post war GB

Britain in 1945: Life in the shadow of victory

in 1945, 70,000 buildings were completely demolished, and another 1.7 million were damaged

HOUSING SHORTAGE

• 2 hundred thousand
• Half a million seriously damaged
• Baby boom
• Increase of Immigration
• Housing shortage
• social housing programs

SOCIAL HOUSING

Prefabricated Houses

• Mass-produced
• Temporary solutions
• 1944 – 1949: over 155,000

The New Towns Act 1946:

• Establishment of several new towns and schools
• 23 in England and Wales and six in Scotland
• Stevenage

SOCIAL HOUSING

The Housing Act of 1949

• Landmark legislation
• Long term
• Local councils : build new homes
• Affordable rents to low-income families

• President Harry Truman signs the American Housing Act of 1949, on July 12, 1949

WOMEN

• Roles traditionally held by men
• Outside the home
• Acceptance of women in the workforce
• Increased educational opportunities
• Pursued higher education and professional careers
• Gender equality
• Discrimination, harassment, miserable working conditions, low payed

EDUCATION

• Evacuations: displaced students and teachers
• Fragmented learning environment
• Rebuild schools and ensure that education was accessible to all
• The Butler Act (5-15), regardless of social or economic background.

• Special education for children with disabilities or special needs

EDUCATION

• Evacuations: displaced students and teachers
• Fragmented learning environment
• Rebuild schools and ensure that education was accessible to all
• The Butler Act (5-15), regardless of social or economic background.

• Special education for children with disabilities or special needs

2. POlITICS

Creation of United Nations

Yalta conference in 1945

labour campaign

conservative campaign

Clement Attlee became prime minister

ECONOMY

• £27billion (£3.4 billion held in foreign hands)
• GDP
• High debt to GDP ratio: cause of concern
• Period of rationing and austerity
• Restrictions

• Public expenditure, limiting imports, and encouraging savings
• Rebuilding efforts: provided employment opportunities
• Economic recovery

MARCHALL PLAN

• 1948
• Instrumental in the economic recovery
• Support various sectors: agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure, trade
• Modernize its industries, improve productivity, and enhance its overall
• Economic stability

NAIONALIZATION

• Program of nationalization of industries
• More equitable distribution of resources
• Address Economic inequalities
• Coal mining industry
• The National Coal Board established
• Ensure a stable supply of coal
• Country's energy needs and industrial production

NAIONALIZATION

Railways: In 1948

• Formation of British Railways
• Improve efficiency, and the transportation services

Improved working conditions and job securityBank of England:

• 1946
• Under public ownership
• More modern, industrialized, and socially progressive society