Britain 1939-51 p2
- Created by: alex_bmth
- Created on: 06-03-17 18:20
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- Britain 1939-51
- Economy
- Rise of Mixed Management
- Nationalisation of key industries: Bank of England 1946, Public Transport 1948, Gas 1949, Iron and Steel 1951.
- Economic Planning Council established in 1947 to check issues like levels of production & imports & the National Agricultural Advisory Service gave farmers advice on how to improve efficiency.
- Austerity and Rationing
- Part of Attlee's 'middle way' a period of Austerity enforced by Chancellor Stafford Cripps to aid economic recovery.
- Rationing on several foods extended until 1951.
- Controls also put on levels of rent, profits and interest rates.
- Rise of Mixed Management
- Politics
- National Government
- MacDonald formed a National Government with ministers from the Labour, Liberal and Conservative parties.
- Majority of Labour refused to support the National Government, expelling members who did.
- 39-45 Churchill
- War Cabinet of just five men to make quick decisions about the war.
- New ministries created. Churchill put people incharge of them if they had a good track record of getting things done regardless if they had prior political experience.
- Emergency Powers Act May 1940 gave wide ranging powers to the government over the British people.
- Churchill was Minister for Defence as well as PM. He played a lead role in military strategy. Big success in domestic morale due to his inspirational speeches.
- 1945 Labour Victory
- Conservatives seem as appeasers of Hitler, also blamed for failing to re-arm Britain.
- Held out the prospect of new social order with better housing, free medical services & employment for all.
- Labour had longer to organise a plan.
- Socialist Government.
- Although Churchill won the war, he was not the best man to lead the nation into peacetime.
- Conservative Failure
- Not specific about social reforms they proposed.
- Circumstances of July 1945 meant they were not perpared to fight a general election. Almost 300 of the parties constituency agents and organisers still involved with war work. Local officers closed down.
- WW2 turned people against Conservatives due to shadow of Neville Chamberlain.
- Conservatives didn't like spending money = high unemployment.
- Churchill compared the Labour party to the Nazi's, appalled a lot of people, a 'tawdry affair.'
- Conservatives believed that socialist propaganda foisted on the troops caused their defeat.
- Conservative's relied too much on Churchill. Poster said 'Confirm Your Faith In Churchill.'
- Labour Strength
- People liked Labour's commitment to parliamentary socialism.
- Labour's manifesto promised radical reconstruction of the economy with the Nationalisation of major industries, e.g the NHS.
- Had the backing of trade unions, engaged in Labour's election campaign in the constituencies
- Labour's manifesto, 'Let Us Face The Future' encourages people to turn wartime spirit into peacetime reconstruction
- Leading figurs of Labour party played leading roles on the home front during war. Experienced, respected and well known.
- Labour propaganda said 'Give them homes and work.'
- National Government
- Economy
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