A-Level History: Post-war Britain, 1951–79

This material covers British political, economic and social history from the Conservative return to power in 1951 to the fall of the Callaghan government in 1979, the first half of the modern Britain depth studies (for example AQA's 'The Making of Modern Britain, 1951–2007'). It is the first of two materials on this period; the second runs from Thatcher to Blair.

The Conservative years 1951–64 are covered through the idea of post-war consensus and 'Butskellism', stop-go economic management and what a Chancellor actually did in a 'stop', affluence and 'never had it so good', the Suez Crisis and its financial lesson, decolonisation and the 'wind of change', the first application to the EEC and de Gaulle's veto, and the troubles of Macmillan's last years, from the Night of the Long Knives to the Profumo affair. Wilson's governments of 1964–70 are covered through the National Plan and why it failed, the 1967 devaluation and its consequences, the social reforms of the 'permissive society' (with their exact scope, for instance where the Abortion Act did not apply) and the failure of In Place of Strife. The 1970s are covered through Heath's U-turn, the miners' disputes, the three-day week and the inconclusive February 1974 election, entry to the EEC and the 1975 referendum, the IMF loan of 1976, the Lib-Lab pact, the Winter of Discontent and the vote of no confidence of March 1979.

The quiz uses chronology questions, multiple-answer questions that test exact knowledge, and short scenarios such as a Chancellor's choices under stop-go or the circumstances of the February 1974 election. The flashcards fix dates, terms and results. The written work sets eight tasks of the explain, assess and 'how far' type, each with a reference answer and key points, for instance on the existence of a post-war consensus or the reasons for Labour's defeat in 1979. The oral exam asks you to argue your judgements aloud, one question at a time, with brief feedback at the end.

The material is based on the content common to the modern British history options of the A level History specifications; the date ranges and emphases of individual papers differ, so check your own specification.

• Explain what is meant by the post-war consensus and assess how far it existed
• Explain stop-go economics and the recurring sterling crises of 1951–76
• Assess the consequences of Suez and of decolonisation for Britain's world role
• Explain Britain's changing relationship with the EEC from 1961 to 1975
• Describe the social reforms of 1965–69 and their limits
• Explain the industrial relations problems of Wilson, Heath and Callaghan and their political consequences

Practice material written by Zestly, based on the modern British history content of the A level History specifications (for example AQA 2S, The Making of Modern Britain, 1951–2007), period 1951–79.