JANUARY 2009 AQA QUESTIONS
12Marks-Answers to be focused, identifying a range of specific explanations backed by historical links. Explain all factors.
Explain why conscription was introduced in 1916
. Heavy casualties- Western front, trenches stalemate, no longer rely on voluntarism, adjustment to
Industrial war, war lasted longer than anyone was expecting and was truly a ‘world
War’
. Recruitment posters and propaganda played on emotions-pride, patriotism and a fear of embarrassment
*After 1915 a perception that Asquith’s ‘business as usual’ had ceased to be appropriate. 1915 coalition
After shells crisis Lloyd George was Minister of Munitions with Conservatives
. Greater necessity in order to fight war and prevent a run down of war industries and
Size and strength of the army. Military Service Act 1916.
.Acceptability of state intervention with government gaining unprecedented power after DORA.
Why did the Labour government find it so difficult to deal with the financial crisis of 1931
.Unemployment-an international crisis-loss of USA markets, reduction of European trade, structural
decline of staple industries.
.Paying for unemployment-role of MacDonald- retrenchment ,’balancing the budget and maintaining the
Gold Standard-would have been a real strain on government finances
*MacDonald-did not listen and was wary of the Economic Advisory Council-wanted Labour to be seen
to be capable and trustworthy. Acceptance of cuts e.g. May Committee instead of
expansionary economic policy-Keynes/Mosley Memorandum (although McKibbin an
eminent historian would say that Britain’s budgetary operations were too small and a
greater level of state intervention would not be accepted. Another example would be
the European banking crisis and MacDonald's insistence on maintaining the Gold
Standard proved difficult when depositors wanted their money back in gold rather
than sterling.
Explain why the Labour Party won a landslide victory in the 1945 General Election
.Labour benefited from the leftward shift that occurred during the war and the fact that Labour had
recovered from the 1931 crisis. Also there was a growth in trade union movement during the
war
.Labour was better organised than the conservatives in their planning (by-elections and publicity)
*Labour Manifesto-‘Let us face the future’ built on what people had wanted-post war reconstruction and
It was Atlee and other important ministers(Morrison/Bevin) who demonstrated a
willingness to act on the 1942 Beveridge Report (slaying the giants of want, sickness , lack of
education , bad housing and unemployment-Family Allowances Act, EmergencyHospital
schemes , Town and country planning to deal with blitz effected homes.
.Labour had also benefited as war had transformed attitudes towards state planning ,regulation
and planning so their plans for nationalisation were not seen to be wild or dangerous.
.New voters made up 20% and soldiers wanted a new future, electoral system meant constituencies
rather than numbers of votes.
*Conservative mistakes-slogans, over reliance on Churchill, complacency, Gestapo speech, lack of focus-more international order rather than domestic freedom.
24 Marks Focus on the historical debate referred to in the question, mention other factors (interpretations),variation either firstly into main factor or other factors ,explain whether title was more important or not in your conclusion. Use historical examples to supplement your line of argument.
How important was the work done by women on the Home Front during the First World War in changing the position of women in British society by 1928.
.Before the war –certainly put the question of votes for women and the position of women on the political agenda. Social change was occurring-new jobs. Publicity and the work of the WSPU and the NUWSS but then bad publicity (historical examples) and government reluctance to grant the vote and thereby acknowledge the role of the women could be argued held them back but rather ‘the war would accelerate change’)
War-Changed the role of women .The women’s suffrage campaigns were suspended in wartime as women devoted themselves to the war effort In absence of men move towards work/munitions and other vital and often hard industrial work (by 1918 women made up 1/3 of workforce). Women were now capable of being the bread winner-more money/employment. Supported the war effort in formal capacity-Women’s Royal Air Force, Women’s Royal Navy, Women’s Land Army, important administrative jobs gaining an acknowledgement albeit reluctantly that women were playing a very supportive role. Resulted in them gaining vote albeit only women aged 30 or over in the 1918 Representation of the People Act. Limit the role of the war as many women returned to their traditional roles but there was an acknowledgement that they had ‘kept the home fires burning’ and many returned to their pre-war jobs or their homes.
Post war-return to traditional roles, an acknowledgement that Women had more rights (1919 Sex Disqualification Act), women were seen to be more conservative and moderate and in the 1928 Representation of the People Act they needed only to be over 21.
Conclusion- War certainly accelerated change and overcame some of the problems encountered before 1914 and in the post war period it was their return to traditional roles that gained acceptance. However, the most important factor is the acceptance gained due to their efforts on the Home Front during the war.
How successful were the National Governments in bringing about economic recovery to Britain 1931-1939
The success of the National Governments should be judged as to whether it fulfilled its aims rather than specifically sorting all of Britain’s economic problems. Their task was to uphold the Gold Standard, to sort out the effects of the Wall Street Crash and be permissive aiming for stability, prudent financial management and orthodox financial policy. To this end they could be considered successful but there are other interpretations to consider such as the growth of new industries, rearmament and the revival of the world economy. Government action would be minimal and their ‘permissive policy’ would see a recovery. The areas to consider will be the impact of the return to the Gold Standard, Protection, Industry and Unemployment.
Gold Standard-forced off in September 1931. The rate previously$4.86 so exports expensive.Also high interest rates and £ overvalued by 10%.NG came off the Gold Standard and £ devalued by 30% so exports cheaper. Interest rates down from 6% to 2%.Would the NG relate this easier money to easier spending. N o as they feared an artificial boom-permissive saw development of private house building. By not spending on staple industries allowed economic conditions for macro economy. Also an upturn in world economic recovery which meant cheaper prices which was a benefit as real wages stretched further.
Protection-Conservative dominated NG’s electoral victory allowed a general tariff of 10% on imports (Import Duties Act) with the exception of Empire goods in order to set up trading bloc. However, the Empire wanted to develop their own industry. Also the NG wanted to protect its own farmers which ruled out the free admission of large quantities of agricultural produce from the Empire. After the Ottawa Conference only bi-lateral deals could be set . So not successful as retaliation from Europe (retaliatory tariffs) and BRITAIN still depended on the Empire but there was one beneficiary-Steel (permissive for domestic industry) but also rearmament later in the decade.
Industry-permissive-balancing the budget so minimal policies
1934 Formation of the British Iron and Steel Federation
1935 British Shipping Assistance Act
1936 Cotton Industry Reorganisation Act
Staple industries little improvement but Macro. Greater benefits would be the growth in the domestic industry and rearmament.
Unemployment-No direct action.No public works schemes. Minimal risk and minimal government intervention.
1934 Unemployment Act
1934 Special Areas Act
Government policy was marginal rather than crucial for growth. Rearmament and growth in new industries.
By being permissive allowed new industry.By lower interest rates and reduced taxation but domestic based-cars, chemicals,real rise in wages .Did stimulate shipbuilding and steel. 2M new homes. Mortgages. Entertainment.
Conclusion-role of government permissive policies allowed the macro improvement and most importantly assisted the development of new industries but rearmament and upturn in world economy. By 1937 unemployment had fallen but still high in the depressed areas. Government only permissive but then that was their aim to be prudent but they had overseen the growth of new industry whose purchasing power had been able to stimulate the economy but war would be crucial in helping the staple industries.
How successful were Atlee’s government in dealing with Health and Housing 1945-1951
As part of the Labour Manifesto ‘Let us face the future’ both Health and Housing were integral in their idealistic objective to overcome class divisions and ensure fairness for all in a progressive modern society. They would achieve successes but it is important to acknowledge that other interpretations would see them as being unsuccessful as well as acknowledging other factors included diet and employment in improving peoples lives.
Health successes-1946 National Insurance Act-applied National Insurance to all employees and provided sickness and unemployment benefit, maternity grants and old age pensions
1948-the flagship-‘the NHS’- Aim was to provide free medical cover for all and to cover all forms of medical treatment. Overcame clash with compromise with Doctors over fees and worked with the BMA to allow Doctors to have private patients and work in the NHS. He ensured that the Medical profession was given a central role in the administration of the NHS. Did make available all necessary medical services to the people without any financial obstacle. Although infant mortality and tuberculosis was already falling this was at least speed up,187,000 prescriptions wee made in the first year,5.2 million spectacles were issued and the NHS gained public acceptance both at home and abroad with 95% of people enrolled with the NHS.It seemed to show that universal ,comprehensive and free medical care could be provided in a democratic, capitalist society.
Interpretation of Health failures-no unified system of NHS administration, less socialist than was expected e.g.Gaitskill/Bevan clash over charging for prescriptions, only 10,000 dentists for 47 million people,significant variations in the pattern of health care and local health centres did not come into being until 1952.Costs were much greater than was expected.
Housing successes-1.5 million new homes. 1946 New Towns Act began building new towns. 1946 Town and Countryside Act –green belts as a way of limiting urban sprawl and marking the beginning of environmental planning.
Interpretation of Housing failures-held back by post war financial and economic problems prevented Labour from building as many houses as it had hoped. Also the higher taxation prevented private house building for middle classes.
Conclusion;Labours great hopes to build a ‘New Jerusalem’ had moved a big step forward but perhaps the legacy was that for both health and housing that great steps were made but that they were socialist as they would haveliked-less houses and people paying for aspects of their Health but the legacy is that these reforms were to last until the 1980’s and they are still the basis of the welfare system today which can be complimented by Rowntree in 1951that people were in a better position as full employment and the improvements in welfare provision such as health reform had improved peoples lives and perspectives.
How successful were Atlee’s government in dealing with the Economy and Welfare/ Housing 1945-1951
See previous essay for National Health and housing-Welfare includes National Insurance 1946 and Family Allowances Ac1945 ,National Assistance Act 1948, Education 1944 – National Assistance still applied means test, not all injuries got compensation, education did not get rid of private schools, level of welfare benefits remained low and flat rate and poverty still existed.
Economic recovery
Problems to be overcome-Britain’s overseas commitments, massive war time debt, 1947 Winter crisis and 1949 USA recession.
Economic policies-To obtain USA loans, rebuilding exports ,establishing exchange controls, move to peacetime production, economic planning and unemployment,nationalisation. Other important factors included USA loans and markets and demise of traditional competitors.
To obtain USA loans-J.M.Keynes $3700m and Canadian loan-but had to pay interest and make pound fully convertible to US dollar and dismantle imperial preference to USA but could buy essential imports. Winter 1947 convertibility crisis and had to be suspended. Exchange controls introduced. 2m unemployed but Bevin got largest share of Marshall Aid in 1948 which would play a huge part in British recovery by 1950.
Drive for exports and adjustment to peacetime production-exports increased .
1949 recession-with Balance of Payments Crisis –Cripps as Chancellor of the Exchequer devalued and at same time was able to withstand expense of Korea and Berlin Airlift.
Policy towards Industry and Agriculture-kept interest rates and inflation down enabling Agricultural produce to be grown at home (so less imports) but agricultural subsidies were expensive.. ‘Export or die’ and improvements in run down regional areas, close work with trade unions and nationalisation and mixed economy
Nationalisation -20% of economic enterprises and employing 10% of workforce a balance between state ownership and private industry. and controlled most of fuel and power production, supply of electricity and gas was expanded but it did cost a lot of money, private owners had to be confiscated, Labour also burdened with the taxpayer with some run down and unprofitable industries such as coal mines and railways. (Labour did not directly involve workers or consumers in the decision making and many managers carried on leading the industries.
Conclusion-economy in better shape than 1945,full employment was maintained,export based recovery, by 1950 did not need Marshall Aid, limited central planning, acceptance of Keynsian policies and Britain better placed than some of its counterparts. Industrial recovery also took place in depressed areas.Emphasise USA and perilous position of competitors after the war.