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Essay plans for the section 'The affluent society, 1951-64' AQA A level History Making of Modern Britain
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1951 – 1964 Questions | 2S Modern BritainConservative governments
The Conservative Party lost the 1964 election because they were outdated and out of touch with the
electorate. Assess the validity.
‘Internal divisions within The Labour Party made it unable to challenge the Conservative Party’s political
dominance between 1951 and 1964.’ Assess the validity
‘The Conservative Party won elections between 1951 and 1964 as a result of voters’ increasing prosperity.’
Assess the validity.
Economic developments
The Conservatives stop-go fundamentally weakened the British economy. Assess the validity. (2017 A level
paper)
‘The British economy was fundamentally successful between 1951 and 1964.’ Assess the validity.
Societal developments
‘Societal change in the period 1951 to 1964 has been much exaggerated.’ Assess the validity.
‘The decline in deference (polite submission and respect) was the most significant social change in the
period 1951 to 1964.’ Assess the validity.
Foreign relations
Factors other than President de Gaulle are more important in explaining Britain’s exclusion from the process
of European integration between 1951 and 1963.’ Assess the validity.
It was the weakness of its own economy that led Britain to apply to join the EEC in 1963. Assess.
By 1964 Britian could no longer consider itself a world power. Asses the validity. (Specimen).
Britain became completely dependent on the US between 1956 and 1962. Asses the validity. (2019 A level
paper)
1. Conservative governments
The Conservatives were politically dominant because they had effective leaders and
policies. Assess the validity. (2020 A level paper)
Conservatives’ dominance could not be attributed to their effective leaders because Churchill, Eden,
Macmillan and Home had their moments of humiliation. Neither the dominancy could be due to effective
policies, as British economy was in decline while ‘stop-go’ and planning could not benefit it. Britain’s
international standing was undermined by the Suez crisis, rejection to the EEC application and dependence
of the US, so foreign policies were not effective either. The factors that could explain Conservatives’ 13
years in power are the internal divisions in the Labour Party which made the unelectable, the rising livings
standards for the British people, and lucky election timings with the use of the ‘give-away’ budgets.
Reasons for political dominance
1. Effective leaders
Churchill: was more interested in foreign affairs than domestic policies, because he saw his
mission in stopping the conflict between the USSR and America. He was old and had
several strokes which were kept secret. During his absenteeism, Eden acted as a PM.
, 1951 – 1964 Questions | 2S Modern Britain
However, he was still seen as a war hero, and symbol of British victory.
Eden: his period in the government was marred by the Suez Crisis which undermined his
sincerity as he lied to the Cabinet about the invasion. His almost pathetic dedication to
defeat Nasser was mocked and criticised, as the invasion negatively affected the economy
and undermined Britain’s status in the world.
Macmillan: could be the most effective and popular leader of the Conservative Party in
that period. His image of ‘Supermac’ and the rising prosperity contributed to the sense of
his success.
However, by the end of his office he was losing political touch. For example, his reshuffle
of the Cabinet in 1962 was depicted by the press as ‘the Night of the Lond Knives’ - a
ruthless action. Plus, his trust in Profumo and rejection of the accusations of Profumo
having an affair with Keeler undermined his critical thinking.
Sir Douglas Home: see as Edwardian and a representative of the Establishment, so he was
not liked by the electorate. His ‘emergence’ as the leader of the Conservative Party
questioned how democratically he was elected.
Therefore, we cannot say that the Conservative Party had very effective leaders between
1951-64, because all of them had moments of humiliation and weaknesses.
2. Effective policies
Economy:
- Britain’s economy was behind other European countries: GDP was the lowest, industrial
production as well.
- EFTA – trade association with the Commonwealth countries was not effective in
boosting Britain’s exports (balance of trade remained, and balance of payments was in 800
million deficit)
- 1961 – Britian had to take a loan from IMF, which highlighted its economic weaknesses
- Macmillan’s planning policies: NEDI and NIC were not successful, as trade unions were
demanding price increases, and inflation was rising
So, the Conservative government did not have effective economic policies, and so their
successes could not be attributed to them.
Foreign affairs:
- 1956-57 - Suez humiliation – Eden did not expect the backlash from the international
community and American criticism
- 1963 – rejection of Britain’s application to the EEC was another humiliation
- 1960 – Britain gave up on her independent project of nuclear weapons (Blue Streak) and
adopted American Polaris missiles, which highlighted her dependence on America
So, Britian looked like losing her international standing, which demonstrated that the
Conservative’s international policies were also not effective.
3. Divisions in the Labour Party
- leadership struggle between Bevan (the left) and Gaitskell (the right)
- nuclear disarmament was a serious issue: the left of the Labour joined the CND
, 1951 – 1964 Questions | 2S Modern Britain
(Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) and the electorate started associating the Labour
with it. This damaged Labour’s popularity because there were growing fears of the Cold
War, and people were not prepared to feel weak without nuclear deterrent.
On the other hand, the Conservatives were committed to the development of the nuclear
weapons. They tested them (1952 – British first atomic test) and adopted America’s Polaris
missiles.
- growing conflicts with the trade unions. In 1960 they imposed nuclear disarmament on
the Labour Party with the block vote.
People started associating the Labour with hostile and uncontrollable trade unions, while
the Conservatives were cooperating with the trade unions in their economic policies:
National Incomes Commission.
Therefore, the divisions in the Labour Party about the nuclear disarmament and the
growing influence of the trade unions, made it look unelectable compared to the
Conservative Party
4. Rising living standards and prosperity
- 1959 Conservative’s election poster said: ‘Life’s better with the Conservatives. Don’t let
Labour ruin it.’
- the standards of living were rising under the Conservatives: average wage rose from 8 to
18 pounds.
- Mod cons became more available (TVs, refrigerators etc.) which freed time for women
- Conservative’s aim to build 300,000 houses a year was popular and successful
- building of new motorways (M1) and the growing ownership of cars (more by 25% by
c1956) made society more mobile
- holidays and travels became more available: Butlin’s, package holidays
These accomplishments were associated with the Conservative Party, and the electorate
was voting for them. The contrast to the previous austerity of the Labour government also
contributed to the appeal of the Conservatives.
5. Lucky election timings and use of budget policies
- 1955 election under Eden: if it had been after the Suez crisis, which damaged Britain’s
popularity in the world, less people would perhaps vote for the Conservatives
- Plus, Chancellor of the Exchequer at those time - Butler – introduced tax cuts just before
the 1955 election (‘go’ phase of the economy) which appealed to the people
- tax cuts were before 1959 election, and even more (by around 300 million). Although the
economy overheated afterwards, and Butler had to reverse this policy, at that time it
highlighted the image of the growing prosperity of the people.
Therefore, lucky timings (before Suez Crisis) and ‘give-away’ budgets before elections
helped the Conservatives to stay in power.
The Conservative Party lost the 1964 election because they were outdated and out of
touch with the electorate. Assess the validity.
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