Welfare state

• The welfare state is the system by which the government aims to help those in need, mainly the old, sick, unemployed and children
• The path to the NHS was the liberal reforms, WWI, the ‘hungry thirties’, WWII, the Beveridge report, labour’s election in 1945, and the work or Aneurin Bevan
• Liberal reforms (1906-1914)

  • government introduced help for vulnerable people in society
  • free school meals and medical checks, pensions for over 70s, basic sick and ‘dole’ pay
• WWI (1914-1918)

  • soldiers promised ‘homes for for heroes’
  • didn't revive what they were promised
  • 250,000 homes built in 1920s and 700,000 homes built in 1930s
• The ‘Hungry Thirties’

  • unemployed weren’t covered by National Insurance
  • Great Depression
  • Unemployed rose to 3 million
• WWII (1939-1945)

  • people were dying due to shortages and bombings
  • people were shocked at the state of city evacuees
  • wanted better healthcare systems
• The Beveridge Report (1942)

  • said that people had the right to be free of disease, want, ignorance, idleness and squalor
  • said government had to take charge of social security from the cradle to the grave
• Labour’s election (1945)

  • labour promised to follow Beveridges report
  • conservatives refused to make a promise
• The works of Aneurin Bevan

  • minister of health to introduce NHS
  • 8 million people could see a doctor for the first time
  • life expectancy shot up however it was dependent on where you lived