Revision Notes: Britain Since 1945

The Establishment of the Welfare State

Labour Government Election: In 1945, the British people elected a Labour government led by Clement Atlee, promising to introduce the welfare state 🔗
National Health Service (NHS): Established in 1948 by Aneurin Bevan, guaranteeing free healthcare for all at the point of use 🔗
Social Security: A national system of benefits was introduced to protect the population "from cradle to grave" 🔗
Nationalization: The government took public ownership of railways, coal mines, and utilities 🔗
Decolonization: Independence was granted to nine countries in 1947, including India and Pakistan 🔗

The Swinging Sixties: A period of significant social change, growth in British fashion, cinema, and popular music 🔗
Economic Growth: People became better off, with many buying cars and consumer goods 🔗
Social Liberalization: Laws were liberalized regarding divorce and abortion in England, Wales, and Scotland 🔗
Women's Rights: New laws gave women the right to equal pay and protection against gender discrimination 🔗
Technological Progress: Development of Concorde and new architectural styles 🔗
Immigration Changes: New laws restricted immigration, requiring strong connections to Britain 🔗
Economic Challenges: The 1970s saw the end of the post-war economic boom, with rising prices and unstable exchange rates 🔗
Industrial Unrest: Many industries and services were affected by strikes, causing problems between trade unions and the government 🔗
Northern Ireland Conflict: Serious unrest in Northern Ireland led to direct rule by the UK government in 1972 🔗

Television: Developed by John Logie Baird in the 1920s 🔗
Radar: Developed by Sir Robert Watson-Watt for detecting enemy aircraft 🔗
Turing Machine: Theoretical device invented by Alan Turing, influential in computer science 🔗
DNA Structure: Discovered through work at British universities in London and Cambridge 🔗
Jet Engine: Developed by Sir Frank Whittle in the 1930s 🔗
Hovercraft: Invented by Sir Christopher Cockerell in the 1950s 🔗
ATM (Cashpoint): Invented by James Goodfellow in the 1960s 🔗
IVF Therapy: Pioneered by Sir Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe 🔗
Animal Cloning: First successful mammal cloning (Dolly the sheep) led by Sir Ian Wilmut and Keith Campbell 🔗
MRI Scanner: Co-invented by Sir Peter Mansfield 🔗
World Wide Web: Invented by Sir Tim Berners-Lee 🔗

Thatcher Era: Margaret Thatcher became the first woman Prime Minister, serving from 1979 to 1990 🔗
Economic Reforms: Privatization of nationalized industries and legal controls on trade unions 🔗
Falklands War: In 1982, Britain recovered the Falkland Islands after Argentine invasion 🔗
Blair Government: Tony Blair's Labour Party elected in 1997, introducing devolution to Scotland and Wales 🔗
Good Friday Agreement: Signed in 1998, part of the Northern Ireland peace process 🔗
Military Engagements: British forces involved in conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq 🔗
Coalition Government: Formed in 2010 between Conservatives and Liberal Democrats 🔗
Brexit: The 2016 EU membership referendum led to the UK leaving the European Union 🔗
COVID-19 Pandemic: The government's handling of the global health crisis 🔗
Labour Government: Keir Starmer's Labour party won the majority in the 2024 general election 🔗

Who led the establishment of the National Health Service (NHS) in 1948?
a) Clement Atlee
b) Aneurin Bevan
c) Margaret Thatcher
d) Tony Blair
Which of the following was NOT a part of the welfare state established after World War II?
a) National Health Service
b) Social security benefits
c) Privatization of industries
d) Public ownership of utilities
What significant social change occurred in the 1960s?
a) Introduction of the NHS
b) Liberalization of divorce and abortion laws
c) Restriction of women's rights in the workplace
d) Nationalization of major industries
Which British invention revolutionized diagnostic medicine?
a) Radar
b) Hovercraft
c) MRI scanner
d) Concorde
Who was the first woman Prime Minister of the UK?
a) Mary Peters
b) Margaret Thatcher
c) Queen Elizabeth II
d) Theresa May
What significant event occurred in 1982 during Margaret Thatcher's premiership?
a) The Good Friday Agreement
b) The Falklands War
c) The fall of the Berlin Wall
d) The introduction of the Euro
Which government introduced devolution to Scotland and Wales?
a) John Major's Conservative government
b) Tony Blair's Labour government
c) David Cameron's Coalition government
d) Theresa May's Conservative government
What major political event happened in the UK in 2016?
a) The Scottish independence referendum
b) The EU membership referendum (Brexit)
c) The formation of the Coalition government
d) The Good Friday Agreement

Answers: