1955 Election (and 1955;1959 elections)

Cards (48)

  • Who won the 1951 election in the UK?
    Churchill and the Conservatives
  • What did Prof. Dilwyn Porter mean by “Atlee’s patriotic socialists gave way to Churchill’s social patriots”?
    It indicates a shift in political leadership from Labour to Conservative values.
  • How long did the Conservatives remain in power after the 1951 election?
    From 1951 to 1964
  • What were the strengths of the Conservatives during the 1951 election?
    • Promised to consolidate Labour's reforms
    • Led by Lord Woolton with membership drives
    • Recruited young members
    • Promised to build 300,000 houses per year
    • Committed to the NHS
    • Accepted Labour's reforms
    • Continued tripartite education system
    • Conciliatory towards trade unions
    • Some industries remained nationalised
    • Supported liberal and social reforms
  • What were the weaknesses of the Labour Party during the 1951 election?
    • Lacked new policy ideas after fulfilling the 1945 manifesto
    • Continued post-war rationing
    • Financial strain from the Korean War
    • Won most votes but lost majority seats
    • Split between left and right factions
  • How did the Labour Party's split between left and right affect their electoral performance?
    It prevented them from presenting a united front, hurting their chances.
  • What were the key issues that divided the Labour Party's left and right factions?
    • Prescription charges: Left wanted free NHS, Right supported charges
    • Clause IV: Left supported nationalisation, Right wanted selective use
    • Nuclear weapons: Left favored disarmament, Right opposed it
  • How many seats did the Conservatives win in the 1951 election?
    321 seats
  • How many seats did Labour win in the 1951 election?
    295 seats
  • Who was the Chancellor of the Exchequer under Churchill's government?
    Rab Butler
  • Who was the Foreign Secretary under Churchill's government?
    Anthony Eden
  • Who was the Home Secretary under Churchill's government?
    Sir David Maxwell Fyfe
  • Who was the Minister of Housing and Local Government under Churchill?
    Harold Macmillan
  • What were the main policies of the Conservatives from 1951 to 1955?
    • Denationalisation of the steel industry
    • Continuation of Atlee's policies
    • Butskellism
    • Focus on foreign affairs
    • Testing of the first atomic bomb
    • End of rationing by 1955
    • Mixed economy and Keynesian policies
  • What significant event occurred in 1952 under Churchill's government?
    Britain tested its first atomic bomb.
  • What was the impact of the devaluation of the pound?
    It improved British exports.
  • What are the key concepts of Keynesian economics?
    • Government intervention to stimulate demand
    • Increased spending during recessions
    • Demand drives supply
    • Importance of fiscal policy over monetary policy
  • What was John Maynard Keynes' criticism of laissez-faire policies?
    He argued that government intervention was necessary to address high unemployment.
  • What was the British Nationality Act of 1948?
    It allowed people born in the Commonwealth to gain a British passport.
  • What were the results of the 1955 election in the UK?
    • Conservatives: 345 seats (49.7%)
    • Labour: 277 seats (46.4%)
    • Liberals: 6 seats (2.7%)
  • What were the results of the 1959 election in the UK?
    • Conservatives: 365 seats (49.4%)
    • Labour: 258 seats (43.8%)
    • Liberals: 6 seats (5.9%)
  • Who succeeded Churchill as Conservative leader in 1955?
    Anthony Eden
  • Who replaced Clement Atlee as Labour Party leader?
    Hugh Gaitskell
  • What were some notable events during Churchill's government?
    • Death of King George VI
    • Conquest of Everest
    • Sub 4 Minute Mile achieved in 1954
  • What was the impact of the Marshall Plan on Britain?
    It contributed to the recovery of the British economy.
  • How did Churchill's focus on foreign affairs affect domestic policies?
    It led to less emphasis on domestic issues during his tenure.
  • What was the significance of the Clean Air Act 1956?
    It represented government regulation for environmental protection.
  • What was the Homicide Act of 1957?
    It was a liberal reform related to criminal law.
  • What was the role of trade unions during the Conservative government?
    They had a conciliatory relationship with the government.
  • What was the average number of houses built per year under Harold Macmillan?
    300,000 houses
  • What was the impact of the Korean War on the UK?
    It caused financial strain due to rearming.
  • What was the outcome of the motion passed at the 1960 Labour Party Conference?
    It supported unilateral disarmament but was reversed the following year.
  • What did the term "Butskellism" refer to during the Conservative government?
    It referred to the blending of Conservative and Labour policies.
  • What was the significance of the phrase "jam tomorrow" used by Atlee?
    It indicated promises of future benefits without immediate results.
  • How did the British Nationality Act of 1948 contribute to multiculturalism in Britain?
    It allowed Commonwealth citizens to settle in Britain, increasing diversity.
  • What was the economic condition of Britain post-WW2 as described by Atlee?
    Britain owed £3.5 billion and faced significant population decline.
  • What was the outcome of the 1955 election for the Conservatives?
    They won with 345 seats.
  • What was the outcome of the 1959 election for the Conservatives?
    They won with 365 seats.
  • What was the significance of the Sub 4 Minute Mile achievement in 1954?
    It represented a major milestone in athletic achievement.
  • Who was the last woman to be hanged in England?
    Ruth Ellis