1951-64 Under the Conservatives

Name the Conservative leaders and how long they were PM (51-64)

Churchill 51-55, Eden 55-57, Macmillan 57-63, Home 63-64

What area dramatically improved under the Conservatives?

Standard of living

What improved about it? Provide examples

Education- abolishment of the 11+, Living standards- average wage rose by £10, Credit- led to a consumer boom, Housing- 300,000 houses a year (mostly)

What didn’t improve?

Unemployment

What were the results of the 1959 election?

Conservative vote rose, Labour fell

What was the Youth subculture during the 50s and 60s?

rebelled against authority, fought among each other(mods v rockers), new monetary freedom

What were the 1958 race riots?

Notting hill, immigrants blamed for housing crisis, riots in London+ Bristol

What were the two common views of this time?

‘never had it so good’, ‘thirteen wasted years’

What was the suez crisis?

Britain involving themselves in foreign affairs they didn’t belong in, big scandal

What economic policy did Britain follow during these years?

Stop- go economics

What were the aims of the conservative party during this time?

maintain full employment, fix the economy

What evidence is there of Britain’s declining economy?

world trade standing decreased 7%, increasing number of strikes, rising unemployment, failure to produce foreign goods

What is stagflation?

Prices rising whilst economic conditions remain stagnant

Why is stop- go economics bad

reactionary, doesn’t solve root issues

Who created stop- go economics

Keynes

What were the weaknesses of labour during this time?

divided party

Why was the Labour party divided?

socialism, nuclear policy, EEC

What did the Bevanites want?

No charges on NHS treatments+ nationalisation

What was unilateral nuclear disarmament?

total abandonment of nuclear weapons