Culture and Society of the English Speaking World - The United Kingdom 2024-2025
Post-War Britain
The New Jerusalem (1945-1969)
This period is often referred to as the era of "The New Jerusalem."
Clement Attlee, in 1945, referenced building Jerusalem in England.
Danny Boyle's 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremony echoed this sentiment, emphasizing a better world with real freedom and true equality.
The vision was to build this new world through industry, a caring welfare state, popular culture, and universal communication.
The Labour party was committed to implementing the Beveridge Report (1942).
The Beveridge Report focused on social insurance and fighting the five 'Giant Evils': Want, Disease, Ignorance, Squalor, and Idleness.
In 1945, Britain was close to bankruptcy.
A 2.7 billion) of the Marshall Plan.
Introducing welfare required drastic savings and raising state income through:
Planned economy.
Nationalizing industries.
Controlled economy.
Austerity and rationing.
Undoing the empire, including India's independence in 1947.
The Welfare State led to a political consensus on social democracy.
In 1948, the National Health Service (NHS) was established, providing healthcare free at the point of use.
This was seen as Britain assuming the moral leadership of the world.
The Festival of Britain in 1951 was a popular celebration of national recovery, showcasing British science and technology.
The Conservatives won the election in 1951, with Churchill leading a mood of national nostalgia.
The coronation of Elizabeth II in 1952 heralded a new 'Elizabethan age.'
The Suez Crisis in 1956 marked the symbolic end of the Empire.
Prime Minister Harold Macmillan stated in 1957 that Britons 'have never had it so good,' reflecting a rise in the standard of living.
The Profumo Affair in 1963 was a Conservative Establishment crisis.
The 1960s saw the rise of a “permissive society,” countering the conservative outlook of Britain.
There was a retreat from strict control:
'Lady Chatterley' trial (1960).
Abolition of the death penalty (1965).
Abortion Act (1967).
Sexual Offences Act (1967).
Theatres Act (1968).
Divorce Act (1969).
Conflict and Division (1970-1979)
The 1970s were plagued by the “British Disease,” characterized by:
Low industrial productivity.
Government subsidizing inefficient nationalized industries.
Militant trade unionism.
The UK sought membership in the EEC to remedy the stagnating economy.
The European Economic Community (Common Market) was established in 1957.
The UK was vetoed by Charles de Gaulle in 1963 and 1967, who considered the UK “insular” and an “American agent” in the EEC.
Britain joined the EEC in 1973 under Conservative PM Edward Heath.
The climate included stagnating economic growth and inflation.
Excessive union demands for higher wages.
There were 'Troubles' in Northern Ireland.
Since 1921, Northern Ireland had a devolved parliament (Stormont).
The ruling Protestant UUP had a hold on all areas of life.
The Catholic population experienced discrimination in housing, jobs, education, and public functions.
The British government did not intervene.
1968 marked the start of civil rights movements.
1969 saw the escalation of sectarian violence between the PIRA (Cath) and UDA (Protestant).
Border bombing campaigns and British army checkpoints became a feature of life.
1971 marked the start of “internment,” i.e., arrest without trial.
Bloody Sunday: January 30, 1972, 13 unarmed civilians were killed in (London)derry.
The IRA extended bombing campaigns to England; the Guildford pub bombing (1974) led to wrongful convictions (“the Guildford four”).
Thatcher and the End of Consensus (1979-1990)
The Winter of Discontent (1978-1979) saw the rise of anti-union sentiment.
Margaret Thatcher was the Conservative PM from 1979–1990.
She was the first female political leader in the West.
Known as a “confrontational politician” with a Protestant work ethic.
She implemented radical New Right policies and polarized society.
Thatcherism = an attack on socialism and consensus politics.
Reduced the role of the state.
Privatized industries (British Petroleum, British Telecom …).
Stressed consumer mentality & individualism (“there’s no such thing as society”).
Reduced commitment to the welfare state.
Contained strong elements of patriotism, moral fervour, a strenuous work ethic, and individualism and frugality.
Her policies polarized the nation and deepened the divide between North and South.
The 1980 Housing Act introduced the