The Making of Modern Britain (1951-1964)

When was Churchill prime minister?

1951-1955

When was Eden prime minister?

1955-1957

When was MacMillan prime minister?

1957-1963

What were Churchill’s strengths?

Foreign dimplomacy, respected world leader

What was Churchill known as?

An “absentee” PM as he was uninterested in domestic affairs

What were Eden’s strengths?

Experienced in foreign policy under Churchill

What were Macmillan strengths?

Strong reputation + united Conservatives after Suez Crisis

What were the leading Conservatives known as?

One nation Conservatives as they continued the post war consensus

What system benefitted the Conservative Party in the 1951 election?

First past the post - most of the MPs elected were Conservative

What was the post war consensus?

When the Conservative Party continued the Labour Party’s policies from 1945-1951

What was Churchill not?

a “nuts and bolts” man

Why did Macmillan’s popular dwindle towards the end of his premiership?

He became a Lord + linked with the establishment

When was Lord Home prime minister?

1963 - 1965

Why was Lord Home unpopular?

He was not elected + he represented the establishment

What is the post war consensus also known as?

Butskellism

How did the Conservatives uphold the post war consensus in education?

Continued the tripartite system set up by 1944 Butler Act

What did the Conservative Party’s seat numbers rise to in 1953?

17-60

What did the Conservative Party’s seat numbers rise to in 1959?

60-100

What was full employment?

Controlling unemployment, average 200,000 (3%) unemployed

How many houses did MacMillan build a year by 1953?

300,000

What industries were de-nationalised in 1953?

Iron + Steel

Why was the Labour Party divided between 1951-1964?

Bevan (left-wing) + Gaitskell (right-wing) fought, Gaitskell defeated the Bevanites in 1955 but the left continued to cause issues

What problems did prescription charges cause?

The left thought prescriptions should be free, the right thought charges were needed to combat financial pressures + Bevan resigned in 1951

What was clause IV?

A clause in the Labour party’s constitution - outlined the commitment to public ownership of major industriues

Why did Clause IV cause problems?

The left supported nationalisation, the right thought it was only applicable in certain situations, Trade Unions were worried it was going to be abandoned + Gaitskell had to back down from amending it in 1959

Why did nuclear weapons cause divides within the Labour Party?

The left and trade unions supported unilateral disarmament while the right were against it, in 1961 Gaitskell reversed the motion to support unilateral disarmament

What budget cut taxes in 1955?

Butler’s April budget, cut income tax (gave away £134 million) + raised personal allowances

Why was the “Pots + Pans” budget introduced in 1955?

The state of the economy worsened by October + taxes increased

When was the NHS set up?

1948

How was the benefit system described?

“Cradle to Grave”

How much did exports increase by in 1951?

80%

what countries were ahead of Britain economically?

West Germany + Japan

What was “Stop + Go” economics?

If the economy slowed too much it would be encouraged through low interest rates, if the economy sped up too much interest rates would increase + wage increases would be controlled

What was one weakness of “Stop + Go” economics?

It was extremely reactionary

When was the Suez Crisis?

1956

What did the 1957 Wolfenden report do?

Recommend that private homosexual liaisons should be permitted (influenced 1967 Sexual offences Act)

What is the 1957 Homicide Act an example of?

Liberal social reform

When was full employment achieved?

1955

When did austerity + rationing end?

1954

What was the post war boom?

A switch in industries (e.g electrical + engineering), 5 million workers in service industry + coal mines decreasing

What was the “Baby Boom”?

Birth rates increasing by 5%

What economic method did Thorneycroft + Powell prefer?

Monetarism

What is monetarism?

Supply side economics + reducing government spending

How did the Suez Crisis impact the economy?

The economy was weakened, gold reserves dropped by ¼ after the 1956 US sanctions

How was de-colonisation impacted by the Suez Crisis?

De-colonisation sped up + Britain’s position as a superpower declined

What domestic issue arose after the Suez Crisis?

40 MPs rebelled (e.g Anthony Nutting)

Why was Eden forced to resign in 1957?

His deception + the Suez Crisis was exposed

When did the economy grow at its fastest rate?

Between 1960-1964

When did the government apply for a loan from the IMF?

1961

When and why was the National Eonomic Development Council set up?

1961, to plan economic growth

When and why was the National Incomes Commision established?

1962, to manage wages + prices

What did the 1963 Beeching report suggest?

6,000 miles (30%) of railway should be closed, this resulted in stations closing + thousands of miles of railway being closed

What was the payment deficit by 1964?

£800 million

How much did men’s weekly wages increase by from 1951-1961?

£8.30-£15.35

What were “labour saving” devices?

Washing machines + Dishwashers

When was ITV launched?

1955

How did Butler describe Britain?

A “classless society” + “have and have more”

How did MacMillan describe the 1950s?

“Never had it so good”

How much did car ownership increase by?

25% between 1957-1959

When did motorways begin to be built?

1958

How many people went on holiday?

60,000 people at Butlins, less than 2%

Who were the “Establishment”?

Rich, white men who dominated all aspects of society

What was the Profumo affair?

A conservative MP began an affair with a dancer called Keeler who was involved with a Russian military member. In 1963, Profumo lied about the affair to parliament but later resigned as he was exposed.

Who were the “Angry Young Men” group?

Young men who wrote books and plays to criticise the establishment + archaic attitudes

What percentage of women were married by 21?

75%

When did Empire Windrush sail to Britain + how many passengers were onboard?

1948 with 492 passengers

When and where were there race riots?

1958 in Nottingham + Notting Hill

Who was Oswald Moseley?

Leader of the Union of British Fascists - built his campaign to become the MP for Notting Hill on repatriation

What is repatriation?

Returning to your country of origin / your grandparent’s country of origin

What did the 1962 Immigrants Act do?

Limited immigration

What was the European Free Trade Association and when was is set up?

An economic group was small Scandinavian countries, created in 1958

What is one of the reasons for Britain’s application to the EEC being rejected in 1963?

The “Special Relationship” with USA, European countries worried about American influence

What did the left refer to the EEC as?

The Capitalist Club

Who vetoed Britain’s 1963 application for the EEC?

French President, Charles De Gaulle, worried it would lessen French influence

Who opposed Britain joining the EEC?

The right, Enoch Powell thought it would limit Britain’s sovereignty

When was NATO formed?

1949

What war did the US urge Britain to join?

1950 Korean War

What was the Burgess + Maclean spy scandal in 1951

Two British diplomats were exposed as being soviet spies

What was the Mutual Defence Agreement?

An agreement to share nuclear technology with the USA

When was the Mutual Defence signed?

1958

What is an independence movement that fought against colonisation?

The Mau Mau Rebellion in Kenya in 1952

Which country gained its independence 1st?

India in 1947

What speech did MacMillan make in 1960?

“Winds of change” speech

What % of the public supported nuclear weapons in 1952?

60%

How much did Britain receive in Marshall Aid in 1948?

£1.263 Billion

How many people protested against Nuclear Weapons in Aldermaston?

8,000 in 1958 + 1959

What did Richard Haggart (social scientist) argue?

Britain continued to be class ridden

What did the government introduce in 1961 to curb inflation?

Pay pause - limits pay increase to 2.5%

What % of oil passed through the Suez Canal?

80% of western oil

What were the costs of the 1952 Mau Mau rebellion?

£55 million + 50,000 Mau Mau casualties

What were the Conservatives associated with in 1953?

The new Elizabethan age (golden age)

In what sector was equal pay achieved in 1952?

Teaching

How much did washing machine ownership increase by?

50% 1957 - 1959

How many immigrants had moved to Britain by 1958?

210,000 from commonwealth countries

When did young boys stop having to take part in national service?

1960

How many teenagers were there in 1959?

5 million