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The Making of Modern Britain - Coggle Diagram
The Making of Modern Britain
Post War Consensus - 1945 / 1949
The period in which main UK political parties agreed on major policy areas
Depression of 1930's and WW2 illustrated the need for changes to benefit society
Increased support for state intervention
Beveridge Report (1942)
Written by William Beveridge
Declared that there were five "giants on the road to reconstruction"
Want
adequate income for all
Disease
access to healthcare
Ignorance
good education
Squalor
adequate housing
Idleness
gainful employment
Parties agreed on; Mixed economy w/ some state owned industry and some private
full employment and using keynesian economics
Support for NHS and the welfare state
Working with employers and Trade Unions
Left of Labour felt this didnt go far enough, Right conservatives felt the state was doing too much
Ended by Margaret Thatcher
Why was there a Post War consensus?
Legacy of National Unity
Conservatives convinced of need for a "big government"
Full Employment - Post WW2 fears, didn't want to be seen as a party of unemployment
Importance of Trade Unions - Conservatives wanted a co-operative relationship
Conservative governments; 1951 - 1964
1951
Background
1945; Clement Attlee Labour Party won a landslide victory in the General Election; majority of 146 seats
Replaced Churchill as prime minister, made far-reaching changes to the UK;
Established the Welfare State
Extended system of National insurance and NHS
Nationalisation of Key Industries; railways, iron, coal, steel
Clement Attlee's Legacy
Welfare State
Using the recommendations of the Beveridge report, Labour implemented a system of National Insurance and NHS - provided a system of social care for each citizen
NATO
Played a key role in the formation of NATO in 1949 - defensive alliance
Nuclear Power
Started the programme that turned Britain into a nuclear power; 1947 Labour initiated research that led to Atom Bombs and Hydrogen Bombs
Housing
Initiated a major housing programme - resulted in a million houses being built
Nationalisation
Government owned businesses
1950; General election saw Labours majority cut to 5, not sustainable and Attlee had to call another election a year later
1951 Election
Labour had slightly more votes; however Conservatives won due to FPTP
Winston Churchill returns as prime minister; a position he holds until '55
Labour politicians said Churchills best days were past - thought conservatives would be unable to tackle Britains significant economic difficulties
Conservatives in power until 1964
Conservative Prime Ministers; 1951 - 1964
Winston Churchill
Wartime Prime Minister from 1940-45
Churchills Government - 1951 -> 1955
Not the dynamic figure of WWII at this time
Suffered Serious strokes in 53
Primary interest was that of an International Statesman
Wanted to ensure that another war did not break out
Early years of the Cold War
Did not consider himself a domestic politician
Day to Day running of government was often left to ministers - Rab Butler, Eden or Macmillan.
Still able to ensure stability and a sense of unity
Appointed Non conservative ministers to over see some ministries
Churchills domestic policies were not a radical break from Attlees
Personal tensions between Butler, Eden and Macmillan
Personal Tensions between Eden and Churchill
Eden waited impatiently for Churchill to step down
Anthony Eden
Foreign Secretary during WW2 - was Churchills deputies following his later absences
Edens Government; 1955 - 57
Churchill eventually resigned in 1955
Immediately called a general election - increased conservative majority to 60
Butler became chancellor - Macmillan became foreign secretary
Previous political experience had been in foreign policies
6 months into his premiership, Conservative MP's were already voicing their discontent
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Aimed to prevent industrial conflict
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Led to military action in Suez
Ended in disaster and ruined his reputation as a leader
Came under heavy attack from the Labour Party
Led to Anthony Nutting resigning
Pressure from united states had exposed Britains financial weaknesses
Conservative party was not damaged by Suez
Macmillan supported intervention into suez
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Suez Crisis
Harold Macmillan
Churchills Housing minister; Edens Foreign Secretary
Became Prime Minister after Eden resigned
Restored Party unity without lasting splits
Apparent economic prosperity gained approval from the voters
Butler became Home Secretary
R.A.Butler
The Best Prime Minister Britain never had.
Why was Labour defeated in 1951?
Atlees Government was worn down
Heavy economic and financial difficulties coupled with divisions between the right and left of the party over prescription costs and nuclear weapons
Economic problems: war time debts, balance of payments crisis, declining exports, heavy demands on fuel and power supplies
Industrial concerns: trade union unrest regarding Labour policies
Bevanite rebellions