AS LEVEL BRITISH HISTORY
Unit 1: Britain, 1906–1951 HIS1L
How effectively did governments respond to new challenges they faced?
Introduction
This unit provides an overview of a period of rapid and significant change affecting British politics, society and the economy. Economic modernisation
and social changes led to demands for new forms of politics. The Labour Party emerged to play an important role, whilst the established political parties
also evolved. There was increased pressure to provide votes for women. Two world wars and the great depression of the 1930s intensified the pace of
social and political change.
Content
Britain, 1906–1914
• The reasons for the ‘Liberal landslide’ in 1906
• The ‘New Liberalism’: social, constitutional and political reforms to 1914
Britain, 1914–1929
• The political and economic impact of the First World War on Britain, 1914–1918
• Social change as a consequence of the war, particularly in regard to the position of women
• The role and importance of Lloyd George in domestic politics to 1923
• Problems of the economy and industrial relations under Conservative and Labour governments, 1923–1929, including the General Strike
Britain, 1929–1940
• The policies of Ramsay MacDonald and the second Labour Government in dealing with the economic crisis, 1929–1931
• The collapse of the Labour government and the formation of the National Government in 1931
• The impact of the 1931 crisis on the Labour Party to 1940
• The work of the National Government in dealing with economic crisis and political extremism
Britain, 1940–1951
• The policies and personalities of the wartime coalition government
• The impact of total war upon society and attitudes
• The reasons for the ‘Labour landslide’ in 1945
• Economic crisis and recovery, 1945–1951
• The achievements of the Attlee government and the birth of the Welfare State
1
Factual Knowledge
Concepts
Key Issues / Likely subjects for essay questions
Britain, 1906–1914
Key Issue • The reasons for the ‘Liberal landslide’ in 1906
Gen. Election 1906 – reasons for Liberal landslide, incl: Joseph Chamberlain’s Tariff Reform proposals split the
Conservatives and re-united the Liberals 1903
 Cons record on social reform, Boer War, “Chinese slavery,” 1902
Education Act, 1904 Licensing Act
 Balfour’s leadership
 New Liberalism and promises of social reform
 Lib-Lab Pact 1903
 “Swing of the pendulum”
 First Past the Post system
Tariff Reform and
Imperial Preference
From Past Papers:Explain why the Liberals won a landslide victory in the
1906 general election. (12 marks)
Free Trade
Explain why the Conservatives lost the General Election
of 1906. (12 marks)
First Past the Post
system
Explain why free trade was an issue in the 1906 General
Election campaign. (12 marks)
Also:How important was the Conservatives’ record in
government between 1900 and 1905 in explaining their
defeat in the General Election in 1906? (24 marks)
How important was tariff reform issue explaining the
Liberals’ landslide victory in the 1906 General Election?
(24 marks)
From Past Papers:Explain why the Liberal government introduced reforms
affecting children in the years 1906 to 1908. (12 marks)
Key Issue • The ‘New Liberalism’: social, constitutional and political
reforms to 1914
Social Reforms
Laisser faire
Reasons for Liberal Social Reforms: New Liberal ideas
Collectivism
 Social investigators, eg Booth & Rowntree
 Political competition, eg Conservative tariff reform on the right, eg New Liberalism
new Labour Party on the left
Victorian Poor Law / workhouses / indoor and outdoor relief
2
How successful were Liberal social reforms in dealing
with poverty in Britain from 1908 to 1914? (24 marks)
How successful were the social reforms introduced by the
Liberals in the years 1906 to 1914 in improving the lives
of British people? (24 marks)
Non-contributory
Old Age Pensions Act 1908 (NB very important)
Peoples' Budget 1909
Redistributive
(progressive)
taxation
Labour Exchanges Act 1909
Trade Boards Act 1909
National Insurance Act (Parts 1 & 2) 1911 (NB very important)
General knowledge of various childrens’ and other reforms
Constitutional & Political Reforms
Reasons for and outcomes of Peers v People Crisis 1909-1911
How important was the aim of reducing poverty in
explaining the Liberal governments’ social reforms in the
years 1906 to 1914? (24 marks)
Also:Explain why the Liberal governments attempted to reduce
poverty in Britain from 1906 to 1914. (12 marks)
Contributory
insurance
How important was the introduction of Old Age Pensions
in 1908 to the Liberal government’s social reform
programme as a whole between 1906 and 1914? (24
marks)
House of Lords and From Past Papers:its function
How successful were the Liberal governments, in the
years 1906-1914, in bringing about political and
constitutional reform? (24 marks)
Gen. Elections 1910 (x2)
Irish Home Rule
Parliament Act 1911
Unionism
Also:Explain why the House of Lords rejected the “People’s
Budget” in 1909 (12 marks)
Payment for MPs 1911
Suffragettes
Irish Home Rule Bill 1912 (postponed by war in 1914)
How successful was the Liberal government in dealing
with the constitutional crisis of 1909-11? (24 marks)
Suffragists
Trade Union Act 1913 (reversing the Osborne Judgement of 1908)
Suffragette Campaigns (no reform before 1914 to give women votes)
Britain, 1914–1929
Key Issue • The political and economic impact of the First World
War on Britain, 1914–1918
From Past Papers:Explain why conscription was introduced in 1916. (12
marks)
The political impact of the First World
3
[cross-ref. war economy below]
Asquith's wartime Liberal government Aug. 1914 - May 1915 and its
initial wartime policies (Kitchener's recruitment campaign, DoRA,
"Business as Usual" & dilution agreements)
Laisser faire
Shells Crisis, reasons for and the formation of Asquith's coalition 1915
Collectivism
Asquith's coalition May 1915 - Dec. 1916
- its composition and its wartime policies (especially Ministry of
Munitions, Conscription debate - Military Service Act 1916)
Socialism / class
struggle
Coalition
Asquith overthrown by Lloyd George & Bonar Law. Liberal split 1916
Explain why British governments took control of the
economy during the First World War. (12 marks)
[cross-ref. war economy below]
Explain why the British government introduced the
Defence of the Realm Act (DORA) in 1914. (12 marks)
[cross-ref. war economy below]
Also:Explain why Liberal Party split during the First World
War. (12 marks)
Lloyd George's wartime coalition Dec. 1916 - Dec. 1918 - its composition
and wartime policies (especially collectivism, new ministries, convoys,
rationing)
Why were there coalition governments in Britain during
the First World War? (12 marks)
Lloyd George's preparations for post-war Britain (especially new
ministries, "homes fit for heroes," Fisher Act 1918, Representation of the
People Act 1918)
How important was the role of Lloyd George in the
introduction of state collectivism during the First World
War? (24 marks)
Lib split (over leadership and ideology – laissez faire v collectivism) and
disastrous effect of war and 1918 election on the Liberal Party
Role of Conservative & Unionist and Labour Parties in relation to the
above and reasons for their growing strength
Easter Rising (1916) and reasons for the decline of the Irish Nationalist
Party in favour of Sinn Fein
Coupon Election 1918 and its effects on the parties
4
The economic impact of the First World War
Some statistics (especially labour, shell production, wages, prices, trade
union membership, strikes, government tax income & expenditure)
Detailed knowledge of increasing govt. management of the economy, eg: Defence of the Realm Act 1914
 "Business as Usual”
 Dilution Agreements 1915
 Ministry of Munitions 1915
 Increasing state control over the economy from 1914 (especially
unified control of the railways, McKenna's first war budget 1915
& ship requisitioning)
 Collectivism under Lloyd George's wartime coalition 1916 - 1918
(especially new government ministries, rationing, both voluntary
& compulsory, state controllers for the coal & cotton industries,
Department of Food Production & requisitioning of all shipping)
 Post-war planning (especially "homes fit for heroes," ministries for
health, pensions and reconstruction & Fisher Act 1918 for
education)
From Past Papers:Inflation
Explain why conscription was introduced in 1916. (12
marks)
[cross-ref. wartime politics above]
Laisser faire
Explain why British governments took control of the
economy during the First World War. (12 marks)
[cross-ref. war economy below]
Collectivism
Restrictive
Practices
Dilution
Also:Explain the reasons for the greatly increased production
of munitions in Britain from spring 1915 to the end of the
War. (12 marks)
How successfully did the British economy cope with the
demands of the First World War? (24 marks)
Detailed knowledge of problems in supplies of labour for industry and
how this was met, particularly the role of women (see Role of Women
below)
Inflation in prices, rent and wages
Detailed knowledge of how the government paid for the war (especially
taxation & debt)
Role of trade unions, agreements not to strike and Dilution Agreements
1915
5
Examples of war-time strikes and worker discontent (eg over inflation)
Key Issue • Social change as a consequence of the war, particularly
in regard to the position of women
Pre-war role of women by social class and geographical region
From Past Papers:-
Separate spheres
Pre-war trends towards emancipation of women (including Suffragettes)
How important was the First World War in changing the
role of women in Britain by 1918? (24 marks)
Emmeline Pankhurst's "Right to serve" campaign 1915
Government recruitment drive for women labour - statistics, numbers,
industries
How important was the work done by women on the
home front during the First World War in changing the
position of women in British society by 1928? (24 marks)
Dilution
detailed knowledge of effects in terms of status, pay, attitudes, selfesteem, temporary / permanent effects, etc
How far were the changes to the role of women in British
society in the years 1914 to 1929 due to the impact of the
First World War? (24 marks)
Also:-
Representation of the People Act 1918
Explain the reasons why some women, but not all women,
were granted the vote for Parliament at the end of the
First World War. (12 marks)
Long term results - Role of women in post war Britain – change and
continuity – eg. Advances in politics, work opportunities, personal
freedom – but continuing barriers to further progress, examples of
inequality & traditional attitudes
Explain the ways in which women contributed to
Britain’s war effort between 1914 and 1918. (12 marks)
Impact on social classes:-
How important were developments during the First World
War in reducing class divisions in Britain? (24 marks)
More equality
Reasons for reduction of extreme poverty & differences between unskilled
& skilled working classes (eg wartime full employment, dilution, decline
in domestic service, reduced pay differentials between skilled and
unskilled workers)
How successful was government policy in ensuring that
the burdens of the First World War were shared equally
across different sections of society? (24 marks)
Reasons for reducing living standards of middle & upper classes (eg rising
6
taxes, difficulty finding servants, rationing etc)
Opportunities for social mobility
Shared suffering across class boundaries (eg experiences in the trenches,
casualties, rationing
Representation of the People Act 1918
Effect on freedom
State restrictions (eg DoRA 1914, Conscription 1916, propaganda &
censorship, restrictions on drinking, taxation & rationing)
Civil liberties
Positive effects (eg Representation of the People Act 1918, full
employment, greater equality)
Which of these continued in post war Britain?
Beliefs & Attitudes
Public role of the churches and effects on faith, long-term decline in
church attendances, pacifism and conscientious objectors
Undermined faith in superiority of European values and civilization –
increased anti-imperialism
Key Issue • The role and importance of Lloyd George in domestic
politics to 1923
From Past Papers:-
Prime Minister of post war coalition – Coupon Election 1918, Lib split,
Coalition
make-up of the coalition, LG’s role and relationship with Conservatives,
achievements, criticisms and reasons for his fall: Relative failures and achievements of post-war reconstruction- eg.
7
Why did the Lloyd George Coalition win the General
Election of 1918? (12 marks)
How important were Lloyd George’s own mistakes in





Coalition election manifesto, impact of economic situation,
Unemployment Insurance Act 1920, Fisher’s Education Act
1918Addison’s Housing achievements & failures, Geddes Axe.
L-G’s handling of Ireland – eg. historical, religious roots of
problems, Sinn Fein in 1918 election, Govt. of Ireland Act 1920,
Civil War, IRA & Black & Tans, peace negotiations & Anglo-Irish
Treaty 1921, subsequent attitudes & criticisms of the settlement
inc. in Ireland & in Cons. Party.
LG’s handling of industrial problems 1918-21 & avoidance of
general strike in 1921
Awareness of L-G’s heavy involvement at Versailles Peace
Conference in 1919.
Honours Scandal, Chanak & their impact on L-G’s standing with
public, media & Cons. Coalition partners.
Carlton Club meeting
L-G “prisoner of
the
Conservatives?”
“Presidential” style
of leadership
explaining his fall from office in 1922? (24 marks)
How successful was Lloyd George’s government in
dealing with domestic problems in the years 1918 to
1922? (24 marks)
Also:Explain why Lloyd George fell from office in 1922. (12
marks)
How important was the nature of Lloyd George’s
relationship with the Conservative Party in explaining his
fall from office in 1922? (24 marks)
Key Issue • Problems of the economy and industrial relations under
Conservative and Labour governments, 1923–29, including the
General Strike
Underlying economic problems1923-29
Trade cycles
Effects of the First World War, eg national debt, post war boom and
slump 1918-22, overinvestment in staple industries, foreign competition, Staple industries
growth of trade unions.
New industries
Reasons for decline of staple industries – coal, iron & steel, shipbuilding
and textiles.
Service sector
Positive developments – new industries, Central Electricity Generating Inflation &
Board 1926 & National Grid, service sector, falling cost of living & rising deflation
“real” wages and standards of living for those in work.
“Real” wages
North-South divide and relative prosperity of south-east and midlands.
8
Conservative & Labour governments 1922-4
Minority govt.
End of Cons govt. 1923. Baldwin’s early election on tariff reform/
protection.
Labour “fit to
govern?”
Background awareness of rise of Labour Party – eg. Pre-WW1
foundations, impact of WW1, growth of TUs, Rep. of People Act 1918, Red Scare
Lib. Decline.
From Past Papers:-
1923 Election and reasons for Labour’s opportunity to form a minority
first govt.
How successful were the policies of Conservative and
Labour governments 1922-29 in dealing with Britain’s
economic problems? (24 marks)
Why did the Labour Government fall from power in
1924? (12 marks)
Also:-
Labour’s record in office and policies – Soviet trade treaty, Dawes Plan,
public works, Wheatley’s housing reforms, subsidies to Imperial Airways.
End of Labour govt 1924, early election, Zinoviev letter.
General Strike 1926
Staple industries
Causes of general strike in 1926 – eg. Long term structural decline in Structural decline
staple industries, particular problems of the coal industry, foreign
competition and pressure for wage cuts
Trade Union
eg. Return to Gold standard 1925, Red Friday 1925, Samuel Commission Congress (TUC)
& Report 1926, roles of owners, miners, TUC, govt.
General strike
MacDonald’s refusal to support General Strike
Constitutional
Propaganda war in 1926 – eg. Portrayal of general strike as constitutional challenge
challenge, British Gazette & British Worker
From Past Papers:-
Reasons for the calling off of the strike by TUC
How important was the decline of Britain’s staple
industries in explaining the industrial unrest of the period
9
Explain why the TUC called a General Strike in 1926. (12
marks)
How far was the failure of the General Strike due to the
actions of the Conservative government? (24 marks)
Also:Why did the General Strike fail in 1926? (12 marks)
Outcome of general strike 1926 - eg. Trade Disputes Act 1927, reduced
TU membership & strikes
1918-29? (24 marks)
How important was growing trade union strength and
militancy in explaining the industrial unrest of the period
1918-29? (24 marks)
Improved industrial relations after 1926 – eg strengthened position of
moderates such as Bevin
Conservative Govt 1924-29
Handling of events leading to General Strike and handling of the Gen.
Strike itself [cross-ref. above].
Other policies and assessment of successes ad failures, eg. Return to Gold
Standard 1925, canceling of Anglo-Soviet trade agreement,
Chamberlain’s reforms of local govt, pensions & council house building,
equal voting rights for women 1928.
1929 election result & reasons for (narrow) Cons defeat/Lab victory.
Britain, 1929–1940
Key Issue • The policies of Ramsay MacDonald and the second
Labour Government in dealing with the economic
crisis, 1929–31
From Past Papers:-
Socialism
Economic Crisis 1929-31
Long term problems – structural decline of staple industries, north south Labour “fit to
divide, long term structural unemployment, foreign competition.
govern?”
World trade depression from 1929 – Collapse in British exports, rising Debate over
unemployment (until 1932).
Economy – eg.
Orthodox treasury
Financial crisis – govt. budget deficit, European banking crisis and the view, Keynes,
“Run on the Bank of England” 1931.
Tariffs &
protection
The 2nd Labour Govt 1929-31
10
Why did the Labour government find it so difficult to deal
with the financial crisis of 1931? (12 marks)
[cross-ref. with collapse of Lab. Govt. below]
Explain why the Labour government fell from office in
1931. (12 marks) [cross-ref. with the Collapse of the
Labour Govt., below]
How far was the downfall of the second Labour
Government in 1931 due to rising unemployment? (24
marks) [cross-ref. Collapse of the Labour Govt. below]
Second Labour government – 1929 Gen. Election issues & results,
minority govt., govt policy successes/failures eg. Greenwood’s Housing
Act, economic policy debate within cabinet inc. Mosley Memo. 1930,
Snowden & retrenchment, TUC opposition to cuts.
The Run on the
Bank
Also:Explain why unemployment was so high in Britain
between 1929 and 1935. (12 marks)
Key Issue • The collapse of the Labour government and the
formation of the National Government in 1931
Run on the Bank of England 1931, May Report, Crisis of August 1931, Did MacDonald
cabinet split and resignation of govt.
betray Labour?
From Past Papers:Why did the Labour government find it so difficult to deal
with the financial crisis of 1931? (12 marks)
[cross-ref. with policies of 2nd Lab. Govt. above]
Explain why the Labour government fell from office in
1931. (12 marks) [cross-ref. with the policies of the 2nd
Lab. Govt., above]
Formation of National Govt. 1931 inc. MacDonald, Snowden, Thomas &
Sankey, continuation of Nat. Govt. to fight 1931 gen. Election, attitude of
Lab. movement to MacDonald & his expulsion
How far was the downfall of the second Labour
Government in 1931 due to rising unemployment? (24
marks) [cross-ref. policies of the 2nd Labour Govt. above]
Arguments for and against MacDonald “the traitor,” contemporary Labour
view, view of supporters of the National Government and later historians’
view.
Why did Ramsay MacDonald form a National
Government in August 1931? (12 marks)
Also:How important was Ramsay MacDonald’s betrayal of the
Labour Party in explaining the formation of the National
Government in 1931. (24 marks)
From Past Papers:Explain why the Labour Party did not win many seats in
the General Election of 1931 (12 marks)
Key Issue • The impact of the 1931 crisis on the Labour Party to
1940
Lab. recovery 1931-40? – eg. Impact of 1931 gen. Election results,
leadership problem, bye-election successes after 1931, significance of
Attlee’s leadership from 1935 & repudiation of the left & Cripps’
Socialist League, role of Bevin, 1935 gen. Election results, Lab slow
Pacifism
Appeasement
11
How successful was the Labour Party in strengthening its
political position in the years 1932 to 1940? (24 marks)
move away from pacifism eg opposition to rearmament (until 1939),
support for L of N & opposition to Munich 1938, support for rearmament
and full resistance to Nazi Germany 1939.
Also:Why were the effects of the 1931 crisis so damaging for
the Labour Party in the period 1931 to 1940? (12 marks)
From Past Papers:-
Key Issue • The work of the National Government in dealing with
economic crisis and political extremism
Economic Depression 1931-39
Long term problems – structural decline of staple industries, north south Structural decline
divide, long term structural unemployment, foreign competition, Jarrow
and the Jarrow Crusade 1936 as symbol of long term unemployment
Trade cycles
Long term growth of new industries and growing service sector – Structural and
primarily in south-east & midlands
cyclical
unemployment
World trade depression from 1929 – Collapse in British exports, rising
unemployment (until 1932). Global trade revival after 1932.
Staple industries,
new industries,
Financial crisis – govt. budget deficit, European banking crisis and the service sector
“Run on the Bank of England” 1931.
Inflation
National Govt. & the economy 1931-39
& deflation
– reasons for formation & dominant role of Cons., political roles of
MacDonald, Baldwin & Chamberlain, cuts to balance the budget
1931 but forced departure from Gold Standard, 1931 gen. election Coalition
results
–
econ. policies incl. cuts to balance budget, low interest rates,
protection & Ottawa Conference 1932, Special Areas Act 1934,
MacDonald’s retirement as PM 1935, 1935 gen. election, Baldwin’s Free trade &
retirement 1937, rearmament from 1935 with effects on employment. protection
Assessment of successes and limitations of govt. policies.
12
How important were the policies of the National
Government in bringing about economic recovery in
Britain by 1939? (24 marks)
How successful were the National Governments in
bringing economic recovery to Britain in the years 1931
to 1939? (24 marks)
How successful was the National government in dealing
with the economic crisis in the years 1931 to 1935? (24
marks)
Also:How important was the demand for consumer goods
rather than recovery of staple industries, or even
government action, in achieving economic recovery in
Britain during the 1930s? (24 marks)
Other factors bringing economic improvement in the 1930s incl: Global trade revival
 Divided economy (North-South) & relative prosperity of SE
England & midlands
 Falling cost of living and rising “real” wages for those in work –
consumer demand rising
 new industries, motors, chemicals & electrical consumer goods
 service sector, leisure, retail, finance & media
 CEGB, National Grid and significance of electrification
 Private housing boom of 1930s
Selective knowledge of statistics, eg. unemployment, price & wage
inflation & deflation, export figures, productivity & GNP
Be aware of different contemporary, political and subsequent historians’
opinions about the effects of the 1930s depression and the effectiveness of
govt. policies in dealing with it.
Political Extremism in 1930s
Communism
Communist Party of Great Britain – eg. extent & nature of support,
NUWM, reasons for relative lack of success, role in combating BUF, Popular Front
Labour Party & Moderate TU leaders’ refusal to work with Communists
British Union of Fascists – eg. extent & nature of support, role of Mosley,
initial support of Daily Mail, Olympia Meeting 1934, Battle of Cable
Street 1936, reasons for relative lack of success
Fascism
From Past Papers:Explain why extremist political parties gained support
during the 1930s. (12 marks)
How successful were British governments in dealing with
political extremism during the 1930s? (24 marks)
Also:Why were the communists not more successful in Britain
in the 1930s? (12 marks)
Nat. Govt policies to limit political extremism – eg Incitement to
Disaffection Act 1934, banning of political uniforms 1936.
Why were BUF not more successful? (12 marks)
Other factors limiting political extremism – eg economic recovery from
How important were the policies of the National
13
1933, stability of Nat. Govt, continued faith in Parliamentary govt and
constitutional monarchy, strength and moderation of Labour Party and
many trade union leaders (eg Bevin), leadership limitations for extremists,
international events, eg Mussolini’s invasion of Abyssinia1935,
Kristallnacht 1938 & Nazi-Soviet Pact 1939
Government in explaining the failure of the BUF and the
Communists to achieve widespread support in Britain in
the 1930s? (24 marks)
Britain, 1940–1951
Key Issue • The policies and personalities of the wartime coalition
government
From Past Papers:-
Reasons for resignation of Neville Chamberlain as PM in May 1940 – Coalition
military crises in Norway April 1940 & Blitzkrieg in France & Low
Countries May 1940, political crisis, Parliamentary & press criticism.
Appeasement
Appointment of Churchill as PM – choice between Churchill & Halifax, Phoney War
arguments for and against each – Churchill as war leader – strengths &
limitations, military situation in 1940, Cabinet debate – to fight or to seek Blitzkrieg
compromise with Hitler.
Political styles & strengths of leading ministers – Churchill, Eden,
Beaverbrook, Woolton, Butler (Cons), Attlee, Bevin, Morrison, (Lab)
Why was a new coalition government formed under
Winston Churchill in May 1940? (12 marks)
Explain why Winston Churchill became Prime Minister
in May 1940. (12 marks)
Explain why the Beveridge Report was so popular with
the general public in 1942. (12 marks) [cross-ref. with
Wartime Attitudes below]
Also:How successful were the policies of the wartime
governments 1939-45 in meeting the demands of the war
effort? (24 marks)
Govt Policy:– Wartime Collectivism – eg. Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939,
new ministries eg. Bevin Min. of Labour – successes and limitations.
– Paying for the War – eg tax increases, rationing & war bonds, neglect
of non-war effort investment, overseas aid from empire and US LendLease Scheme 1941.
– Planning for Post-War Britain – Reasons for raised public
expectations of post-war reforms, effects of wartime policies eg.
Emergency Hospital Scheme, Beveridge Report 1942, Willink’s
White Paper on an NHS 1944, Butler Education Act 1944, Family
Allowances Act 1945, new ministries Ministry of Town & Country
How important was the role of Winston Churchill in
explaining the success of the National Government from
1940 to 1945? (24 marks)
14
Planning 1943 & Ministry of Nationl Insurance 1944.
Assessment of successes and limitations of govt. policies.
Key Issue • The impact of total war upon society and attitudes
Opportunities & breaking down barriers (social class or geographical) –
eg. Conscription into armed services (often abroad), auxiliary services &
industry, evacuation of children and others from cities, foreign troops in
Britain (from occupied Europe, empire and America) – effects both
positive and negative.
Narrowing gap between social classes – eg. Conscription (regardless of
social class), rationing, wartime full employment, rising average earnings
for working classes, controls on prices, rents & profits, high taxation of
middle & upper classes. But – low pay for servicemen, inner city working
cases bore brunt of bomb casualties & damage, worsening housing
shortage.
From Past Papers:Total War
Collectivism
Egalitarianism
“The Peoples’
War”
Explain why the Beveridge Report was so popular with
the general public in 1942. (12 marks) [cross-ref. with
Wartime Policies, above]
How important to the revival of Labour Party fortunes
between 1935 and 1945 was the British public’s
experience of the Second World War? (24 marks) [crossref extent of Lab. Recovery from 1931 above and reasons
for Labour landslide below]
Social Revolution?
Also:Why did the Second World War break down barriers of
social class and make British society more equal? (12
marks)
Restrictions and attitudes to them – eg. Conscription (including to
industry, eg. Bevin Boys) rationing, spivs, wartime taxation, disruption of
education, wartime food, identity cards and internment without trial,
censorship, propaganda.
Explain the ways in which women contributed to
Britain’s war effort between 1939 and 1945. (12 marks)
Women and the war – opportunities eg. Auxiliary branches of armed
services, in industry, jobs with better pay & status, different opportunities
for different age groups, loosening moral constraints – restrictions eg.
Burden of managing home with rationing & queues for mothers &
housewives, unequal pay & other discrimination – Different
interpretations of whether women experienced a social revolution as a
result of the war.
How important was the work done by women on the
home front during the Second World War in changing the
position of women in British society? (24 marks)
How important were developments during the Second
World War in reducing class divisions in Britain? (24
marks)
Propaganda – propaganda images, extent to which these reflected
reality, examples of where it did not.
Americanisation – eg. Hollywood movies, American G.I.s & GI brides,
American luxuries, big band music, popularity & resentments.
How important was the change in the economic role of
15
women during the Second World War in explaining
increasing social equality in Britain by 1945? (24 marks)
Impact of the War – eg. Breaking down class and gender barriers and
increasing equality? Increased social unity? Be aware of different
interpretations of these questions. Eg. Boosted image of monarchy, of
the Labour Party & of BBC.
How successful was government policy in ensuring that
the burdens of war were shared equally by different
sections of society? (24 marks)
From Past Papers:Explain why the Labour Party won a landslide victory in
the 1945 General Election. (12 marks)
Key Issue • The reasons for the ‘Labour landslide’ in 1945
Reasons for Labour landslide victory in 1945 gen. election: Roots in Labour recovery 1931-39.
 Labour’s role and experience in wartime coalition govt.
 Wartime swing left - Impact of wartime collectivism and general
mood of egalitarianism.
 Labour support for Beveridge Report and promises of welfare
state.
 Backlash against Conservative record in 1930s – Depression &
Appeasement.
 Churchill’s lukewarm response to Beveridge Report.
 The election campaign – Attlee v Churchill – the “Gestapo Jibe.”
 First Past the Post System
Explain why the Conservatives lost the General Election
of 1945. (12 marks)
How important to the revival of Labour Party fortunes
between 1935 and 1945 was the British public’s
experience of the Second World War? (24 marks) [crossref Lab. Recovery from 1931 and also impact of total war
above]
How far was Conservative defeat in the 1945 Election due
to Churchill’s reluctance to support social reform? (24
marks)
Also:How important was the record of the Conservatives from
1931 to 1940 in explaining their election defeat in 1945?
(24 marks)
How important was the election campaign itself in
explaining Labour’s landslide election win in the 1945
General Election? (24 marks)
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Key Issue • Economic crisis and recovery, 1945–1951
From Past Papers:-
Effects of WW2 – Debt, loss of markets and investment income,
disruption of European and world trade, armed forces committed around
world (cost in money and manpower).
Explain why Britain requested aid from the USA after the
Second World War. (12 marks)
Explain why the Labour government faced economic
problems in the years 1945 to 1947. (12 marks)
Background awareness of Britain’s commitment to the emerging Cold
War (eg. Britain’s role supporting Greece & Turkey 1945-7, in the Berlin
Airlift 1948-9, in the Korean War 1950-3 & in Attlee & Bevin’s decision
to build an independent British nuclear weapon taken in 1946 and first
tested in 1952.)
How successful were the policies of Attlee’s governments
in overcoming Britain’s economic problems in the years
1945 to 1951? (24 marks)
US & Canadian loans 1945-6
Balance of payments deficits, winter freeze, shortages and 1947 Crisis
Cripp’s Austerity/Export Drive, continued rationing, state planning and
controls to prioritise production for export
Balance of
payments
How important was the policy of nationalization for
economic recovery in Britain in the years 1945 to 1951?
(24 marks)
Austerity
Marshall Aid from 1948
Devaluation and Budget Cuts1949 (contrast with 1931!)
Also:Explain why the Labour Governments nationalised some
industries, but not others, between 1945 and 1951 (12
marks)
Improved exports & balance of payments by 1950
Nationalised services and industries – eg. names and nature of industries
& services nationalised, roots of nationalization in Labour socialist
ideology and in wartime experience of collectivism, results of
nationalization, successes and limitations of different nationalizations,
controversy over steel & road haulage nationalisation, debate within Lab.
Party over further nationalizations after 1947, Cons. de-nationalisation of
steel & road haulage after 1951. Arguments for & against the suggestion
that nationalisation did mean radical change.
How successful was the Labour government’s
nationalization programme between 1945 and 1951? (24
marks)
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Cost of Korean War 1950-3 – further budget cuts including introduction
of NHS prescription charges 1951 (Bevan resigned in protest)
Key Issue • The achievements of the Attlee government and the
birth of the Welfare State
Welfare state – eg. pre-1945 roots of welfare reforms (pre-1945 pensions,
Nat. Ins. & council housing reforms, Beveridge Report 1942), National
Insurance Act 1946, Industrial Injuries Act 1946, National Assistance Act
1948, National Health Service inaugurated 1948, controversies over NHS
– Bevan v. BMA, Bevan v. Cripps & Gaitskell, NB. Know what was new
or different about Labour’s welfare state. Assessment of achievements &
limitations of Labour’s welfare reforms.
Socialism (Marxist
v. social
democratic
definitions)
From Past Papers:How successful were Attlee’s governments in dealing
with health and housing in the years 1945 to 1951? (24
marks)
How successful were the Labour governments in
implementing the Beveridge Report’s proposals in the
years 1945 to 1951? (24 marks)
Nationalisation
Mixed economy
Housing & Planning – eg. post 1945 housing shortages, Lab’s.
prioritisation of housing for rent, missed targets due to budget limits, Collectivism
shortages of manpower & materials & Bevan’s prioritization of the NHS,
role of Ministry of Town & Country Planning, new towns.
Welfare state
Education – eg. Labour acceptance of Butler’s Education Act 1944,
achievements & limitations.
How successful were Labour governments in establishing
a welfare state in Britain in the years 1945 to 1951? (24
marks)
Explain why the Labour government faced opposition to
the establishment of a National Health Service after the
Second World War. (12 marks)
How successful were the Labour governments in dealing
with social problems in the years 1945 to 1951? (24
marks)
Labour’s loss of power – eg. results of 1950 & 1951 gen. elections,
reasons for loss of Lab. Majority
Also:Explain why the Conservative Party campaigned more
effectively in 1950 and 1951 than in 1945. (12 marks)
How far was the Labour Party responsible for its own
downfall in 1951? (24 marks)
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