Parliament and the People

1914-c.1980 – Parliament and the People

Most people believed that their lives would be better without the government’s involvement
- Governments were wanted to handle large-scale issues such as war and economy
- Friends, families, neighbours and Churches were wanted to handle people in need
- In the 1900s these ideas were changing, and governments began to legislate about welfare
- This was accelerated with the outbreak of the Great War
The world wars changed the relationship between governments and people
- Many believed that increasing government control made life better for most of the population
- After WWI, governments seemed to do less for the population as there was high levels of unemployment and poverty
- After WWII, people voted for a Labour government for belief of a welfare state
All parties agreed that governments should be heavily involved in the lives of the people
- This lasted from the end of 1945 to the end of the 1970s

1914-45 – Government Control in the Wars

Both World Wars were ‘total wars’ because it involved all of the people
Government control of news and movement, as well as the demands of war, changed lives
- Women’s roles changed
At the start of WWI, the government tried to get soldiers from volunteers
- At the beginning this was successful; half a million men signed up in the first month and by 1916, there were over 2 million who has enlisted
- The army was still short of troops and the volunteer system was inefficient
  - So many miners enlisted that they had to be called back to the mines
- The government introduced conscription in 1916
  - 50 MPs voted against it in parliament
- There was a system of appeals where people could request exemption, usually from those who opposed war for political or religious reasons
  - They were known as ‘conscientious objectors’ or ‘conchies’, and were often not believed and sent to prison
  - Only about 5% of appeals became conchies, many were family of business men
- The government controlled civilian workers as well as troops
  - It took control of the coal industry and set up its own munitions factories
- It clashed with trade unions because they stopped people moving jobs, where they would be better paid
  - There were many strikes and the government usually backed down, so workers’ wages rose
- Unions also clashed over plans to introduce female workers because they would be paid less and undercut male workers
  - The government agreed that women would be paid the same as men, but that this would not continue after the war
- The cost of goods also rose, so many workers were not better off
In the Second World War, a coalition government was formed, involving ministers from Conservative, Liberal and Labour parties
- Conscription began in 1938, before the war even began
- This was a new type of war, as it was not on battlefields, but high levels of production were needed
- Many of the Labour ministers in Churchill’s government came from trade union backgrounds
  - This included Ernest Bevin, minister of labour
- The conscription of men at 16 to coal mines was an example of co-operation between government and trade unions
- Trade unions fully supported the war effort but also stood up for rights, working conditions and pay of their members
- Wages and prices were both controlled
- By mid-1941, over half of the population was employed by the government however there was still a shortage of workers, so women had to be conscripted
  - Eight times as many women were employed in the Second World War than the first because women from all classes worked
  - Governments and employers introduced flexible working schemes and childcare facilities
In both wars, the government controlled information through propaganda and censorship
- Journalists had to submit articles to censors before they were published
- In WWI, the Tribune newspaper was shut down for publishing anti-war articles
- In 1942, the Daily Worker was shut down for suggesting that industry bosses benefited from workers’ sacrifices
- Local newspapers were not controlled as closely as national ones, so people still received news
- Books and films were also censored and in WWII, the BBC effectively censored itself to keep morale high
- Propaganda circulated and it is likely to have been effective
  - Hitler admired the work of a British newspaper owner in WWI
  - The prime minister became a legendary figure in WWII
In both wars, food was a serious concern
- German U-boats were the largest threats to supplies coming by ship form the USA and Canada
  - In 1917, there was only six weeks supply of wheat remaining
  - In WWII, Churchill proclaimed that it was the only thing that really scared him
- In WWI, compulsory rationing was only introduced in 1918, because the government previously worked to increase food production
- In WWII, rationing was introduced at the start, covering other items as well as food
  - There was a flourishing black market of luxury goods, but most followed rules
- Rationing rules were generally fair, and the health of the population improved as a result
There were defence concerns during both wars
- In WWI, the concerns were German ships attacking coastal areas and air raids
- In WWII, the concerns were that Britain may face a full German invasion
- The government controlled many coastal areas and banned people from the areas
  - This was for people’s safety and the building of fortifications
- The government used identity papers to increase control because there were fears of spies and saboteurs
- People were urged not to talk about their work or spread news from relatives fighting abroad, in case an enemy heard it
- In WWII, air raids increased, so the government recruited Air Raid Precautions (ARP) wardens to enforce blackouts
- The government provided thousands of air-raid shelters and organised the evacuation of thousands of children

1914-51 – War, Parliament and People

Mobilising for war was easier in WWII because it had been done before
- People backed the government because of patriotism, the enemy and the agreements that loyalty would be rewarded
People generally felt that things would be better with the government’s involvement
When WWI broke out, people accepted that governments should control aspects of their lives
- Throughout the 19^th century, people felt that governments should not interfere, but it the early 1900s this attitude changed as welfare measures were introduced
- Parliament recognised that in return for people’s support, they should reward them
  - In 1918, the Representation of the People Act was passed and gave all men over 21, and some women, the vote
  - In 1928, the remaining women got the right to vote
- In 1918, Lloyd George wanted to make Britain ‘fit for heroes to live in’ but this was difficult due to high unemployment, clashed with trade unions and many strikes
- The government introduced some measures to help but people had to prove their financial status for fear of cheats
- Many workers felt they were no longer needed or valued
- The working classes in industrial areas felt betrayed
During WWII, there was early mistrust, however people stood behind the war effort
- Posters were commissioned by the government in 1939, and people felt they were ridiculous or patronising rather than encouraging
- Churchill brought leading figures from the main political parties into a coalition government
- In 1944, Sir William Beveridge, published the Beveridge Report, identifying poverty, disease, ignorance, squalor and idleness as the biggest social issues
  - To tackle these, he recommended the creation of the welfare state meaning government-funded healthcare, benefits for the unemployed and family allowances
- The Labour Party supported Beveridge’s ideas, as did the Conservatives
In 1945, both parties were promising to build a better Britain and there was an election
- Churchill hoped that his record would hold him in good stead, but Labour’s Clement Attlee won a landslide victory, introducing reforms
  - Family Allowances of 1945 was a weekly payment, with no test, to the mother for every child after the first
  - National Insurance of 1946 was compulsory insurance against unemployment or illness paid for by government, employer and worker contributions
  - The National Health Service of 1948 was free healthcare for all citizens
  - There was a massive house-building government programme promising 1 million new homes by 1950
  - There was nationalisation whereby the government controlled industries such as coal and rails
  - There was full employment whereby government involvement created millions of jobs
Political rivalry continued post-war; the Liberal Party declined, and the Labour and Conservative Parties exchanged power
- The Conservatives never attempted to reverse Labour’s changes of 1945-51
- Both parties accepted the country’s main problems needed to be tackled through parliament’s intervention

Describe two examples of government increasing control during the world wars. [4]

Describe two examples of the results of the general election of 1945. [4]

Explain why Britain’s war effort was effective in the two world wars? [8]

What was the significance of the 1945 general election? [14]