Subjects

History

2m wars and welfare: britain in transition, 1906-1957

Part one: society in crisis, 1906-1929

The impact of war, 1914-1922

Discover the Beveridge Report 1942 and the Big Change in Britain

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Annabelle Wardle

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Verified Study Note

04/04/2023

Post War Consensus
What had everyone been experiencing?
Everyone had experienced the War: rationing and loss
• Poverty
• The Blitz
●
What wa

Labour's Welfare Program 1945-1951

The Labour government under Clement Attlee implemented major social reforms based on the Beveridge Report. These reforms laid the foundation for the modern British welfare state.

Key legislation included:

Family Allowances Act 1945
National Insurance Acts 1946, 1948 and 1949
National Health Service Act 1947
Landlord and Tenant Act 1949
Pensions Act 1947

Major Welfare Reforms

The Labour government enacted several key pieces of legislation to create a comprehensive welfare system:

National Insurance Act - Provided support for unemployment, sickness, maternity, widowhood and retirement
National Assistance Act - Addressed cases of hardship and poverty
Industrial Injuries Act - Covered workplace injuries
National Health Service Act - Established free healthcare for all

Definition: The welfare state refers to a system where the government takes responsibility for protecting and promoting the economic and social well-being of its citizens.

Additionally, two important acts passed in 1944 were implemented under Attlee's government:

Education Act - Provided free compulsory education with different types of secondary schools
Family Allowance Act - Gave weekly payments for additional children beyond the first

Example: The Education Act created three types of secondary schools: grammar schools, technical schools, and modern schools.

View

Labour's Economic Policy

The Labour government pursued an ambitious economic agenda centered on nationalization and managing post-war financial challenges.

Nationalization Program

Labour's commitment to nationalization was outlined in Clause IV of the party constitution. Key industries nationalized included:

1946: Coal, civil aviation, Bank of England, Cable & Wireless
1947: Road transport and electricity services
1948: Gas
1949: Iron and steel

Financial Challenges

The government faced significant economic hurdles inherited from the war:

£4,198 million in debt
£750 million balance of payments deficit
60% drop in exports
Reduced "invisible exports" (financial services)
Increased military spending commitments

Vocabulary: Balance of payments - The difference in total value between payments into and out of a country over a period.

Austerity Measures

To address these challenges, the government implemented austerity policies:

Continued rationing of food and fuel
Tight financial controls to prevent inflation
Wage and salary controls
Increased taxation
Import restrictions

Highlight: Britain was spending 14% of its GDP on defense by the late 1940s.

International Financial Issues

The government also grappled with international financial pressures:

Took a £6,000 million loan from the USA and Canada
Faced a "dollar gap" and "runs on the pound" in 1947 and 1949
Benefited from the Marshall Plan, which provided crucial financial aid from the US

Definition: Devaluation - A reduction in the value of a currency with respect to other monetary units.

This period of Labour government from 1945-1951 laid the foundations for the modern British welfare state and reshaped the country's economy in the aftermath of World War II.

View

Economic Measures and International Aid

The government implemented strict austerity measures under chancellors Hugh Dalton and Stafford Cripps, including continued rationing and tight financial controls. The period saw significant international financial support through:

Highlight: Britain received a £6,000 million loan from the USA and Canada, though currency conversion requirements created additional challenges.

Vocabulary: Devaluation - A reduction in the value of a currency with respect to other monetary units.

View

Post-War Consensus and the 1945 Election

The aftermath of World War II saw significant changes in British society and politics. The war had created a sense of shared sacrifice and community, leading to demands for social reform.

Key points:

Everyone had experienced rationing, loss, poverty, and the Blitz during the war
The 1945 election saw a surprise Labour victory over Winston Churchill's Conservatives
Labour promised to implement the Beveridge Report and create the NHS
They pledged to address poverty, education, housing, and unemployment

Highlight: The Labour Party won a 146-seat majority in the 1945 election, with Clement Attlee becoming Prime Minister.

The Beveridge Report

William Beveridge, a Conservative Party administrator, produced an influential report proposing comprehensive welfare reforms:

Recommended establishing a national minimum level of welfare
Proposed an insurance scheme to protect against sickness, injury and unemployment
Aimed to provide "protection from the cradle to the grave"
Identified five "giants" to tackle: want, ignorance, disease, squalor, and idleness

Quote: The Beveridge Report promised "protection from the cradle to the grave."

Vocabulary: Collectivism - The practice or principle of giving a group priority over each individual in it.

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Knowunity is the #1 education app in five European countries

Knowunity has been named a featured story on Apple and has regularly topped the app store charts in the education category in Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Join Knowunity today and help millions of students around the world.

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Download in

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Knowunity is the #1 education app in five European countries

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Average app rating

15 M

Pupils love Knowunity

#1

In education app charts in 12 countries

950 K+

Students have uploaded notes

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iOS User

I love this app so much, I also use it daily. I recommend Knowunity to everyone!!! I went from a D to an A with it :D

Philip, iOS User

The app is very simple and well designed. So far I have always found everything I was looking for :D

Lena, iOS user

I love this app ❤️ I actually use it every time I study.

Subjects

History

2m wars and welfare: britain in transition, 1906-1957

Part one: society in crisis, 1906-1929

The impact of war, 1914-1922

Discover the Beveridge Report 1942 and the Big Change in Britain

Annabelle Wardle

@annabellewardle_

11 Followers

The Beveridge Report 1942 and subsequent Labour government 1945 to 1951 fundamentally transformed post-war Britain through comprehensive welfare reforms and economic restructuring.

Key points:

The Labour Party's victory in the 1945 general election marked a decisive shift toward social welfare policies
William Beveridge identified the "Five Giants" of Want, Disease, Ignorance, Squalor and Idleness that needed tackling
Major reforms included the creation of the NHS, national insurance, and extensive nationalization programs
Economic challenges included massive war debt, trade deficits, and austerity measures
The period established the foundation of Britain's modern welfare state

04/04/2023

History

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Labour's Welfare Program 1945-1951

The Labour government under Clement Attlee implemented major social reforms based on the Beveridge Report. These reforms laid the foundation for the modern British welfare state.

Key legislation included:

Family Allowances Act 1945
National Insurance Acts 1946, 1948 and 1949
National Health Service Act 1947
Landlord and Tenant Act 1949
Pensions Act 1947

Major Welfare Reforms

The Labour government enacted several key pieces of legislation to create a comprehensive welfare system:

National Insurance Act - Provided support for unemployment, sickness, maternity, widowhood and retirement
National Assistance Act - Addressed cases of hardship and poverty
Industrial Injuries Act - Covered workplace injuries
National Health Service Act - Established free healthcare for all

Definition: The welfare state refers to a system where the government takes responsibility for protecting and promoting the economic and social well-being of its citizens.

Additionally, two important acts passed in 1944 were implemented under Attlee's government:

Education Act - Provided free compulsory education with different types of secondary schools
Family Allowance Act - Gave weekly payments for additional children beyond the first

Example: The Education Act created three types of secondary schools: grammar schools, technical schools, and modern schools.

Sign up to see the content. It's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Labour's Economic Policy

The Labour government pursued an ambitious economic agenda centered on nationalization and managing post-war financial challenges.

Nationalization Program

Labour's commitment to nationalization was outlined in Clause IV of the party constitution. Key industries nationalized included:

1946: Coal, civil aviation, Bank of England, Cable & Wireless
1947: Road transport and electricity services
1948: Gas
1949: Iron and steel

Financial Challenges

The government faced significant economic hurdles inherited from the war:

£4,198 million in debt
£750 million balance of payments deficit
60% drop in exports
Reduced "invisible exports" (financial services)
Increased military spending commitments

Vocabulary: Balance of payments - The difference in total value between payments into and out of a country over a period.

Austerity Measures

To address these challenges, the government implemented austerity policies:

Continued rationing of food and fuel
Tight financial controls to prevent inflation
Wage and salary controls
Increased taxation
Import restrictions

Highlight: Britain was spending 14% of its GDP on defense by the late 1940s.

International Financial Issues

The government also grappled with international financial pressures:

Took a £6,000 million loan from the USA and Canada
Faced a "dollar gap" and "runs on the pound" in 1947 and 1949
Benefited from the Marshall Plan, which provided crucial financial aid from the US

Definition: Devaluation - A reduction in the value of a currency with respect to other monetary units.

This period of Labour government from 1945-1951 laid the foundations for the modern British welfare state and reshaped the country's economy in the aftermath of World War II.

Sign up to see the content. It's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Economic Measures and International Aid

Highlight: Britain received a £6,000 million loan from the USA and Canada, though currency conversion requirements created additional challenges.

Vocabulary: Devaluation - A reduction in the value of a currency with respect to other monetary units.

Sign up to see the content. It's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Post-War Consensus and the 1945 Election

The aftermath of World War II saw significant changes in British society and politics. The war had created a sense of shared sacrifice and community, leading to demands for social reform.

Key points:

Everyone had experienced rationing, loss, poverty, and the Blitz during the war
The 1945 election saw a surprise Labour victory over Winston Churchill's Conservatives
Labour promised to implement the Beveridge Report and create the NHS
They pledged to address poverty, education, housing, and unemployment

Highlight: The Labour Party won a 146-seat majority in the 1945 election, with Clement Attlee becoming Prime Minister.

The Beveridge Report

William Beveridge, a Conservative Party administrator, produced an influential report proposing comprehensive welfare reforms:

Recommended establishing a national minimum level of welfare
Proposed an insurance scheme to protect against sickness, injury and unemployment
Aimed to provide "protection from the cradle to the grave"
Identified five "giants" to tackle: want, ignorance, disease, squalor, and idleness

Quote: The Beveridge Report promised "protection from the cradle to the grave."

Vocabulary: Collectivism - The practice or principle of giving a group priority over each individual in it.

Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Knowunity is the #1 education app in five European countries

Knowunity has been named a featured story on Apple and has regularly topped the app store charts in the education category in Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Join Knowunity today and help millions of students around the world.

Download in

Google Play

Download in

App Store

4.9+

Average app rating

15 M

Pupils love Knowunity

#1

In education app charts in 12 countries

950 K+

Students have uploaded notes

Still not convinced? See what other students are saying...

iOS User

I love this app so much, I also use it daily. I recommend Knowunity to everyone!!! I went from a D to an A with it :D

Philip, iOS User

The app is very simple and well designed. So far I have always found everything I was looking for :D

Lena, iOS user

Discover the Beveridge Report 1942 and the Big Change in Britain

Labour's Welfare Program 1945-1951

Major Welfare Reforms

Labour's Economic Policy

Nationalization Program

Financial Challenges

Austerity Measures

International Financial Issues

Economic Measures and International Aid

Post-War Consensus and the 1945 Election

The Beveridge Report

Similar content

Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Knowunity is the #1 education app in five European countries

Knowunity has been named a featured story on Apple and has regularly topped the app store charts in the education category in Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Join Knowunity today and help millions of students around the world.

4.9+

15 M

#1

950 K+

Still not convinced? See what other students are saying...

I love this app so much, I also use it daily. I recommend Knowunity to everyone!!! I went from a D to an A with it :D

The app is very simple and well designed. So far I have always found everything I was looking for :D

I love this app ❤️ I actually use it every time I study.

Discover the Beveridge Report 1942 and the Big Change in Britain

Similar content

Sign up to see the content. It's free!

Labour's Welfare Program 1945-1951

Major Welfare Reforms

Sign up to see the content. It's free!

Labour's Economic Policy

Nationalization Program

Financial Challenges

Austerity Measures

International Financial Issues

Sign up to see the content. It's free!

Economic Measures and International Aid

Sign up to see the content. It's free!

Post-War Consensus and the 1945 Election

The Beveridge Report

Similar content

Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Knowunity is the #1 education app in five European countries

Knowunity has been named a featured story on Apple and has regularly topped the app store charts in the education category in Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Join Knowunity today and help millions of students around the world.

4.9+

15 M

#1

950 K+

Still not convinced? See what other students are saying...

I love this app so much, I also use it daily. I recommend Knowunity to everyone!!! I went from a D to an A with it :D

The app is very simple and well designed. So far I have always found everything I was looking for :D

I love this app ❤️ I actually use it every time I study.