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A2 Level History Complete Guide

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A2 Level History Complete Guide
REVISION GUIDE
Making Of Modern Britain,
1951-2007

BRITAIN IN 1951

POLITICS

Three key turning points during this period * 1951 election > start of 13 years Conservative rule * 1979 election > start of Thatcher dominance lasting 11 years * 1997 election > start of New Labour dominance (so far 13 years)

1951 saw end of Labour and Attlee in government – had achieved all promises outlined in 1945 election manifesto and legacy remains for (arguably) twenty years. Impact on society and politics until mid 1970’s despite Conservative dominance, and Welfare State and NHS continue to date.

1951-1997 – Conservatives ‘natural party of government’ for 35 of the 46 years. Labour Party showed a mentality of an opposition party rather than governing party (even when in power) until Blair arrived.

Two party electoral system 1951 onwards: Labour and Conservatives enjoy near total dominance of politics. Due in part to the FPTP electoral system effects as well as the insignificance of Liberals, lack of parliamentary support for nationalists, and negligible impact of other smaller parties.
Rise of consensus politics – political gulf between major parties narrower than ever before. Labour moderate and patriotic (not extreme socialism as expected) and key policy makers in Conservatives were ‘One Nation Tories’ (reformist) keen to build on national cooperation to maintain an essential post war consensus.

ECONOMY
Contradictions: a curious mixture of difficulties and decline versus optimism and growth

Huge difficulties – damaged infrastructure, saddled with massive debts, pre-war markets lost, old staple industries in decline, Britain reliant on US to begin economic recovery, key industries (coal, steel, rail) had been nationalised by Attlee (hopes of faster modernisation), many consumer goods scarce and expensive, rationing only just coming to an end. Britain sliding down the league tables of the world economy 1951-2007 –
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