AIC Context

John Boynton Priestley born in 1894 Bradford Yorkshire
Industrial Bradford had high levels on poverty, slums, impoverished conditions whilst respectable folk were smug and hypocritical
Father passionate socialist
Fought in ww1but was scathing : "The British army specialised in throwing men away for nothing “
WW2 BBC postscripts show promoted a better, fairer society for after war + boosted national morale
1942 - cofounder of socialist Common wealth party
Helped Labour to win 1945 election and form Welfare State
Studied Modern History and Political Science at Cambridge Uni - providing foundation for socialist critique

1912	1945
Rigid unequal class system	Depression reduced class divide
Little social mobility	1928 Equal Franchise Act - all men and women over 21 could vote
Poverty was rife	Stereotypes and prejudice still remained
Landed Gentry opposed industrialists
Servant class - served upper class

1912	1945
Capitalist and conservative	Labour won by landslide victory
Trade unions grew stronger but demands ignored	National Insurance 1945 - Financial protection for illness, unemployment, pensions etc.
1911 Liverpool Transport Strike - commerce mostly stopped in summer	Britain Nationalised - maintain jobs and stop exploitation
National coal strike 1912 - 37 days till government accepted demands	Social Reform
Liberal Party in charge - minimal interference, personal liberty + individual power - perfect for capitalists	welfare state - NHS, state education, new housing policy, safety + wellbeing - influenced by Beveridge Report
Laissez Faire system - minimal intervention with economy, unrestricted trade and business owners decide price of goods	End of war - bombings, UN, Holocaust uncovered
Pre WW1 - Europe tense, Russia had seen revolution
1911 - National Insurance - sickness benefits for workers
Titanic sank April 1912 - 1,500 killed. Upper class prioritised

1912	1945
No vote	Important role in war recognised
Patriarchal Society	Women’s suffrage had become more violent - martyrs dyeing - Emily Davison - horse
Women property of father + husband	1918 - women over 30 allowed to vote
inferior	1928 - same legal rights as men
Few had formal education	Still issues of prejudice
Suffrage movement had gained momentum

Karl Marx late 19th century

Based on idea of socialising and working together

Cooperation, empowerment of workers

Shared ownership

Enables equality, eliminates equality