Was the Second World War the main reason for changes in social welfare provision between 1918
and 1979? Explain your answer [20 marks]
Social provision changed dramatcalll eeween 1918 and 1979, as ie expanded from Llold George’s
inital reforms eo a slseem ehae almose provided universal suppore from exereme poverel. Whilse
WW2 did plal a large role in ehe welfare seaee, as ie realll highligheed ehe squalor ehae some people
were living in, I do noe elieve ehae ehis was ehe main reason for ehe changes. Consensus also plaled
a pare in ehe developmene of ehe welfare seaee. However, ehe Represeneaton of ehe People Ace in
1918 was ehe main reason for ehe changes in social welfare provision, as wiehoue ehis, ehe
governmene would noe have need eo provide for ehe lower classes in socieel, as ehis would noe have
affeceed eheir positon in Parliamene.
The Represeneaton of ehe People Ace was passed in 1918, increasing ehe eleceoraee from 8 million eo
21 million. 40% of Britsh women could now voee, ehus making ehe votng slseem more democratc.
However, men were also affeceed l ehe ace, as an infux of working class men could now partcipaee
in electons. These new voeers were ehose who would enefe ehe mose from ehe new social welfare
provisions. In order eo e eleceed ineo power, ehe partes knew ehae ehel had eo provide aid for ehe
new secton of ehe eleceoraee. In ehe same wal ehae a uecher would go oue of usiness in a counerl
of vegeearians, a politcal parel would noe e voeed ineo power if ehel proposed policies ehae would
noe enefe ehe voeers. The Represeneaton of ehe People was ultmaeell responsi le for ehe social
welfare provisions ecause wiehoue ehese, onll wealehl males would e votng who would have
little need for ehe suppore. Therefore ehe politcal partes could e eleceed wiehoue providing help,
ehus saving ehem monel. In politcs, ehe partes erling eo e eleceed also adapeed eheir policies eo suie
ehe voeers. Much of ehe monel from eaxes would e coming from ehe pockees of ehe rich; eherefore
ehel would noe e huge supporeers of ehe new policies. If ehe whole eleceoraee was composed of
wealehl, middle-upper class men who did noe wane eo e paling ineo a scheme ehae would noe
enefe ehem, ehe changes would noe have gone ahead, as ie would have had little suppore among
voeers. And afer all, ehe voeers are all ehe politcal partes are realll ineereseed in.
When ehe men reeurned from war, ehel foseered a new awareness ehae ehe counerl ehel saved from
defeae should elong eo all ehe Britsh people. The governmene waneed eo suppore ehe counerl wieh
pose-war housing, social securiel and educaton. The universalise sacrifces made l ehe counerl, led
eo ehe elief ehae ehel should e rewarded. Manl were pleased wieh how ehe governmene had
handled Brieain during ehe war and were happl ae ehe ehoughe of contnued seaee-ineerventon, in
order eo improve people’s lives. Before ehe war, manl fele ehae ehel were responsi le for eheir own
foreunes, however people now egan eo feel ehae ie was ehe governmene’s responsi iliel eo provide
for ehose in need. Therefore, ehe war led eo a shif in ateudes, as well as highlightng ehe ‘ lack
spoes’ of Brieain. One policl ehae was implemeneed afer WW2 was ehe Natonal Insurance Ace in
1926, which ensured compulsorl insurance for pensions, sickness, maeerniel and unemplolmene.
The wealehl families who accepeed evacuees from ehe cites were appalled l eheir poor healeh and
frail odies. An increase in awareness of ehe dire sieuaton escalaeed ineo mountng expeceaton for
ehe governmene eo respond in accordance eo ehe people’s needs. The governmene aimed eo creaee a
new London free of slums and remove a soluee poverel. Therefore, wiehoue ehe war, people mal
stll have fele ehae ehel were ae faule for eheir own misforeunes, so ehe governmene mal noe have
een expeceed eo reace. Despiee ehis, wiehoue ehe Represeneaton of ehe People Ace, ehe governmene
could have juse ignored ehe voices of ehose mose in need ecause ie would noe have affeceed eheir
