Position:Home>History> Changes that took place in Great Britain from 1950-1975?

1!. Economic decline

Britain was bankrupted by the Second World War!. Nevertheless, in 1950 it was still a great economic power!. In 1950, Britain accounted for 26% of global manufacturing exports!. That share had fallen to 11% by 1970, and 9% in 1979!. From the 1950s to the 1970s, Britain’s economic growth was slower than all the other major economies!.

Throughout this period, British governments were constantly battling with balance of payments problems (too many imports compared to exports)!. The most serious, in 1967, led to the devaluation of the pound from $2!.80 to $2!.40!. This was seen as humiliating for the government, and a symbol of Britain’s economic decline!.

Britain was the first country to industrialize, so much of its technology was out-of-date, compared to more modern industries in Europe and Japan!. Economic decline was steepest in traditional heavy manufacturing areas such as the North of England, Scotland and South Wales!.

One factor contributing to economic decline was industrial unrest!. Trade unions became more and more powerful!. During the early 1970s, striking coal miners brought the country to a standstill, leading to a three-day working week!. Britain’s nationalized car industry also became notorious for its poor industrial relations!.

2!. End of Empire

The decades after World War II also saw Britain retreat from its colonial empire!. India had already been given its independence in 1947!. This was followed by most of Britain’s African and Asian colonies in the 1950s and 1960s!.

For the most part the process was smooth and peaceful!. But minor colonial wars were fought in some places such as Malaya, Kenya and Cyprus!.

One very important event during this period was the Suez Crisis of 1956!. Together with France, Britain tried to prevent the renationalization of the Suez Canal by invading Egypt!. However, the British and French were forced to withdraw their troops after the US condemned the invasion!.

This was an important symbol of Britain’s declining power!. It showed that Britain was no longer able to act independently in world affairs, and relied on the United States!. From then on, British governments made sure that their policies were closely coordinated with America’s!.

3!. Entry to the European Community

With the decline of the British Empire, British governments sought a new place for their country in international affairs!. Eventually, in the early 1960s, Britain decided to join the European Economic Community (as the European Union was then called)!.

Unfortunately, Britain’s membership was twice vetoed by Charles de Gaulle, the President of France!. It was only in 1973 that Britain eventually joined the EEC, a decision that was approved by British voters in a referendum!.

4!. Immigration

In the 1950s and 1960s, millions of people migrated to Britain from the former British colonies in Asia, Africa and the West Indies!. There was a labour shortage in Britain at this time, so many immigrants came to do jobs, such as transport workers, where locals were in short supply!.

The inflow of immigrants was often resented by the locals and led to growing race relations problems, leading the government to restrict immigration from the early 1970s!. However, immigrants have also contributed to British cultural life!. For example, Indian restaurants are now very popular all over Britain!.

5!. The permissive society

The 1960s were a period during which major changes took place in British society!. The country became more liberal and permissive on social issues such as sex, censorship, homosexuality, abortion, and capital punishment!.

Until 1960, people in Britain were not allowed to buy “Lady Chatterley’s Lover”, a famous novel by D!. H!. Lawrence, because of some sexually explicit passages!. When the book was eventually published in Britain in 1960, the government tried to block publication, but a court ruled that it was a work of art, not pornography!.

This was the beginning of a tide of liberal social reforms!. Homosexuality and abortion were legalized in 1967!. Capital punishment for murder was suspended in 1965 and abolished in 1969!.

The invention of the contraceptive pill meant that this was also the time of the sexual revolution!. Pre-marital sex ceased to be a social taboo and became the norm!.

In general, women enjoyed greater freedom in the post-war period!. In the 1950s most British women were housewives, but by the 1970s many had become workers or professionals!. A woman, Margaret Thatcher, even became leader of the Conservative Party in 1975 (later, in 1979, she became Britain’s first female prime minister)!.

6!. Rise of mass culture

The period of social liberalization overlapped with the rise of mass culture, in the form of pop music, television, fashion, movies etc!.

Britain was at the forefront of the “Swinging Sixties”!. The Beatles were at the time the most popular pop group in the world, though there were many other famous British groups such as the Rolling Stones or the Moody Blues!. The miniskirt was popularized by the British fashion designer Mary Quant!.

Young people had become important consumers and drivers of social and fashion trends!. Compared with their parents they had more money to spend!. As in other western countries, television became the main communications medium, creating a demand for mass popular entertainment!.

This was also a period during which rebellion and critical satire became fashionable!. In the 1960s TV comedy shows such as “That was the Week That Was” poked fun at social conventions and the political Establishment!. Later the tradition of comic satire found expression in “Monty Python’s Flying Circus”, the cult comedy show from the early 1970s!.

Here is a useful link where you can find out more about British history during this period:
http://www!.bbc!.co!.uk/history/british/mod!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

---

---

1953: Iron and steel and road transport are denationised
1959: Oil is discovered in North Sea
1963: Beeching's railway cuts
1967 Pound devalued
1971 Decimal curreny introduced
1975 Membership of EECWww@QuestionHome@Com

---

---