Britain 1951-1997 List of Possible Essay Questions

Britain 1951-1997 Possible Exam Questions – 20 Marks

1. Assess the reasons for Conservative domination in the years 1951 to 1964.

2. ‘The key to the Conservative dominance of British politics through the 1980s was the personality and decisive leadership of Mrs Thatcher.’ How far do you agree?

3. Assess the reasons for the landslide election victory of New Labour in 1997.

4. ‘Britain in the years 1951 – 1990 was in terminal decline.’ How far do you agree?

5. Assess the reasons for the changing attitudes of British governments to Europe in the period.

6. How successfully did the Labour governments in the period 1964 – 1979 deal with the problems they faced?

7. ‘The efforts of British governments to join the EEC in the years 1961 to 1973 were mainly a result of Britain’s decline as a world power.’ How far do you agree?

8. ‘Margaret Thatcher’s achievements as prime minister in the years 1979 to 1990 were limited.’ How far do you agree?

9. ‘There were more similarities than differences.’ How far do you agree with this view of the domestic policies of the Conservative and Labour parties in the years 1951 to 1970?

10. ‘Labour lost power in 1970 because of its own failings in the years 1964 to 1970’How far do you agree?

11. ‘It was only because of the “special relationship” with the USA that Britain could exert an influence on international affairs in the years 1951 to 1997’. How far do you agree?

12. Assess the reasons for the Labour election victory of 1964.

13. How successfully did Britain manage the process of decolonisation in the period?

14. Assess the reasons for Britain’s decline as a world power in the period after 1951.

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