Harold Macmillan: 1957 - 1963. - Advantages and disadvantages table in A Level and IB History


	Harold Macmillan: 1957 - 1963.
	Advantages Nicknamed ‘Supermac’. Presided over an age of affluence. Many reforms; Clean Air Act of 1956 + the Housing and Factor Acts. RAB, as Home Secretary (1957 - 1962) was more liberal than those prior; Homicide Act of 1957 restricted usage of death penalty, whilst Wolfenden Commission of 1957 recommended that homosexuality not be illegal. Developed ‘New Towns’ with a ‘green belt’, meaning no surrounding factories. Rebuilt US relationship. Had control of the media; took many advantageous opportunities presented by this fact. Had Party unity, in contrast to Labour Party, which was in disarray. Conservatives have 100 seats after 1959 General Election. Average pay for industrial workers had risen by over 20%.	Disadvantages Was viewed by some in the Conservative party to be left-wing. Arguably, low unemployment and economic prosperity was as a result of world trade, not his actions. By 1963, unemployment had reached 1 million in Britain Internally, there was division over his support of colonial independence. Macmillan was frowned upon for his reliance on Keynesianism.
	Evaluation

Nicknamed ‘Supermac’.
Presided over an age of affluence.
Many reforms; Clean Air Act of 1956 + the Housing and Factor Acts.
RAB, as Home Secretary (1957 - 1962) was more liberal than those prior; Homicide Act of 1957 restricted usage of death penalty, whilst Wolfenden Commission of 1957 recommended that homosexuality not be illegal.
Developed ‘New Towns’ with a ‘green belt’, meaning no surrounding factories.
Rebuilt US relationship.
Had control of the media; took many advantageous opportunities presented by this fact.
Had Party unity, in contrast to Labour Party, which was in disarray.
Conservatives have 100 seats after 1959 General Election.
Average pay for industrial workers had risen by over 20%.

Was viewed by some in the Conservative party to be left-wing.
Arguably, low unemployment and economic prosperity was as a result of world trade, not his actions.
By 1963, unemployment had reached 1 million in Britain
Internally, there was division over his support of colonial independence.
Macmillan was frowned upon for his reliance on Keynesianism.

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