the Attlee's government build in total?

1.2 million

What was the Anglo-American Loan Agreement 1945?

Britain originally wanted $5 billion but settled on $3.75 billion over 50 year period (+$1.2 billion from Canada)

When was the Anglo-American Loan Agreement 1945 finally paid off?

December 2006

What impact did the convertibility clause of the American loan have in 1947?

Bought sterling under pressure and diminished public opinion of Labour government

Why was the sterling devalued in 1948?

To make British exports more competitive-diminished public opinion

Why did so many people dislike Britain's involvement in the Korean War 1950?

Viewed as American subservience.. Expansion of an already large defence budget led to a party split

When was the NHS founded?

5th July 1948

What year did Britain withdraw from India?

1947

What European organisation was formally founded in 1951?

ECSC- European Committee for Steel and Coal

Britain was one of 5 permanent members of what?

UN Security Council

When was the Anglo-American loan deal?

1945