Key question 6- how difficult were condition in Britain 1945

• Demobilisation 


  1945- armed forces consisted of 5 million men and women
• Demobilisation

  plan was put in by Ernest Bevin in September in 1944
• Demobilisation 


  4.3 million men and women were released over the next 8 months- based on the length of their service and age
• Demobilisation 


  Encountered variety of problems of their returns to civil life- food still rations, homes destroyed, faced prproblems finding work
• Demobilisation 


  post war divorce rate was over 60,000
• Labours win in 1945 election 


  Called for the 5th of July and closed on the 19th to allow soldiers aboard to vote
• Labours win in 1945 election 


  surprised result from the election party- Winston Churchill successful war time leader but lost
• Labours win in 1945 election 


  labour secured the victory- Clement Attlee became prime minister
• Labours win in 1945 election

  Conservative was no longer popular- public associated it with great depression, unemployment, poverty and appeasement. They were ready for a new start
• Labours win in 1945 election 


  there was confidence that labour would bring political and economical change
• Labours win in 1945 election 


  by promoting the Beveridge report (by William beveridge) they won over voters as they promised jobs, fair wages, houses, free eduction and free help care. (Promised to tackle 5 giants)
• Economic position of Britain

  Britain was nearly bankrupt at the end of war as they spent close to £7 million on war
• Economic position of Britain 


  depended on American loans to survive and recover
• Economic position of Britain 


  Shortages of materials and food (rationing) continued- 177 ships sunk
• Economic position of Britain

  1/3 of houses has been destroyed by bombijg (factories and shops as well)
• Economic position of Britain 


  suffered 264,433 military and 60,595 civilian deaths- many others physically and mentally scarred and unable to resume normal life
• Economic position of Britain 


  saw the end of the British empire
• Economic position of Britain

  optimism- every adult was employed, many evacuees and women in the land army experienced wales for the first time
• Economic position of Britain 


  Recognition that wales had a distinct identity to the rest of the world