Recovery

• Why was Britain in a difficult economic position at the end of WWII?

  Huge debts, lost 30% of the country's wealth, factories destroys, ships sunk, thousands dead and high taxes.
• How did demobilisation work?

  People were released from the army based on their age. Married women and skill workers were allowed to leave earlier.
• What was the extent of war damage to Britain?

  By 1945 the Blitz and V1 & V2 rockets had destroyed many industrial areas and millions of homes damaged or destroyed.
• Why did Labour win the 1945 election?

  Growing popularity, trade unions supported labour, many blamed the Conservative government for the 1930s.
• Why did Labour win the 1945 election?

  People did not see Churchill as a peacetime leader. People wanted a health service and an improved life after the war.
• What were the Five Giants?

  Want, Squalor, Idleness, Ignorance, and disease.
• How did the NHS help Britain?

  Helped tackle the giant of Disease. People were looked after from the cradle to the grave. It was a free service.
• How did education change after 1944?

  The Education Act of 1944 created three school systems; technical schools, secondary modern, and grammar schools. The school leaving age was raised to 15.
• What was the 'Homes for All' policy?

  To rebuild after the war. 1.2 million homes were built between 1945 and 1951. 156,000 were prefab houses. New towns and council estates were also built.
• What was Nationalised?


  The Coal Industry, Electricity Industry, Railways, and Road Haulage.
• How did people react to the NHS?

  The NHS was highly regarded by the population. Some saw it as unrealistic and expensive.
• How did people react to the education changes?

  Many saw it as an improvement and a fair system. Some felt it limited social movement.
• How did people react to the Homes for All policy?

  The new homes were more modern, but building was slow. Those who could not afford a home could now rent one from the council.
• How did people react to Nationalisation?

  In 1951 1 in 10 were employed in a nationalised industry. Critics felt it just saved inefficient industries and cost too much.
• Why did labour lose the 1951 election?


  People felt labour had not lived up to all their promises. Some features like the NHS were loved. But high taxes and continued rationing were not.
• How did people react to the welfare state?

  Unemployment was lower then in 1946, the Education Act and NHS were well regarded. But people were worried about growing costs.
• How to deal with WANT

  An adequate income for all
• How to deal with IDLENESS


  The need for gainful employment
• How to deal with DISEASE

  Access to free healthcare

  Creation of the NHS by Bevan in 1948
• How to deal with Squalor


  The need for improved housing
• How to deal with IGNORANCE

  Better access to education

  Free education
• What was the Beveridge Report?


  Comissioned by the Gov. in 1941 as a plan to recover

  Created by William Beveridge

  It identified the 'five giants' the UK needed to overcome

  Included in Labour's 1945 manifesto
• Creation of the NHS

  Founded in 1948

  Bevan led the creation and introduction

  British Medical Association were initially against it due to the risk of lower pay
• Labour's 1945 victory


  Churchill was not seen as a peacetime leader

  Labour promised changes, including Beveridge report

  Labour MPs had high up roles in Coalition Gov.

  Many blamed the Depression on Tories