How far do you agree that the landslide victory of the Labour Party in the 1945 general election was only possible because of Britain's experience in the Second World War?

Created by: amisavage99
Created on: 06-06-17 22:50

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How far do you agree that the landslide victory of the Labour Party in the 1945 general election was only possible because of Britain's experience in the Second World War?
- Thesis: Labour's victory was due to Britain's wartime experience
  - Success of state intervention
    - Emergency Medical Service (1939)
      - Support for collectivism/planning/egalitarianismappealed too industrial working classes/ more middle classes
    - Emergency Work Orders (1941)
      - Support for collectivism/planning/egalitarianismappealed too industrial working classes/ more middle classes
  - Promised to implement the Beveridge Report (1942)
    - In 'Let Us Face the Future' manifesto
    - Beveridge was appointed by a Labour politician
  - Success of Labour politicians in the National Government (mostly home front)
    - Attlee was a caretaker deputy PM
      - Formidable opponent
        'Unfit to govern' was proved wrong
    - Bevin minimised strikes/maximised output
    - Herbert Morrison coped with the Blitz
    - Hugh Dalton was economically competent (as Minister for War Economy)
    - Stafford Cripps
  - Labour's pre-war record was weak and undistinguished
  - Conservative failings
    - Chaimberlain's appeasement
    - Dunkirk
    - Failure to re-arm
    - Unemployment
- Antithesis: Labour's victory was due to other factors
  - Churchill's assumed victory (despite indications of rising Labour support in the war)
    - Lacklustre campaign
      - Accused Labour of using Gestapo like police to enforce radicalism
      - Manifesto was called 'Mr Churchill's declaration of Policy to the Electorate'
    - More of a statesman interested in foreign affairs
    - Memories of Lloyd George failing to create a 'land fit for heroes'
      - Failure to solve the Depression of the 1930s
    - Memories of Churchill returning Britain to the Gold Standard (1926)

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How far do you agree that the landslide victory of the Labour Party in the 1945 general election was only possible because of Britain's experience in the Second World War?

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