GB Theme 1

What were 2 political impacts of WW1?

• America overtook Britain as the world's best trading nation
• The British Empire faced more challenges which threatened its survival

What were some economic impacts of WW1?

• Upper class had to pay death duties for deceased soldiers
• Some traditional industries went into decline
• Expensive healthcare (no NHS)
• Short economic boom
• Economic recession in the early 1920s

What were some social impacts of WW1?

• Millions of men were lost
• More women began to work
• Working class confidence in the upper class shook due to high death duties
• Working class poverty
• Women got the vote (1918)
• Little social mobility

Who was prime minister from 1918-22?

David Lloyd George

In what state was the economy in during his time as PM?

Poor

What were the cuts in government expenditure called?

Geddes Axe

What did Lloyd George's government become known for?

Its economic incompetence

How many were employed in 1922?

Over 1 million

What did Lloyd George promise?

A country fit for heroes

How many houses were built between 1918-22?

Over 200,000

Why was Lloyd George's government corrupt?

It sold titles to anyone to raise money for the Liberal party

What group was responsible for Lloyd George's downfall?

1922 Committee

Who was prime minister of the 1922-4 Conservative government from 1922-3?

Andrew Bonar Law

What did the Conservative manifesto promise?

'Tranquility and freedom from both adventures at home and abroad'

What was Churchill's opinion of Bonar Law's government?

It was a second XI (It wasn't good enough)

What was Lloyd George's opinion of Bonar Law's government?

'Honest to the point of simplicity'

What did Chamberlain's housing act allow the construction of?

Cheap housing through local authorities with a subsidy of £6

Who took over as leader of the 1922-4 Conservative government?

Stanley Baldwin

What policy did Baldwin persuade the cabinet to adopt?

Protectionism - to safeguard British industry against cheap European imports

Why didn't Baldwin resign after the 1924 general election?

He didn't want to be replaced

What were Baldwin and Asquith not prepared to do?

Work together to form another coalition

Which party won the 1924 election?

Labour (+191 seats)

Who was the leader of the first labour government?

Ramsay Macdonald

Why did his government only last 6 months?

It was dogged by allegations of communism - a hoax letter (the Zinoviev letter) seemed to link Macdonald to the USSR

Who became prime minister again after Macdonald?

Baldwin

Who was his chancellor of the exchequer?

Winston Churchill

What did the 1925 Pension act say?

Contributors could draw pensions at 65

When did Churchill join the gold standard?

1925

What did the 1926 Electricity act establish?

The National Grid

When did the BBC establish national broadcasting?

1927

What did the 1928 Fifth Parliamentary Reform act say?

Equalised voting age for men and women to 21

What did the 1929 Local Government act say?

Exempted all farms and 25% of factories from local government taxes

When did the General Strike occur?

1926

What was the strike an example of?

Class conflict

What were 4 causes of the strike?

• Reduced wages
• Increased competition from Europe and the USA
• Mine owners didn't invest in new technology
• Longer hours

What was the TUC?

Trade Union Congress

What was the Samuel Commission?

Looked into the conditions of mines and reported that the industry needed a total restructuring

What were consequences of the General Strike?

• Called off after 10 days, but miners carried on for 7 months
• The middle class stepped in to replace striking workers
• Loss of 162 million working days

What did the 1927 Trade Disputes Act do?

• Reduced union rights
• General and sympathetic strikes were attacked

What was the slogan of Baldwin's government?

Safety first

What event happened in 1929?

Wall Street crash

Who does Baldwin lose to in the 1929 election?

Macdonald

What was the effect of the Depression on traditional industries?

They fell into recession and areas concentrated with these industries suffered (the North, Wales)

What number did unemployment reach at its peak?

2.9 million

What did people depend on during the Great Depression?

The dole and the means test

What was the 1936 Jarrow Crusade?

A hunger march from Tyneside to London - they protested because they felt cut off

On the other hand, what was a good outcome of the Depression?

New industries were developing ('light industries') in places like London, the south east and west Midlands. For example, car and aircraft

When was Macdonald prime minister from and until?

1929-31

Why was his moderate approach criticised?

It was economically orthodox

What was Snowden's special budget?

10% cuts to unemployment benefits

When was the Economic Advisory Council set up?

1930

Who recommended the cuts in unemployment benefits?

The May Committee - they originally planned for 20% cuts

What did Macdonald say about the Great Depression?

Economic blizzard

Why was Macdonald seen as a traitor to his party?

He didn't tax the rich which went against Labour's socialist policies. Also, he fought the election on the Conservatives' side

Who were examples of critics of Macdonald's government?

Oswald Mosley and John Maynard Keynes

Who became prime minister in 1931?

Baldwin

What was this government called?

The National Government (1931-5)

Who were key figures in the National Government?

Baldwin, Macdonald, Chamberlain

What election victories did the National Government have?

• The crisis election of 1931
• 1935 election
• If there was one in 1939/40, commentators agreed they'd win that also

Why didn't this government experience opposition?

It was a coalition of all elements of the major parties - so many working class people supported it. It also won all the seats in Blackburn and Sunderland

How long did cuts in unemployment benefits last?

Until 1934

When did the government come off the gold standard and why?

1931 - the value of the pound decreased by 30% and interest was reduced to 2%

What did the 1932 Import Duties act say?

10% protective tariff on goods outside the Empire

What did the 1934 Special Areas Act do?

Provided £2 million to depressed areas in Wales, Scotland and the North

What did the 1934 Unemployment Act do?

Helped unemployed workers retrain to move to other areas of employment

The 1934 Iron & Steel Federation, 1935 Shipping Act, and 1936 Cotton Industry Reorganisation Act all did what?

Helped struggling industries

How was Baldwin viewed?

• A man of moderation and common sense
• Familiar and reassuring personality
• Very effective leader

What was Baldwin's role in the 1936 abdication crisis?

He had to handle it, and he did so smoothly. He took a calm, realistic view

What happened in the 1936 abdication crisis?

King Edward VIII abdicated to live with his American wife, Wallis Simpson

When did Macdonald step down and why?

1935 - he was unwell

Who was prime minister from 1937-40?

Neville Chamberlain

What did the 1937 Factories Act do?

Improved working conditions and limited work hours for women and children

What did the 1938 Coal act do?

Nationalised coal deposits

What did the 1938 Holidays with Pay act do?

Guaranteed workers a week's holiday with pay

What did the 1938 Housing act do?

Cleared slums and began the construction of housing

What policy is Chamberlain associated with?

Appeasement

What is appeasement?

Peace negotiations with Adolf Hitler to avoid WW2

Why did the policy of appeasement fail?

Most of Hitler's demands were granted, allowing him to annex the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia. Chamberlain promised England peace, but when Hitler attacked Poland in 1939, war was declared on Germany

Who was prime minister during WW2?

Winston Churchill

What was WW2 known as?

The 'People's War'

What is an argument for and against the mixing of classes during the war?

For - sharing bomb shelters
Against - the middle class tended to live away from main bombing areas

• there were cases of looting
• divisions were arguably reinforced

What is an argument for and against women's freedom during the war?

For - massive increase in employment of women in factories

• WAAF (Women's Auxiliary Air Force)
• Greater freedom in sexual relationships
• Increase in divorce
  Against - Many women were forced out of jobs during the war

What is an argument for and against better living standards during the war?

For - conditions improved with a welfare state on the way
Against - in the Land Army, women's living conditions were very poor

What is an argument for and against the welfare state developing during the war?

For - the Beveridge report identified the 5 giants

• Healthcare and access to hospitals were free
  Against - by the end of WW2, there was no welfare state

What is an argument for and against changing attitudes during the war?

For - traditional values lost much of their force

• US influences had a big impact on society (however, it already did during the 30s, i.e. Hollywood films)
  Against - attitudes didn't change fundamentally

Why was the idea of social mobility due to the war criticised?

It did more to move people from place to place rather than crossing social barriers

Who became prime minister from 1945-51?

Attlee

What did Attlee's government see the beginning of?

The post war consensus

What did Attlee claim he wanted to create?

A new Jerusalem

What did the 1944 Education Act say?

It created the tripartite system (grammar, technical and secondary modern schools) and raised the school leaving age to 15

What did Churchill say about Attlee?

He was a modest man with much to be modest about and an 'empty taxi pulled up to the House of Commons' when he arrived

What 1942 report did Attlee promise to implement?

Beveridge Report

What was the Beveridge Report?

A report on welfare identifying 5 giants - ignore, idleness, want, squalor and disease

What economic policies did the Attlee government adopt?

Keynesian 'stop-go' policies - when the economy grew too fast, raise taxes and bank rates, and vice versa when the economy was too slow

How much did Britain have to loan from the USA?

$5000 million - these loans were negotiated by Keynes

Why was the 1947 winter so awful?

• There was more snow than usual which increased demands for coal
• Bread rationing continued
• There was an expenditure crisis
• It was the age of austerity

By 1949, how much did the pound devalue by?

30%

What acts were passed from 1946-8 that helped the development of the welfare state?

• 1946 National Health Service act (planned the NHS)
• 1946 National Insurance act (universality - everyone will be covered by benefits and wages)
• 1947 Town and Country Planning act (foundation of modern town planning)
• 1948 National Assistance act (homeless, disabled, unmarried and pensioners in poverty could claim benefits)

What were examples of industries nationalised by Attlee?

1946 - coal and aviation
1947 - road and transport
1948 - gas
1949 - iron and steel

Who was the 'architect of the NHS'?

Nye Bevan