Holy Cross High School
Higher History Essay Plan
Britain Essay 6: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE SUCCESS OF THE LABOUR SOCIAL WELFARE
REFORMS, 1945-51
Wording: As with every Higher essay, this could be worded in a number of ways, but the
question will always ask you the same thing. It will ask you to ASSESS THE SUCCESS OF THE
LABOUR SOCIAL WELFARE REFORMS, BETWEEN 1945 AND 1951. As you should now, the
labour government made a series of reforms. This question is essentially asking you to
make an assessment of how successful these were in meeting the needs of the British
people.
Your paragraphs will always be the same for this question. The five giants:
Want, Disease, Idleness, Ignorance and Squalor.
NOTE: Make sure your essay covers ALL of these topics. As this is an ASSESSMENT question
and not an EVALUATION question, the question asked will not change much.
Possible titles:
A. How successful were the post War Labour government in creating a Welfare State?
B. How proud can the post War Labour government be of their attempts to meet the
needs of the British people?
C. To what extent did the post war Labour government meet the needs of the British
people?
D. How effective was the 1945-51 Labour Government in achieving its aims?
My only advice as you write this essay is to follow the wording of the
question asked. Although your content and analysis is likely to be the
same regardless of the wording of the question, the WAY you evaluate this
analysis should be written using the wording of the question. Once again,
try to make links between the different factors
“So, while it is apparent that the Labour Government deserve enormous credit for their
attempts to create a welfare state, it is evident that these attempts ultimately fell
short of what could be truly defined ‘a welfare state’ (this might be evaluation of essay
A- note how I use the wording of the question).
Holy Cross High School
Faculty of Social Subjects (History)
Essay Plan
Introduction:
Starting Period: Make sure you set the essay in context. The event you are going to be writing about is the post
war government of 1945 to 1951, so it is clear to see where your essay will begin (by telling me what Britain
was like in 1945). (summarise briefly but try to grab my attention effectively- DON’T BE BORING)
Ending Period: By 1951, 1928, Britain now looked like….. (Use your own phrasing- mention what has changed in
Britain with reference to the Labour Government reforms).
Argument: Don’t leave me guessing. Argue from the introduction. Some of you will argue that Labour WAS
ultimately successful (Whilst acknowledging limitation), While others will emphasise the achievements over
limitation. This essay will argue that….
Factors: Mention the factors that your essay will develop on. Summarise these factors (it should go beyond a
simple ‘list’.
Paragraph 1: DISEASE
I would begin here because Labour’s legacy is so famous. What were the health ‘needs’ of the people in Britain
(from the Beveridge Report?). What did Labour do? What were the positive impacts of this on the people? What
was the limitation? Overall, how did Labour do on the giant of ‘disease’?
Paragraph 2: SQUALOR
REMEMBER TO LINK PARAS!!! Take the paragraphs in an order that suits you (it might not be squalor next). But
essentially do the same. What were the housing ‘needs’ of the people in Britain (from the Beveridge Report?).
What did Labour do? What were the positive impacts of this on the people? What was the limitation? Overall,
how did Labour do on the giant of ‘squalor’?
Paragraph 3: WANT
LINK!!! What were the benefits ‘needs’ of the people in Britain (from the Beveridge Report?). What did Labour
do? What were the positive impacts of this on the people? What was the limitation? Overall, how did Labour do
on the giant of ‘want’?
Paragraph 4: IDLENESS
LINK!!! What were the employment ‘needs’ of the people in Britain (from the Beveridge Report?). What did
Labour do? What were the positive impacts of this on the people? What was the limitation? Overall, how did
Labour do on the giant of ‘idleness’?
Paragraph 5: IGNORANCE
LINK!!! What were the educational ‘needs’ of the people in Britain (from the Beveridge Report?). What did
Labour do? What were the positive impacts of this on the people? What was the limitation? Overall, how did
Labour do on the giant of ‘ignorance’?
A top essay will also include awareness of historical debate. It will also continually refer to the
question and summarise at the end of paragraphs.
Conclusion:
Summarise!!! Make sure you come to a BALANCED but strong conclusion (Take a side, but acknowledge other
sides). I want you to let me know the real extent to which you think the reforms worked! Remember the
structure (use as a basis for your conclusion but try to develop)
1) In conclusion… (1 sentence answering the question: Acknowledge the different sides of the argument…)
2) On one hand…(summarise one side of the argument i.e the ‘positive case’)
3) On the other hand… (summarise the other side of the argument i.e ‘the limitations’)
Cross High
Faculty of Social Subjects (History)
4)Holy
Overall…(
giveSchool
an overall judgement)