Britain Transformed essay plans:
Essay plans in document:
1. How far do you agree that Britain experienced economic progress in the years
1918–39?
2. How far do you agree that the growth of university education was the most
significant development in education in the years 1918–79?
3. How far do you agree that, in the years 1918–79, the most significant factor
improving leisure and travel was the growth of car ownership?
4. Were the after-effects of the First World War the main reason for the economic
challenges of the 1920s and 1930s?
5. Was economic prosperity the main reason for changes in leisure opportunities
from 1951–1979?
6. How similar was welfare provision in the years 1918–39 to that in the years 1945–
79?
7. To what extent did attitudes to immigration and race change in the years 1945–
79?
8. How accurate is it to say that it was the experience of the Second World War
which led to the creation of the welfare state in the years 1945–51?
9. How far do you agree that economic influences were the main driver of social
change in the 1950s and 1960s?
10. How accurate is it to say that, in the years 1945–79, there were very limited
differences in the policies of the Conservative and Labour parties?
11. How accurate is it to say that the most significant influence on quality of life in
Britain in the years 1918-51 was regional differences?
12. How far do you agree that the main reason women saw advancements in their
role and status in the years 1945–79 was as a result of their war work in the
years 1939–45?
13. How far did the role of women change in the years 1918–45?
14. Was cost the main reason the state faced increasing challenges in welfare
provision in the 1960s and 1970s?
15. How accurate is it to say that the growth of youth culture was the most
significant development in popular culture in the years 1950–79?
16. How accurate is it today that it was popular culture that had the most influential
effect on the changing attitudes towards sexual behaviour in the period 1951-79?
17. How accurate is it to say that there was little difference between the political and
economic policies of labour and the conservative governments 1945-
64? Consensus politics
18. How far did women succeed in gaining greater personal freedoms by 1939?
19. Was liberal legislation the main reason for the rise of more permissive society
values in British society between 1951-79? How far do you agree that the
landslide victory of the Labour party on the 1945 general election was only
possible because of Britain’s experience in the second world war?
20. How far do you agree the NHS was a success in health care provision during the
years 1945-79?
21. How accurate is it to say that the General Strike of 1926 marked the lowest point
industrial relations in the years 1918-79?
22. How accurate is to say that the education act of 1944 transformed the provision
of education in the years 1945-79?
23. How far did the welfare provision change in the years 1918-39?
24. To what extent did popular culture change British society in the years 1945-79?
25. How far do you agree that attitudes towards immigrants changed in the years
1945- 79?
26. How accurate is to say that Aneurin Bevan was the most important reason why
the provision of healthcare changed so drastically in the years 1918-79?
27. How accurate is it to say that Britain became a truly affluent society in the years
1945- 79?
,28. To what extent did the political landscape change between 1918-79?
29. National government 1931-35
30. How far do you agree that in the years 1918–79 women made substantial gain in
their position and status?
31. How far did women succeed in attaining personal freedom between 1945 and
1979?
32. To what extent did healthcare provision change from 1918-79?
33. How accurate is it to say that there were few significant improvements in
education provision in the years 1918 to 1943?
34. How accurate is it to say the role of women in the family changed significantly in
the years 1918-79?
35. How far do you agree that popular culture reflected changing attitudes in British
society in the years 1918-79?
36. To what extent was there a period of considerable industrial unrest in 1918-39?
37. To what extent were Labour and Conservative governments successful in tackling
the economic problems faced by Britain in the years 1964-79?
38.To what extent did working opportunities and conditions change 1939-79?
39. How far did standards of living across Britain improve in the years 1918-39?
40. How accurate is it to say that the most important development in popular culture
in the post-war period was the growth of television?
41. How far did the Second World War and post-war austerity to 1951 affect living
standards?
How accurate is it to say that there was little difference between the political
and economic policies of labour and the conservative governments 1945-
64? Consensus politics
- Labour and conservative had post war consensus – widespread agreement amongst
leaders of policies – similar aims e.g. 1951 conservative government accepted
Labours Attlee’s middle way policies e.g. maintain full employment, mixed economy,
larger welfare state. Some differences e.g. ideological aims.
Social policy consensus
- Little difference, war centralised views with collectivism and so conservative
accepted more socialist policies, more ‘One nation approach’, more state intervention
accepted like Labour 1945 who won due to manifesto on social reforms e.g.
Beveridge report.
- Labour – NHS, extended national insurance, widely popular, conservatives pledged
they would remain as well as more improvements e.g. immigration, housing, health
e.g. build 300,000 houses per year goal was surpassed and Labour failed to achieve
this goal but shows consensus between parties of affordable housing. Was said
conservative homes were better quality
- NHS by Bevan Labour was accepted, conservative minister of health aims to improve
hospital funding but struggled but still shows acceptance and similarities.
Immigration agreement – both Attlee and Churchill aimed to discourage immigration
from the New commonwealth by restricting passport availability
- Some disagreement e.g. conservative education 11+ criticised as
elitist/discriminatory – labour had different values both social policies across parties
the same
Economic policies
- Attlee’s middle way took central path with mixed economy, full employment,
Keynesianism economy, was maintained through conservative government, small
changes e.g. denationalisation. Conservatives faced issues with trade unions due to
past negative reputation e.g. 26’ general strike. Churchill PM didn’t want to anger
unions so avoided conflict e.g. introduced industrial charter 1947 – ensures full
employment, efficiency in industry = keeps unions happy, aligns with Labour full
employment goals.
- Labour nationalised key industries = mixed economy to improve efficiency and
improve worker-employer conditions. Accepted by conservative, slight shift in policy
, e.g. conservatives denationalised steel, iron, transport but most stayed nationalised.
Conservative maintained state spending which labour increased for NHS, pensions,
insurance. Lots of overlaps but conservatives had £134m giveaway budget to middle
class to win election which was removed 5 months after but Gaitskell labour leader
criticised this – lack of agreement.
- Conservatives faced industrial relations issues as unions grew to a ‘British disease’
and damaged trade in UK as foreign competition increased = imbalance of payments
with imports and exports. Conservatives had stop-go economics to handle inflation
which wasn’t supported by labour as it affected WC worse whereas Labour managed
issues with austerity measures, such as continued rationing, under the Chancellor
Stafford Cripps. WC mainly labour supporters – largely consensus but some
differences with unions
Ideological differences
- Largest difference but wartime collectivism aligned some views. Labour elected 1945
due to more socialist ideas views positively after war – greater state involvement,
achieved with labours left wing approach. Conservative become more centralised and
created consensus with their paternalistic approach and labours centralised Gaitskell
views agreed. Still some resentment with parties e.g. Labour Bevin called
conservatives lower than vermin and he was influential in labour = stark difference
between left of labour and conservatives. Macmillan attempted to join EEC for
economic benefits was criticised by labour leader who claimed it threatened Britain’s
sovereignty but Britain wasn’t accepted into it meaning there was little to disagree
over but still reflects difference in attitudes between party leaders
- Common ground between Attlee and Macmillan, but remember the Labour Party
maintains its commitment to Clause IV. To the left of the party this was important –
Nye Bevan was prepared to leave cabinet rather than sacrifice his ideals.
Conservative wasn’t motivated by the same issues of social reform as labour and only
did this to maintain popularity
Conclusion – social and economic policies were similar and continuation of labour
policies, both had similar aims e.g. welfare state, full employment, maintaining trade
unions and mixed economy – lack of ideological consensus
How accurate is it to say that, in the years 1945–79, there were very limited
differences in the policies of the Conservative and Labour parties?
Limited differences
- Both parties remained committed to the central aspects of the welfare state, such as
the National Health Service
- Both parties largely remained wedded to the policies influenced by the ideas of John
Maynard Keynes and William Beveridge (both Liberals)
- After the limited denationalisations of 1951, both accepted nationalised industry to
some degree
- Both parties remained committed to full employment as a central objective of
economic policy until 1975
- Both parties were anxious to appease the trade unions until the late 1960s, from
which time both came to see the need for legislation.
Significant differences
- Disagreement over issues such as nationalisation and rationing were evident in the
elections of 1950 and 1951
- In education, the Labour Party sought to end the tripartite system with Circular 10/65
(Crosland Circular), which the Conservative government from 1970 sought to replace
with Circular 10/70
- The degree of hostility between the trade unions and Conservatives can be seen to
have been greater than that with Labour (from the Heath government onwards)
- The polarisation that took place in the 1970s within and across both the two main
parties.
How far do you agree that the landslide victory of the Labour Party
in the 1945 general election was only possible because of Britain's
experience in the Second World War?
Election
, - Labour landslide victory 393 seats = first majority labour government 148 –
war gave labour electorate trust. Arguably due to Homefront leadership e.g.
reforms, Attlee’s efficiency, party’s strength and focused on British domestic
issues, also labours strong campaign of labour as face of future and away
from war and new ideas of social reform. Also conservatives long term
mistakes could have swayed public opinion
Labour leadership
- Home front, social reforms. Attlee leader was deputy PM on wartime cabinet
– influence on domestic issues e.g. new ideas such as new social order to
improve housing, free medical services, employment, William Beveridge-
Beveridge report 1942 social reform climaxed – 5 giant evils and aimed to
implement social security, NHS, full employment etc. Popular amongst
public after wartime hardship and pre-war e.g. hungry 30s – depression and
mass unemployment. Labour emphasised report in manifesto – sense of
hope amongst electorate.
- Labour ministers played role in cabinet e.g. Morrison, home secretary
rebuilding of areas affected by the Blitz whilst Bevin worked on employment
in the mines and better conditions – shows unity and focused on issues
ignored by conservatives. Churchill was focused on war/foreign issues and
had qualities of good war leader – ill-suited for domestic peacetime politics.
Singlemindedness in war was asset in national emergency but neglected
conservative interests in war years aka why many swapped to labour for
their views to be represented. Labour wanted to move on from war which
was linked to Churchill and his leadership – war helped labour gain
supporters
Labours Campaign
- Effectively presented ideas of reform, distanced form war, used propaganda
against conservatives, focused on welfare state e.g. free housing and more
employment – appealed to public after war and welfare once negatively
associated with socialism but war time nationalisation of mines, full
employment and social reforms meant welfare appealed to public. Labours
links to left wing e.g. communism was seen less negatively after war as
Russia was ally e.g. uncle joe nickname. Manifesto could represent more left
wind ideas without negative backlash associated
- Electorate trusted labour after war leadership e.g. Beveridge report and had
peoples trust and saw their efficiency. Used propaganda e.g. pre-war
conservatives appeased Hitler and responsible for failure to rearm Britain.
Painted 30s as poverty and mass unemployment causing public
acknowledgement of their weaknesses compared to recent labour strength
- Key part of manifesto ‘let us face the future’ to distance from war which
negatively impacted electorate compared to conservatives who played on
Churchill as man who won the war, holding onto negative past, not
suggesting new ideas, conservative failed to show Beveridge report much
enthusiasm and publicly claimed labour had features of German ‘gestapo’ –
excessive and desperate scare tactic. Combo of labour strong and
conservative weak campaigns significant in landslide
Long term causes
- After WW1 broken conservative promises, 30s depression and gradual rise
of labour supporters through this. Labour campaign remined people of this
e.g. mass unemployment = bad living conditions and strikes e.g. 1926. Lack
of conservative focus on social reforms reminded of previous hardships e.g.
Jarrow hunger marches, means test. Conservative campaign focuses on how
Churchill won war but after WW2 Lloyd George was elected as he won war
but he broke lots of promises e.g. homes for heroes was key in 1918
