The Welfare State

1. After World War II, although victorious, the UK faced economic exhaustion.
2. In 1945, the Labour Party won the general election.
3. Clement Attlee became Prime Minister and introduced the welfare state as outlined in the Beveridge Report.
4. In 1948, Aneurin (Nye) Bevan, Minister for Health, established the National Health Service (NHS), offering free healthcare to all, at the point of use.
5. A national benefits system was created to provide “social security” from “cradle to grave”.
6. Key industries such as railways, coal mines, and utilities (gas, water, electricity) were nationalised.

Decolonisation and the Commonwealth

1. In 1947, independence was granted to India, Pakistan, and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).
2. Over the next 20 years, more colonies in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific gained independence.

Defence and International Relations

1. The UK developed its own atomic bomb.
2. Became a founding member of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) to counter the threat from the Soviet Union.

Conservative Government (1951–1964)

1. Period of economic recovery and rising prosperity in the 1950s.
2. Harold Macmillan, the Conservative Prime Minister, gave the famous “wind of change” speech about decolonisation

Key Figures

1. Clement Attlee (1883–1967)

1. Born in London, son of a solicitor.
2. Studied at Oxford University, later became a barrister and Labour MP.
3. Served as Deputy Prime Minister under Winston Churchill during the war.
4. Became Prime Minister (1945–1951).
5. Led the nationalisation of key industries.
6. Founded the NHS and expanded the welfare state.
7. Introduced laws to improve workers’ conditions.
8. Led the Labour Party for 20 years.

2. William Beveridge (1879–1963)

1. A British economist and social reformer.
2. Wrote the Beveridge Report (1942): “Social Insurance and Allied Services”.
3. The report identified 5 ‘Giant Evils’:
   1. Want
   2. Disease
   3. Ignorance
   4. Squalor
   5. Idleness
4. Provided the foundation of the modern welfare state.

3. R. A. Butler (1902–1982)

1. Full name: Richard Austen Butler (later Lord Butler).
2. Conservative MP from 1923.
3. Introduced the Education Act 1944 (known as “The Butler Act”).
4. This act brought free secondary education in England and Wales.
5. Created the primary/secondary school system still in use today.

4. Dylan Thomas (1914–1953)

1. A famous Welsh poet and writer.
2. Known for reading and performing his work, especially on the BBC.
3. Notable works:
   • “Under Milk Wood” (radio play, performed posthumously in 1954)
   • “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” (written in 1952 for his dying father)
4. Died at age 39 in New York.
5. Memorials in Swansea, including the Dylan Thomas Centre and a statue.

Migration in Post-War Britain

1. Rebuilding Britain After World War II

1. After World War II, Britain faced the immense task of rebuilding.
2. There was a labour shortage, and the British government encouraged workers from Ireland and other parts of Europe to come to the UK to help with reconstruction.

2. West Indian Migration (1948)

1. In 1948, people from the West Indies were invited to come to the UK to work.
2. This was part of the wider efforts to fill labour shortages and support the post-war economic recovery.

3. 1950s: Further Immigration

1. During the 1950s, the shortage of labour continued in the UK.
2. Further immigration was encouraged for economic reasons, with industries in need of workers.
3. Many industries advertised overseas to attract workers, with the government facilitating recruitment from the colonies.

4. Recruitment from Overseas

1. Special recruitment centres were set up in the West Indies to attract workers, such as bus drivers.
2. Textile and engineering firms in the north of England and the Midlands sent agents to India, Pakistan, and later Bangladesh to recruit workers.

5. Impact of Migration

1. Over the course of about 25 years, people from the West Indies, India, Pakistan, and later Bangladesh migrated to Britain to work and settle.

Social Change in the 1960s

1. The Swinging Sixties

1. The 1960s was a period of significant social change, often referred to as ‘the Swinging Sixties’.
2. This decade saw growth in British fashion, cinema, and popular music.
3. Two of the most famous pop music groups at the time were The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
4. With increased prosperity, people became better off, buying consumer goods such as cars.

2. Social Reforms

1. In the 1960s, social laws were liberalised, including:
2. Changes in laws related to divorce and abortion in England, Wales, and Scotland.
3. The position of women in the workplace improved, with Parliament passing laws to ensure:
   • Equal pay for women.
   • It became illegal for employers to discriminate against women based on their gender.
4. It was common for women to be asked to leave their jobs once they got married, but these new laws protected their employment rights.

3. Technological Progress

1. The 1960s was a period of technological advancement, including the development of the Concorde, the world’s first supersonic commercial airliner, by Britain and France.
2. New architectural styles became common, including high-rise buildings and the widespread use of concrete and steel in construction.

4. Migration and Immigration Laws

1. The number of immigrants from the West Indies, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh fell in the late 1960s.
2. The British government passed new laws to restrict immigration, requiring immigrants to have a strong connection to Britain through birth or ancestry.
3. Despite this, in the early 1970s, 28,000 people of Indian origin were admitted to Britain after being forced to leave Uganda.

Some Great British Inventions of the 20th Century

List of wonderful British Inventions of the 20th Century are -

1. Television

1. John Logie Baird (1888–1946), a Scotsman, developed the television in the 1920s.
2. In 1932, he made the first television broadcast between London and Glasgow.

2. Radar

1. Sir Robert Watson-Watt (1892–1973), a Scotsman, developed radar in 1935.
2. His radar technology allowed detection of enemy aircraft using radio waves.

3. Radio Telescope and Astronomy

1. Sir Bernard Lovell (1913–2012) contributed to astronomy by building the radio telescope at Jodrell Bank in Cheshire.
2. This telescope was the biggest in the world for many years and continues to operate today.

4. Turing Machine

1. Alan Turing (1912–1954), a British mathematician, invented the Turing machine in the 1930s.
2. This theoretical device was fundamental in the development of computer science and modern-day computers.

5. Discovery of Insulin

1. John MacLeod (1876–1935), a Scottish physician, co-discovered insulin.
2. Insulin became the primary treatment for diabetes.

6. DNA Structure

1. The structure of the DNA molecule was discovered in 1953 through research at British universities in London and Cambridge.
2. Francis Crick (1916–2004) was awarded the Nobel Prize for this discovery.

7. Jet Engine

1. The jet engine was developed by Sir Frank Whittle (1907–1996), a British Royal Air Force engineer, in the 1930s.

8. Hovercraft

1. Sir Christopher Cockerell (1910–1999), a British inventor, invented the hovercraft in the 1950s.

9. Concorde

1. Concorde, the world’s only supersonic passenger aircraft, was developed jointly by Britain and France.
2. It first flew in 1969 and began carrying passengers in 1976. Concorde was retired in 2003.

10. Harrier Jump Jet

1. The Harrier jump jet, capable of taking off vertically, was designed and developed in the UK.

11. ATM (Automatic Teller Machine)

1. James Goodfellow (1937–), a British inventor, created the cash-dispensing ATM (also known as cashpoint) in the 1960s.
2. The first ATM was installed by Barclays Bank in Enfield, London, in 1967.

12. IVF (In-Vitro Fertilisation)

1. Sir Robert Edwards (1925–) and Patrick Steptoe (1913–1988), British scientists, pioneered IVF (in-vitro fertilisation) therapy.
2. The world’s first ‘test-tube baby’ was born in Oldham, Lancashire in 1978.

13. Cloning

1. In 1996, Sir Ian Wilmot (1944–) and Keith Campbell (1954–2012) led the team that successfully cloned Dolly the sheep, the first mammal cloned from an adult cell.

14. MRI Scanner

1. Sir Peter Mansfield (1933–), a British scientist, co-invented the MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scanner.
2. This invention revolutionised diagnostic medicine by allowing doctors to take precise, non-invasive images of human internal organs.

15. World Wide Web

1. Sir Tim Berners-Lee (1955–), a British inventor, created the World Wide Web.
2. The first successful transfer of information via the web took place on 25 December 1990.

Problems in the Economy in the 1970s

1. End of Post-War Economic Boom

1. By the late 1970s, the post-war economic boom ended.
2. Rising prices of goods and raw materials caused economic instability.
3. The exchange rate between the pound and other currencies was unstable.

2. Balance of Payments Issue

1. The UK faced problems with its balance of payments.
2. Imports were more expensive than exports, leading to a trade deficit.

3. Strikes and Union Tensions

1. Many industries and services were affected by strikes.
2. Tensions grew between the trade unions and the government.
3. Public opinion argued that unions were too powerful and harming the UK's economy.

4. Unrest in Northern Ireland

1. The 1970s saw serious unrest in Northern Ireland.
2. In 1972, the Northern Ireland Parliament was suspended, and the UK government took direct control.
3. Over 3,000 people lost their lives in the violence during the Troubles, which began in 1969 and lasted for several decades.

Mary Peters (1939–)

1. Mary Peters was born in Manchester but moved to Northern Ireland as a child.
2. She became a talented athlete in pentathlon.
3. In 1972, Mary Peters won an Olympic gold medal in the pentathlon at the Munich Olympics.
4. After her Olympic success, Peters raised money for local athletics.
5. She became the team manager for the women’s British Olympic team.
6. Mary Peters has continued to promote sport and tourism in Northern Ireland.
7. She was made a Dame of the British Empire in 2000 for her contributions to sports and her community.

Europe and the Common Market

1. Formation of the European Economic Community (EEC)

1. In 1957, six countries—West Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands—formed the European Economic Community (EEC).
2. The aim of the EEC was to create a common market for its member countries, promoting economic cooperation and reducing trade barriers.

2. UK's Membership in the EEC

1. Initially, the UK was hesitant to join the EEC.
2. However, the UK eventually became a full member in 1973.

3. Post-EEC: European Union

1. The UK remained a full member of the European Union (EU) until Brexit.
2. The UK did not use the Euro currency, continuing to use the British pound.

Conservative Government (1979–1997)

1. Margaret Thatcher (Prime Minister: 1979–1990)

1. First woman Prime Minister of the UK.
2. Longest-serving PM of the 20th century.
3. Background: Daughter of a grocer from Grantham, trained as a chemist and lawyer.
4. Became Leader of the Conservative Party in 1975.
5. Became Prime Minister after the 1979 General Election.
6. Key Policies and Achievements:
   • Privatisation: Sold off many nationalised industries (e.g., utilities, British Telecom).
   • Trade Unions: Imposed legal controls to limit union power.
   • Economic Reforms: Promoted free-market policies and deregulation, boosting the role of the City of London as a global financial hub.
   • Traditional Industries: Sharp decline in industries like coal mining and shipbuilding.
   • Falklands War (1982): Successfully led military action to recover the Falkland Islands after Argentina's invasion.
7. Foreign Relations:
   • Close relationship with Ronald Reagan (US President).
   • Supported Cold War diplomacy and welcomed changes in the Soviet Union.

2. John Major (Prime Minister: 1990–1997)

1. Took over after Margaret Thatcher resigned in 1990.
2. Continued Conservative leadership.
3. Played a key role in starting the Northern Ireland peace process.

3. Roald Dahl (1916–1990) – Notable Cultural Figure

1. Born in Wales to Norwegian parents.
2. Served in the RAF in WWII.
3. Famous for children’s books, including:
4. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
5. George’s Marvellous Medicine
6. Many works adapted into films.

Labour Government (1997–2010)

1. Tony Blair (Prime Minister: 1997–2007)

1. Labour Party won a landslide victory in the 1997 General Election.
2. Introduced major constitutional reforms:
   • Scottish Parliament (1999): Given substantial legislative powers.
   • Welsh Assembly (1999): Given control over public services, with limited law-making power.

2. Northern Ireland Peace Process

1. Good Friday Agreement signed in 1998:
2. Helped end violence and promote power-sharing.
3. Led to the formation of the Northern Ireland Assembly (elected in 1999).
4. Assembly was suspended in 2002, reinstated in 2007.
5. Most paramilitary groups decommissioned arms and ceased activity.

3. Gordon Brown (Prime Minister: 2007–2010)

1. Took over from Tony Blair in 2007.
2. Continued Labour leadership until the 2010 General Election.

Conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq

1. Background (1990s–2000s)

1. 1990: Iraq invaded Kuwait → Britain joined coalition forces to liberate Kuwait.
2. 1990s: UK also involved in peacekeeping efforts in the former Yugoslavia.

2. Global Fight Against Terrorism (Post-2000)

1. After 2001, UK forces took part in the global fight against terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.
2. UK engaged in military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

3. Iraq

1. UK troops were involved in Iraq following the 2003 invasion.
2. British combat troops left Iraq in 2009.

4. Afghanistan

1. UK operates as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF):
   • A UN-mandated coalition of 50 nations.
   • Operating at the invitation of the Afghan government.
2. ISAF’s mission:
   • Prevent Afghanistan from being used as a safe haven for terrorism (e.g., Al Qa’ida).
   • Train Afghan National Security Forces.
   • Support the expansion of governance and development.
   • Gradual handover of security to Afghan forces.
   • Full security control by end of 2014.

Coalition Government (2010 onwards)

1. 2010 General Election

1. Held in May 2010.
2. Resulted in a hung parliament — no party won an overall majority.
3. This was the first time this happened since February 1974.

2. Formation of the Coalition

1. Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats formed a coalition government.
2. David Cameron (Conservative leader) became Prime Minister.
3. Nick Clegg (Liberal Democrat leader) became Deputy Prime Minister.

3. Key Features of the Coalition Government

1. Shared power between two parties.
2. Focus on reducing the national deficit following the financial crisis.
3. Introduced austerity measures.
4. Oversaw major changes in:
   • Welfare
   • Education
   • Health services