1964-1970

Making of Modern Britain 2S

What was the backround of Wilson?

lower middle class background
Oxford Uni

What were Wilson’s strengths?

economic struggles
cautious
unfulfilled promises
insecure about his leadership
had advisors outside of gov

What were the strengths of Wilson?

modernising labour
electoral success
party unity
liberal social reforms
1st PM to go to state school
foreign policy success

When was the National plan set up under Wilson?

1965

What did the National Plan do?

set targets / national system of econ planning councils

What were the aims of the National Plan?

secure restraint to prevent rising inflation

When was the prices and incomes policy?

1966

What did the prices and incomes policy do?

industries told gov when they were raising wages

When was the sterling crisis and why did it happen?

1966 - strike by National Union of Seamen

Why did the gov / TU relationship break down?

Frank Cousins - trade unionist - resigned from cabinet

When was the £ devalued?

1967

What was inflation and unemployment in 1964?

I ~ 3.3%
UE ~ 1.6%

What was inflation and unemployment in 1970?

I ~ 6.4%

EU ~ 3.8%

When did the UK reapply to join the EEC?

1967

When was the UK’s second EEC application rejected and why?

1967 - de gaulle feared Uk would act as ‘trojan horse’ for US interests

When was ‘in place of strife’?

1969

What did ‘in place of strife’ say?

would strengthen unions but had aspects they wouldn’t accept

What is an example of an aspect of ‘in place of strife’ TUs didnt agree with?

28 day cooling off period b4 a strike

What was the UK Balance of Payments in 1964?

deficit of £402mil

What was the UK Balance of Payments in 1970?

surplus of £790mil

What were opinion polls saying regarding support for TUs?

60% support them

How much was the £ devalued by in 1967?

14.3%

What did the devaluation of the £ hope to do?

made UK goods cheaper in other countries

What were the failures of devaluation?

didnt solve LT issues
triggered inflation
no lasting economic growth

Which unionist did wilson appoint to cabinet and when?

Frank Cousins - 1964

When were troops sent into N.Ireland by Wilson?

1969

What happened with the Apprentice Boys in N. Ireland?

went on their annual mark and were attacked by nationalists in Bogside

When did the civil rights movement in N. Ireland begin?

1964

What were the 3 main reasons for labour losing in 1970?

Conservative Strengths
Disillusionment of labour voters
Labour record in office

How much did labour membership decline 1966-1970?

150,000

What did heath pledge to do regarding TUs?

reform industrial law

How many days lost to strikes 1970?

11mil

How many days lost to strikes 1964?

2.2mil

What was the cumulative inflation rate 1964-70?

31%

How many labour votes were lost 1966-1979?

900,000

What did Wilson promise about devaluation?

the ‘pound in your pocket’ wouldn’t be devalued

When was the first Race Relations Act and what did it do?

1965 - banned public discrimination

When was the second Race Relations Act and what did it do?

1968 - outlawed workplace and housing discrimination

When was the UDI?

1965

Who was the PM of Rhodesia?

Ian Smith

When were the talks on HMS Tiger?

1966

When were the talks on the HMS Fearless?

1968

Why did Wilson’s gov start to withdraw from E of Suez?

too expensive to maintain territories

What was the defence budget aimed to be below by 1970?

£2bn

Which war did Wilson ensure he didn’t commit military personnel?

Vietnam War

What was Wilson’s view on the special relationship

saw its importance but reluctant to align too closely with US policy

What approuch did wilson take to the special relationship?

pragmatic

What is an example of an anti-vietnam war protest that took place and when?

Grosvenor Square 1968

What did wilson do instead of sending military aid to vietnam?

verbal support not military

How many troops did Britain send into the Korean War?

14,000

How much was the UK’s commitment of troops to the korean war compared to the US?

UK - 14,000 troops

US - 300,000 troops

Where did Britain have key strategic bases?

singapore / cyprus

When was Enoch Powel’s ‘Rivers of Blood’ Speech?

1968

What did a 1965 survey say regarding race relations?

1/5 objected to working with black/asian people

9/10 disapproved of mixed marriages

When and what was the Dangerous Drugs act?

1967 - unlawful to posess drugs like cannabis and cocaine

When was the maximum sentense for supplying drugs increased and to what?

1970 - 14yrs

When was the Divorce Reform Act?

1969

How much did divorce rates intrease 1950-1970?

2in1000 to 10in1000

When was the death penalty abolished?

1969

When was the Legalisation of Abortion and what was it introduced as by who?

1967 - PMB David Steel

Much much did number of abortions increase by 1968 - 1975?

4per100 to 18per100

When was the Sexual Offences Act and what was it introduced as and by who?

1967 - PMB Leo Abse

When was the Open University created and who oversaw it?

1969 - Jenny Lee (cabinet member) & Wilson

How many people had a TV 1970?

75%

When was their an anti-vietnam war riot in Grosvenor Square?

1968

When was the Theatres Act and what did it do?

1968 - abolish censorship

When and what was the Obscene Publications Act?

1959 - adult literature in the interests of science, literature, art or learning should be exempt from censorship

What did young people begin listening to music wise and on what stations?

pop music on luxemburg and from 1964 - radio stations

When was the Sun magazine bought and by who?

Robert Murdoch - 1969

How much of leisure time did TV account for in 1969?

23%

How much did holidays increase 1951-1971?

25mil to 34mil

When was Britannia Airways founded?

1964

What year did gangs of mods and rockers fight eachother at beachside resorts and how many were arrested?

1964 - 76 arrests in Brighton

What association fought for the legalisation of abortion?

Abortion Law Reform Association

When was the Ruth Ellis case?

1955

What did the Ruth Ellis case do?

gave the anti-hanging campaign a support boost

What was the Ruth Ellis case?

Shot her abusive husband

last woman to be hung

How did chemical energy benefit people?

Aid in health sector and more research jobs availible

What illnesses had a lesser impact due to breakthrough drugs being discovered?

malaria, heart disease and some cancer

what % of higher education students were women 1970?

40%

When was the Matrimonial Property Act?

1970

When was the Equal Pay Act?

1970

When was the Family Planning Act?

1967

What % of women reached managerial positions?

5%

Evidence British and Immigrants and Ideas came together successfully

• Notting Hill Carnival - annual event from 1964

• Race Relations Acts

• Youth culture drew from ethnic communities in music/fashion/street life

  • Asian corner shops and chinese takeaways introduced new foodstuffs

Evidence British and Immigrants and Ideas still had tensions?

• Loopholes - employers still disciminated

• Race relational board only upheld 10% of over 1000 complaints

• Gallup Poll - 75% agreed with what powell said

• Discrimination in housing and employment excluded from race relations acts

• 1965 survey