Britain

Irish potato famine

Period: 1845 to 1852

Causes mass death in Ireland.
Causes mass emigration to UK and America.

Repeal of the Corn Laws - Peel

1846

Lowers grain prices.
Splits conservative party.

Whig government

Period: 1846 to 1852

Under Lord John Russell.
Seen as ineffective, but survived with Peelite support.

Agricultural boom

Period: 1850 to 1873

Thanks to the dry summers more food was harvested.

Increase wages of industrial workers

Period: 1850 to 1875

Rose by 50%, but was lowered because prices were raised by 20%, so wages were increased by 30%.

"Goldern Age" of agriculture

Period: 1850 to 1859

Harvests produced high yields, prices were steady, farmers' income increased, there was scientific and technological innovation and improvements were carried out.
High farming used.

Great Exhibition

1851

International showcase of industry, technology and culture.
Held in the Crystal Palace "workshop of the world".
Highlights UK's economic dominance.

Population boost

Period: 1851 to 1881

Rose from 27 million to 35 million.
Provided a large workforce and an expanding home market.

Conservative government

Period: Jan 1, 1852 to Dec 31, 1852

Under Lord Derby.

Peelite-Whig government

Period: 1853 to 1855

Under Lord Aberdeen.
Defeated by stress of Crimean War.

Florence Nightingale

1854

Revolutionised nursing by improving hospital conditions.
Led to public health reforms.

Crimean War

Period: 1854 to 1856

Russia vs Ottoman Empire (UK + France + Turkey).
First war using modern technology.
Gladstone ensured spending didn't result in financial instability.
War exposed corruption and inefficiency in the government.

Whig government

Period: 1855 to 1858

Under Palmerston.
Focused on foreign affairs.

Public Health Act - Palmerston

1858

Allowed local authorities to control sewers, drainage and water supply.

Conservative government

Period: 1858 to 1859

Under Lord Derby
Assisted by Disraeli, lacked majority.

"Self Help" published

1859

By Samuel Smiles.
Talked about deserving of misery if you are poor.

Liberal-Whig-Peelite government

Period: 1859 to 1865

Under Palmerston.
Considered the first liberal government.

Cobden Chevalier Treaty

1860

By Richard Cobden.
Reduced tariffs on textiles and french wine.
Promotes free trade.

American Civil War (cotton famine)

Period: 1861 to 1865

Disrupts Britain's cotton industry.
John Bright supports free trade and non-intervention in civil war.

Contagious Diseases Act

1864

Allowed police to arrest women suspected of prostitution.
Aimed to reduce venereal disease.
Many protests by women against this, led by Josephine Butler.

Liberal-Whig-Peelite-Radicals government

Period: 1865 to 1866

Under John Russell.
Moving towards unity as liberals.
Russell retired and handed over to Gladstone.

Reform League created

Feb 1, 1865

After the revolts during Garibaldi's visit.
Working class alliance with trade unions and a few wealthy middle class people.

Gladstone becomes leader of the Liberal party

1866

After the resignation of Russell.
"Peace, retrenchment and reform".
Inspired by Peel.

Conservative government

Period: 1866 to 1868

Under Derby.
Politically powerless.
Derby retired, leaving Disraeli as leader.

Second Reform Act - Disraeli

1867

Enfranchised:
- urben working class men
Strengthened political voice of industrial workers.
Passed by conservatives to gain more support.
Led to the 1870 education act, since many politicians thought it beneficial to educate the new voters.

First Trade Union Congress

1868

In Manchester.
Trade unions petitioned for legal recognition.

Conservative government

Period: Jan 1, 1868 to Dec 31, 1868

Under Disraeli.
Politically powerless, but determined and ambitious for his party.
After the resignation of Derby.

Enfranchisement of some women

1869

By Gladstone.
Agreed to enfranchise women ratepayers in local elections.

Women's College at Cambridge

1869

Key figure: Emily Davies (education reformer).
First higher education institution in Britain.
Key step towards gender equality.

Irish Church Act - Gladstone

1869

Disestablishes Anglican church in Ireland.
Reduces discrimination against catholics.

Ladies' National Association for the Repeal of Contagious Diseases Act

1869

Established by Josephine Butler.
In response with the welfare of prostitutes.

Liberal government

Period: 1869 to 1874

Under Gladstone.
Adhered to the principles of Self Help.

Guano imported from Peru

1870

The guano industry was worth 8 million pounds a year by 1870.
Fertiliser, increases crops.

Education Act (Forster's Act) - Forster

1870

By W. E. Forster (liberal MP).
State-funded primary schools.
Education compulsory for ages 5-10.
Introduced after the 1867 second reform act.

Married Women's Property Act - Gladstone

1870

Gave married women legal status and allowed a woman to keep a proportion of her own earnings.

Irish Land Act - Gladstone

1870

To improve tenant-landlord relations.
Tenants could claim compensation for any improvements made to the property once they leave.
Regarded as a failure.

Coercion Act - Gladstone

1870

Gave police constables extensive powers to carry out arrests following the Irish Land Act (1870).

Trade Union Act - Gladstone

1871

Legalised trade unions, giving workers the right to strike.
Beginning of state recognition of working class rights.

Slump in agriculture farming

Period: 1871 to 1901

Number of farmers drops from 1 million in 1871 to 600,000 in 1901.

Secret Ballot Act - Gladstone

1872

Votes cast privately, reducing bribery.
Strengthened democratic integrity in Britain.

Criminal Law Amendment Act - Gladstone

1872

Makes it difficult to strike because of picketing.

Home Rule founded

1873

By Isaac Butt

Great Depression

Period: 1873 to 1896

Falling prices and competition against Germany.
Gladstone committed to free trade during economic challenges.
Joseph Chamberlain advocates for tariff reform.
Cyclical downturns: 1873-1879 and 1882-1886 and 1890-1896.
30-40% drop in price levels of most things.

Conservative government

Period: 1874 to 1880

Under Disraeli.
"ministry of sewage".
One-nation conservatism.

Public Health Act - Disraeli

1875

Local authorities maintain clean water.
Sanitation reduces disease.
First government intervention in public health.

Employers and Workmen Act - Disraeli

1875

Gave workers the same legal rights as employers in contract disputes, ending criminalisation of breaches.

Sale of Food and Drugs Act - Disraeli

1875

Regulated food safety standards.
Reduced sale of contaminated food and medicine.

Artisans' Dwelling Act - Disraeli

1875

Attempt at slum clearance.
Replaces Criminal Law Amendment Act.

Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act - Disraeli

1875

Replaced the unpopular Criminal Law Amendment Act (1871).
Aimed to strengthen trade unions.
Legalised peaceful picketing, giving the unions right to strike.

Merchant Seamen's Act - Disraeli

1876

Improved seamen's working conditions by limiting the load allowed on boats.

Sandon's Education Act - Disraeli

1876

Children couldn't get a job without an attendance certificate from school.
Forced children to go to school.

Royal Titles Act - Queen Victoria

1876

Queen Victoria proclaimed empress of India to strengthen British control over India.

Factory and Workshop Act - Disraeli

1878

• Banned children under 10 working in factories.
• Limited women's working hours.

Collapse City of Glasgow Bank

1878

Financial instability in Scotland.
Underscores need for stricter banking regulations.

Agricultural depression

1879

Farmers face economic challenges.
Massive migration to cities.
Creates overpopulation in cities.
Disraeli criticizes Gladstone's want for free trade during challenges.

Creation Land League

1879

By Davitt.
To secure land reform.

Liberal government

Period: 1880 to 1885

Under Gladstone.

Creation Fair Trade League

1881

Response to commitment to free trade amidst rising foreign competition.
Joseph Chamberlain advocated protectionism, although he doesn't join the league.

Irish Land Act - Gladstone + Parnell

1881

To reduce tenant exploitation.

First Irish Home Rule Bill - Gladstone

1882

Rejected.
Creates split in the liberal party:
- unionists (led by Joseph Chamberlain)
- others join the conservatives under Salisbury

Phoenix Park Murders

May 6, 1882

In response to Gladstone's Home Rule initiative.

Corrupt and Illegal Practices Act - Gladstone

1883

Criminalised bribery and intimidations in elections.
Strengthened British democracy.

Third Reform Act - Gladstone

1884

Enfranchised:
- rural workers
Brings the local electorate to 5.5 million.

Fabian Society

1884

Founded by Sydney and Beatrice Webb.
Wanted to persuade the government to introduce social reform.

Redistribution of Seats Act - Gladstone

1885

Created equal-sized constituencies, removing unfair advantages for rural areas.

Conservative government

Period: 1885 to 1893

Under Salisbury.
Increasingly sympathetic towards the needs of oridinary people.

Conservative government

Period: 1885 to 1886

Under Salisbury.
Minority government after liberal party split due to:
- home rule
- divisions over social reform
- attitutes towards imperialism
- personal tensions

Unemployment peaks

1886

Unemployment peaks at 10%.
Because of the Great Depression.

Increase wheat imports

1886

By 1886 2/3 of wheat consumed in Britain was imported.
Prices and profits for farmers fell and the results were catastrophic for many.

Rejection Fair Trade movement

1886

Still support free trade, despite rising calls for protectionist policies.
Joseph Chamberlain becomes prominent voice for protectionism after 1886.

Liberal government

Period: Jan 1, 1886 to Dec 31, 1886

Under Gladstone.

Killing Home Rule With Kindness

Period: 1886 to 1905

Through a number of Land Purchase Acts.

Industrial expansion

Period: 1886 to 1914

Technical innovation opened new areas of industry. Coal, machinery and shipping became predominant.

Coercion Act - Balfour

1887

By Arthur Balfour "Bloody Balfour" (Irish secretary).
In Ireland due to the jubilee riots and growing tensions.
Deepend resentment among Irish nationalists.

Matchgirls' Strike

1888

Led by Annie Besant.
Workers at Bryant and May match factory protest against low wages and dangerous phosphurus fumes.

Dockers' Strike

1889

Led by Ben Tillet.
Demanded higher wages (6p/hour).
Victory in London.
100,000 strikers.

Booth's poverty survey

1889

Charles Booth was concerned about the levels of poverty in London.
"Life and labour of the people of London".
Suggested that over 30% of the population lived in poverty.

O'Shea scandal

1890

Captain O'Shea and Kitty O'Shea divorce after involvement of Parnell.

Second Home Rule Bill - Gladstone

1892

Passed by commons but rejected in lords.
Highlights the power of lords to reject legislation.
Means the resignation of Gladstone, replaced by Rosebery.
Jeopardised by Parnell's scandal in the O'Shea divorce.

Formation Independant Labour Party

1893

Under Keir Hardie (first labour MP).
Working class interests in parliament.
Challenges the dominance of liberals and conservatives.

Creation ILP

1893

Independent Labour Party.
By Keir Hardie.
Advocates workers' rights, addresses economic inequality, unemployment and working conditions.
Slowly leaving Laissez-Faire economics.

Gaelic League founded

1893

To promote Irish heritage and separation from Britain.
Promoted cultural nationalism.

Liberal government

Period: 1893 to 1894

Under Gladstone.

Gladstone's resignation

1894

Lord Rosebery takes over.

Local Government Act - Fowler

1894

Allowed women to only vote in local elections.

Liberal government

Period: 1894 to 1896

Under Rosebery.

Economic boom

Period: 1895 to 1899

Rise in the standard of living.
Prices pick up in the late 1890s because of the gold-mining boom in South Africa. Which led to an economic boost.
Economic prosperity continued until 1914, with the interruption of the Boer War (1899-1902).

Agricultural depression

1896

Rural landowners lobby for protectionist policies.
Struggle against cheap grain imports.
Divide between agriculture and industry.

Conservative government

Period: 1896 to 1902

Under Salisbury.
Liberals suffer a crushing defeat after resignation of Gladstone and appointment of Rosebery.
Continue to tackle working class issues. But don't do as much as the Liberals do after 1906.

NUWSS

1897

National Union of Women's Suffrage Socities.
Led by Millicent Fawcett.
Peaceful campaign for women's voting rights.

Rosebery's resignation

1898

Resigned after liberal crushing loss in the 1895 elections.
Campbell-Bannerman is elected new party leader.

Second Boer War

Period: 1899 to 1902

UK fights against South Africa.
They use concentration camps which damage their reputation.
Highlights social inequalities and exposed Britain's imperial overreach.

Labour representation committee

1900

Predecessor to labour party.
Aimed to secure parliamentary representation for trade unions and socialists.

Creation LRC

1900

Labour Representation Committee.
By Keir Hardie + Arthur Henderson.
Aims to secure political representation for workers.
Later evolves into labour party.

Irish Nationalist Party reunited

1900

Under John Redmond.
But influence was non existent because of the large victory of the liberals in 1906.
Fought for Home Rule in Ireland.

Labour support increase

Period: 1900 to 1908

Number of workers belonging to unions who supported the LRC rose from 350,000 to over 1 million.
Increased funds for the labour party.

Taff Vale Case

1901

States that trade unions are liable for any losses caused by strikes.
Led to an increase in labour support.

Salisbury's resignation

1902

He appointed his nephew, Balfour, as new conservative party leader.
"Bob's your uncle".

Education Act - Balfour

1902

By Arthur Balfour (PM).
Reforms secondary education, funded by local authorities.

Conservative government

Period: 1902 to 1905

Under Balfour.
Conservative dominance due to:
- division within the liberal party because of Home Rule.
- middle class support
- growing want for imperialism
- improved conservative party organisation
- conservative social reform
Balfour supports Ulster unionist cause.

Lib-Lab Pact

1903

Liberals agree to not oppose labour candidates in come constituencies.
Allows labour to win more seats in parliament.

WSPU

1903

Women's Social and Political Union.
Led by the Pankhurst family.
Radical tactics to demand votes for women.
"Deeds not words".

Tariff reform campaign

1903

By Joseph Chamberlain (colonial secretary).
Imposes tariffs on imports.
Divides conservative party and contributes to their electoral defeat in 1906.

Sinn Fein founded

1905

By Arthur Griffiths.
Argued for a separate independent Ireland from Britain.

Liberal government

Period: 1905 to 1908

Under Campbell-Bannerman.
Tackle worst working class issues.
Social and welfare reforms are more far-reaching than any measures by previous governments.

Liberal landslide victory

1906

Campbell-Bannerman + DLG + Winston Churchill.
Focus on working conditions and tackling poverty.
Begins Britain's shift towards social welfare policies.
Won about 400 seats.
Major step for Labour party. Election of 29 labour MPs.

Trades Disputes Act - Campbell-Bannerman

1906

Reversed the Taff Vale case and helped unions.

Liberal welfare reforms

1906

Under Campbell-Bannerman.
Liberals introduce social reforms like free school meals to takle poverty.

Free School Meals Act - Campbell-Bannerman

1906

Gave local authorities the power to provide free meals to poor school children.

Qualification of Women Act - Campbell-Bannerman

1907

Gave women the right to be elected onto local councils and take the position of mayor.

Medical Inspections Act - Campbell-Bannerman

1907

Required schools to provide medical checks for pupils.

Suffragette protests

Period: 1907 to 1911

Broke up political meetings, smashed windows and went on hunger strike.
More radical than suffragists.

Children's Act - Asquith

1908

Introduced juvenile courts, banned child begging, smoking and alcohol.

Old Age Pensions Act - DLG

1908

By DLG (chancellor of the exchequer).
Provided state pensions for people over 70 with low incomes.
Funded through taxation.
First steps towards welfare state.

Liberal government

Period: 1908 to 1915

Under Asquith, appointed party leader after Campbell-Bannerman's death.
Influenced by New Liberalism.
Liberals committed to laissez faire liberalism.

Osborne Judgement

1909

Threatened the trade unions' ability to use their funds for political purposes.
Put trade unions and the labour party in a difficult situation (labour party relied on donations by trade unions).
Sydney and Beatrice Webb criticised.

People's Budget - DLG

1909

By DLG.
Proposed higher taxes on wealthy to fund welfare programs.
Led to a political crisis in the House of Lords.
Led to the 1911 Parliament Act.
Rejected because of Balfour's influence in the Lords.
Led to the liberals calling an election.

Hunger strikes

1910

By suffragettes.
Imprisoned suffragettes went on a hunger strike.
Government introduced force-feeding policies.

Liberal called election

Jan 1, 1910

Called by Asquith after the rejection of the 1909 People's Budget and in response to Balfour's influence in the Lords.
Liberals won, but with a reduced majority compared to the 1906 landslide victory.

Great Unrest

Period: 1910 to 1914

Trade unions + Keir Hardie + Tom Mann mobilise workers.
Strikes escalate across the coal mining, transport and docks industries.
Reflects economic dissatisfaction among workers and limits Laissez-Faire policies.
Rise of syndicalism.

National Insurance Act - DLG

1911

Unemployment and sickness benefits for workers.
Funded through worker, employer and government contributions.
Lays foundations for welfare state.

Parliament Act - DLG

1911

Limited power of the lords to block legislation.
Can only delay legislation twice.
Strengthened democracy by making the commons dominant.
Shows that the liberal government was challenging the power of the Lords.
Made Balfour resign and Bonar Law replace him.

Ulster Covenant

1912

In response to Home Rule.
Led by Edward Carson.

Ulster Volunteer Force created

1912

By Edward Carson.
In response to Home Rule.
Gathers around 100,000 soldiers and buys guns from Germany.

Emily Davidson's suicide

1913

Emily Davidson throws herself in front of King George V's horse, in protest for suffragettes.
Raised sympathy, but did little.

Cat and Mouse Act - Asquith

1913

Allowed government to release suffragettes that went on hunger strikes temporarily until they recovered, then re-arrested them.

Irish Volunteer Force created

Nov 1, 1913

By Redmond.
In response to the UVF.

WW1 begins

1914

Asquith (liberal PM) + Churchill (1st Lord of the Admiralty) + DLG (chancellor of the exchequer).
Wartime coalition government.
Women enter workforce when men leave to fight.
Society shifts towards total war.

Third Home Rule Bill - Asquith

1914

Delayed twice by the lords.
Was largely opposed by Ulster protestants.

WW1

Period: 1914 to 1918

Churchill:
managed naval resources + blockades.
DLG: oversaw economy and coordinated industry.
Introduction of massive debt towards the USA.

Women in work

Period: 1914 to 1918

Number of women in full-time work rose from 5.96 million to 7.31 million.

Government moves away from Laissez Faire

Period: 1914 to 1918

To support war munitions (shell production rose from 2 million in 1915 to 187 million by 1918).

Curragh Mutiny

Mar 1, 1914

Wanted to allow Irish to be able to vote for Ireland's independence.
Created unsettlement because of the rising fear of an Irish civil war.

Defence of the Realm Act (DORA) - Asquith

Aug 1, 1914

Gives government extra power during war.
As the war progressed DORA was strengthened adn further measures introduced.

Munitions crisis

1915

Shortages in munitions led to women working in factories.

Mortgages Act - DLG

1915

By DLG.
Controls how much rent can be raised by.
Prevents landlords from improving homes.

Coalition government (Liberal)

Period: 1915 to 1916

Asquith + DLG + Bonar-Law (conservative leader).
Asquith forms coalition with conservatives and labour party.
Highlights weakness in wartime leadership.
Highlights Asquith's weakness as leader.

Military Service Act

Jan 1, 1916

Conscription introduced for unmarried men aged 18-41.
Extended to include married men in april.

Coalition government (liberal + conservative)

Period: 1916 to 1922

DLG.
Conservatives withdraw support from coalition.
Led to DLG's resignation.
Bonar-Law becomes PM.
End liberal dominance in British politics.

Easter Rising

Mar 1, 1916

By republican groups to gain Irish independence.
Makes British government very unpopular.
Carrying out the death penalties was perceived as a gross mishandling of the situation by the British government.

Representation of the People Act

1918

Enfranchises:
- Women over 30
- All men over 21

General election "coupon"

1918

DLG coalition won with conservative support.
Further weakened the liberal party, as labour emerges.

Fisher's Education Act - DLG

1918

By DLG.
School leaving age 14.
Introduces state scholarships for equal opportunities to go to university.

Post-WW1 economic crisis

Period: 1918 to 1920

Over 1 million unemployed.

Housing Act (Addison Act) - Addison

1919

By Christopher Addison.
Government funded housing for working class families.
Follows "homes fit for heroes".

Sex Disqualification Act

1919

Allowed women to enter professions like law, civil service and go to universities.

Treaty of Versailles

1919

Treaty of Versailles ends WW2.

First woman in parliament

1919

Lady Astor became the first woman to take a seat in parliament.
After her husband was elevated to the Lords.

IRA created

1919

As a successor of the Irish Volunteers and fought for Irish independence.

Anglo-Irish War

Period: 1919 to 1921

Led by Eamon de Valera (Irish nationalist leader).
War between British forces and Irish republicans.
Laid groundwork for Irish independence.
British army call the "black and tans" (violent troops).
Ended with the Government of Ireland Act by DLG.

CPGB founded

1920

Commuinst Party of Great Britain.
First communist party in the UK.
Survives until 1990s.

Government of Ireland Act - DLG

1920

Attempt to achieve Home Rule.
Set up two parliaments (Belfast and Dublin).
Failed to gather support.
Criticised for British handling of the Easter Rising.

Unemployment Insurance Act

1920

Expanded benefits to more workers.
Covered over 12 million people.

Post-war crisis

1921

2 million unemployed after returning from war.

Geddes Axe

1921

By Eric Geddes.
Drastic spending cuts to reduce national debt.
Worsened unemployment and slowed the economic recovery.

Education Act - DLG

1921

By DLG.
Provided free school meals to children.

Anglo-Irish Treaty

1921

Ends Anglo-Irish war.
Marked end of direct British rule in most of Ireland.
Gave Ulster independence from the rest of Ireland.

Interwar slump

Period: 1921 to 1926

Reduced demand of coal and textile industries.

Creation Irish Free State

1922

Most of Ireland not under British rule.

British Broadcasting Company created

1922

Obtained license to broadcast news through the radio.
10 million people joined to watch the opening of the Wembley Exhibition by King George V in 1924.
Highlights rise of the media.

Conservative government

Period: 1922 to 1923

Under Bonar-Law.
Clear victory, underlined the continuing decline of the liberal party.
Also indicated the strengthening of popular vote for labour.
Ended the wartime coalition government.
Forced to retire. Replaced by Baldwin.

Irish Civil War

Period: 1922 to 1923

Anglo-Irish treaty divided Sinn Fein:
those who accepted -- Collins and Griffith
those who rejected -- De Valera

First woman labour MP

1923

Ellen Wilkinson became the first woman labour MP and was elected for Middlesborough.

Labour government

Period: 1923 to 1924

Under Ramsey MacDonald.
Not perfect but not a complete failure.

Wheatley Act - John Wheatley

1924

Increased the sibsidy to local councils to encourage them to build houses to let to working class families.

Conservative government

Period: 1924 to 1929

Under Stanley Baldwin.
Maintained political dominance due to:
- having the press behind them
- effective party organisation
- previous liberal voters moved to conservatives rather than labour

Labour government

Period: Jan 1, 1924 to Dec 31, 1924

First labour government.
Under Ramsay MacDonald.
Collapsed after liberals withdrew support.

UK returns to Gold Standard

1925

Led by Churchill.
To stabilise economy.
Made exports more expensive.

General Strike

1926

Baldwin (PM): against the strike.
Arthur Pugh: union leader.
Trade unions call for 9 day strike against coal miners' wages.
Government stops the strike.

Trade Disputes Act - Baldwin

1927

Passed as a result of the 1926 General Strike.
Placed limitations on unions.

Equal Franchise Act - Baldwin

1928

Women recieve same voting rights as men.
Increased electorate by 5 million.
"Flapper vote": women voters outnumbered men by 2 million.

Wall Street Crash

1929

Economy collapsed.
High unemployment and social hardship.
Investors withdrew gold from Britain, threatening a collapse of the British banking system.

First woman cabinet minister

1929

Margaret Bondfield became the first woman cabinet minister

Labour Government

Period: 1929 to 1931

Under Ramsay MacDonald, Snowden as chancellor.
Faces economic crisis: Wall Street Crash and the rise of unemployment.

Housing Act (slum clearance) - Greenwood

1930

By Arthur Greenwood.
Large-scale demolition of slums and construction of new housing.

Hungry 30s

Period: 1930 to 1939

Caused by Wall Street Crash (1929).
Decline staple industries.
Demand for British exports fell by 1/3.
Unemployment rose. (40% coal miners, 47% steel workers and 63% shipbuilding unemployed).
Emphasis on the youth, fashion and entertainment.

Infant mortality rate

Period: 1930 to 1940

Infant mortality rate falls from 67% to 61%.

Unemployment peaks

1931

Unemployment peaks during the interwar period due to the Wall Street Crash and the depression.
3 million unemployed.

Britain leaves Gold Standard

1931

Devalues pound.
Boosts trade and industrial output.

National government - labour/liberal/conservative coalition

Period: 1931 to 1935

Under Ramsay MacDonald and Chamberlain.
Face hungry 30s.

Banking crisis

Aug 1, 1931

Labour cabinet split over how to deal with the banking crisis.
Caused MacDonald to offer his government's resignation.
Led to the formation of the National Government.

Import Duties Act - Chamberlain

1932

Abandons free trade and introduces tariffs.
Introduces 10% tariff on most imports, reversing Britain's stance on free trade.
Neville Chamberlain advocates to protect balance economy.

BUF founded

1932

By Sir Oswald Mosley.
British Union of Fascists.
Recieved backing from Lord Rothermere.

Unemployment Act - Betterton

1934

After unemployment peaks at 3 million.
Establishes a means-tested dole system.

Unemployment Assistance Act - Chamberlain

1934

By Neville Chamberlain.
Means-tested benefits for long-term unemployment.
Stricter unemployment benefits.

Economic recovery in the south

Period: 1934 to 1936

Stanley Bladwin advocates for re-armament.
Increasing jobs because of WW2.
Creates clear north/south division.

Housing Boom

Period: 1934 to 1939

700,000 new council houses were built.

Government of India Act

1935

Gives India more self-governance.

Re-armament and government spending

Period: 1935 to 1939

Government invests in defense industries -- creates more jobs.
Unemployment fell, but still clear north/south divide.

National government - conservative led

Period: 1935 to 1937

Under Stanley Baldwin.
Focuses on appeasement and rearmament.

Jarrow March

1936

Ellen Wilkinson (Labour MP for Jarrow).
200 unemployed men march from Jarrow to London to demand jobs after the collapse of shipbuilding industry.
Baldwin completely ignores.

Abdication crisis

1936

Edward VIII abdicates to marry Wallis Simpson.
George VI becomes new king.

Rowntree's survey of York

1936

By Seebohm Rowntree.
Showed that 17.7% of the total population lived in poverty.
Reached conclusion that biggest cause of poverty was low wages.

Butlin's holiday camp

1936

Entrepreneur Billy Butlin opened a holiday camp at Skegness aimed towards working class families.
More opened after the end of WW2.

National government - conservative led

Period: 1937 to 1940

Under Neville Chamberlain.
Pursued appeasement for Hitler.

Holiday Pay Act - Baldwin

1938

Guaranteed paid holidays for workers.
Improved living standards.

Munich Agreement

1938

Chamberlain allowed Hitler to annex Czechoslovakia.

WW2 begins

1939

Evacuation millions of children from cities to rural areas.
Government intervention (industries + wartime measures).
Laissez-Faire moves to interventionism.

Operation Pied Piper

1939

1.5 million children evacuated from cities ro rural areas.

Emergency Powers Act

1939

Gives government complete control over economy, labour and industry.
Conscription was mandatory for all men aged 18-41 (later extended to 51).

WW2

Period: 1939 to 1945

Wartime cabinet established

1940

Included:
Greenwood, Bevin, Beaverbrook, Kingsley Wood, Anderson, Churchill, Attlee and Eden.
Doesn't succeed in everything, but remained strong and effective.

Ministry of Food created

1940

Run by Lord Woolton (Manchester businessman, managed rationing).
Food rationing introduced in January 1940.
Rationing continued on until 1954.

Norway Campaign

1940

Germany invades Norway and France + Britain try to stop them but fail.
Suggested invasion by Churchill.
Led to the resignation of Chamberlain and Churchill becoming new PM.

WVS

1940

Womens Volunteer Service.
Help evacuees, air shelters and to boost morale.

Firewatcher's Scheme

1940

Citizens assigned to guard buildings from bombing.

National Service Act

1940

Conscription for women aged 20-30.

War Damages Act

1940

Compensations for bombing of businesses during the Blitz.

Coalition government

Period: 1940 to 1945

Under Winston Churchill.
Set up to organise the economy to take account of the pressures set by the war.

Blitz

Period: 1940 to 1941

40,000 killed in mass bombing of London.
Leaves millions of homes and factories destroyed.

Atlantic Charter

1941

Churchill and Roosevelt agree on post-war principles.

Lend-lease agreement with USA

1941

Keynes visits the USA and agrees that the USA would provide supplies to Britain (weapons, food...).

Essential Work Orders

1941

Forces workers into key industries to kickstart the economy.

Beveridge Report

1943

By William Beveridge.
5 giants of society:
- squalor
- disease
- idleness
- ignorance
- want
Lays foundation for welfare state.

Casablanca Conference

1943

Churchill and Roosevelt plan European strategy.

Cairo and Tehran Conferences

1943

Churchill and Roosevelt plan European strategy.

Financial aid from USA

1943

Keynes negotiates financial aid from USA.

Education Act (Butler Act) - Butler

1944

By RAB.
Free secondary education for all children.
Created 3 school branches (grammar, technical and general).
Created the Eleven Plus (entry exams).

Family Allowances Act

1944

Child benefits.

Bretton Woods Conference

1944

Keynes represents Britain.

Labour landslide election

1945

Under Attlee.
Population blamed the conservatives for unemployment and depression.
Conservatives blamed for the Hungry 30s.
Labour carry out:
- nationalisation
- welfare policies
- national health service
Represents a turning point in British politics.

Family Allowances Act - Churchill

1945

Paid out a rate of 5s per week per child.
Alongside the 1944 Butler Education Act, these became the basis of the welfare state.

Labour government

Period: 1945 to 1951

Under Clement Attlee.
They increased taxation, which had an impact on working class families, to pay off war debts.
"Muddled socialism".
Ended and caused a split because of Bevan and Gaitskell (disagreed on prescription charges).
Oversaw the construction of 1.5 million new 'prefab' homes.

Docker's strike

Oct 1, 1945

Dockers went on strike and threatened the already limited supply of food coming into the country.
People didn't sympathise.

New Towns Act - Attlee

1946

Allowed the construction of new houses in the outskirts of London to rehouse those who'd lost their homes during the blitz.

National Insurance Act - Attlee

1946

Effectively translated into law the recommendations of the Beveridge report.

Nationalisation

Period: 1946 to 1951

Under Attlee's government.
Government took into public ownership 20% of the workforce.
Advantages:
- supply of gas and electricity expanded
Disadvantages:
- costly

Marshall Plan

1947

US economic aid to reconstruct after WW2.\
UK recieves 2.7 billion dollars.
Helps labour party to establish "New Jerusalem".

National Service introduced

1947

To discipline young men.

Nationality Act - Attlee

1948

In response to the mass immigration arriving in Britain.
Around 250,000 immigrants arrived from West Indies and other parts of the New Commonwealth.

NHS introduced

Jul 5, 1948

Introduced by Bevan (labour politician).
Creates a free healthcare system.

Whiskey Galore

1949

Film that showcased a real-life incident that occurred in 1941 in the Hebridean island of Eriskay when the boat SS Politician sank transporting 28,000 cases of whisky.

Government of Ireland Act - Attlee

1949

Declared Ireland a republic.

Festival of Britain

1951

Ffestival in the UK that showcased the latest technologies. It aimed to cheer up everyone.
Meant the end of labour dominance.

Housing Programme

1951

Under Macmillan.
Promise the construction of 300,000 houses annually. The target was exceeded by 1954.

Conservative government

Period: 1951 to 1955

Under Churchill.
Start of conservative dominance.
Reasons for labour weakness:
- fights between Bevan and Gaitskell.

Labour nearly achieve 50% of the votes.
Elections called by George VI because he was worried labour wouldn't be strong enough.

Post-war economic boom

Period: 1951 to 1960

Rise in living standards.
Men's wages rose by 45%.
Length of working hours was reduced from 48 to 42 per week.
Around 300,000 new homes were built annually.
Boom in consumer goods (televisions, washing machines, cars).

Death King George VI

1952

Coronation Queen Elisabeth II

Jun 2, 1953

Start of a new period called “restoration”.

On the Waterfront film

1954

Film character Marlon Brando influenced teenagers into dressing a certain way and adopted aggressive and challenging attitudes to adult convention and respectable behaviour.

Conservative government

Period: 1955 to 1957

Under Eden.
Shifted towards more liberal views.

Suez Canal crisis

1956

Egypt seized control of the Suez canal, meaning slower shipping routes from the west.
Caused Eden's downfall.
Eden launched military action against the leader of Egypt (Nasser).
Eden lied to the press and Commons about his collusion with France and Israel.

IRA bombings

1956

Bombed the boarder in an attempt to regain popular support.
Campaign came to nothing because they had no support.

Conservative government

Period: 1957 to 1963

Under Macmillan (Supermac).
"Never had it so good" speech.
Labour weakness fueled conservative dominance.

Financial crisis

Aug 1, 1957

Inflation was rising because wages were running far ahead of productivity.
Fear that pound would be devalued against the US dollar.

Notting Hill riots

Aug 1, 1958

High immigrantion concentration.
Race riots occured.

General Election

1959

Defeat of labour, continuation of conservative dominance.
Deepened the split in the labour party.

Car owner boom

1960

By 1960 there were over 5 million car owners in Britain.

Commonwealth Immigrants Act - Macmillan

1962

Limited immigration through a system of work permits.
Opposed by the labour party.

Profumo Affair

1963

John Profumo (defence secretary) was caught in an affair with model Christine Keeler, who was also sleeping with soviet spy Ivanov.
Raised questions about Cold War secrets being leaked.
Profumo lied about his involvement, Macmillan backed him.
Affair weakened Macmillan's government.

Petition to join EEC

Jan 1, 1963

By Macmillan to stabilise British economy.
Rejected by France.
Caused setbacks for Macmillan's economic policies.

Labour government

Period: 1964 to 1970

Under Wilson.
Resignation Macmillan led to their victory.

Mods and Rockers riots

May 1, 1964

In Brighton.
Clashes between mods (sophisticated) and rockers (bikers).
Riots went on for two days.