Investigate what was happening in Britain between 1948-1962
There are many social and political factors that happen throughout this time period that sculpted the way for a new Britain that was ever changing it's identity.
Firstly on 1st Jan 1948 - British railways are nationalised to form British Rail.
5th July 1948- The beginning of the NHS (National Health Service). The first one to open was Park Hospital in Manchester, by the health secretary Aneruin Bevan.
In 1948 Britain also saw a massive influx of people immigrating to Britain, this is a continually expansion in the British population stretching all three decades and beyond, it was particularly people from the West-Indies.However Also in the 1950's their were mass immigrations of the Asian community towards Britain.
It is important to point out the closeness in years after the second world war, as Britain would of been in a state of dire repair and hardship for many of the general public.Although rationing lasted several years after WW2, specifics such as tea rationing lasted until 1952, sweet rationing til 1953 and finally meat and cheese rationing til 1954.
By the 1950's poverty figures had plummeted in many senses, as "absolute poverty" had almost disappeared from Britain. This is a state in which you can not afford to eat the right diet or buy clothes.
The Korean war began on 25th June 1950, this meant British soldiers being deployed again and such a sort time after WW2.
In 1960 Britain's population hit around the 53 million mark.
During the 1960's it was the first time in which almost all households had electricity.
Coronation Street first aired in 1960, this is important as it was a show that would depict elements of society and it's issues and portray them in to the most dramatic extents.
Live trans-Atlantic satellite television via the Telstar satellite was made possible in 1962.
In the 1960's tower blocks were used as a housing solution due to the shortage caused by WW2 and the increased population.
How was the social landscape changing?
The British society was changing the hierarchy after WW2 was changing, as always there was the upper classes in charge however there were many more in society that were perhaps middle class who had fallen in to the working class category. As poverty did strike, a lot of people lost husbands, jobs and houses meaning that their source of money was not coming in. Thus meaning a lot more people fell in to the lower ranks of the British class system.
Women were treated far differently after WW2 as many of them took on the roles the men did whilst they were away fighting. This meant more work for women in the future, that people now accepted that they could do a lot more jobs than before expected.
Their was in influx in immigration throughout these decades, meaning that Britain was in the early stages of becoming a vast multi-cultural society. The use of tower blocks as a solution for an increased population is evidence to a vastly growing Britain. But however showing that the working class were growing the most in Britain creating an initial imbalance in the class system. Meaning there would be a far bigger working class that would change the social views of the country to be more in favour of working class issues, such as housing and other costly issues.
How did the changing social landscape lead to a "racialisation" of British politics?
Due to the influx in the working class society, the issues revolving the working class were pushed to the forefront of the British governments agenda. Tackling the issues surrounding the working class would have to deal with the expanding population, mainly due to immigrants. The government found they needed to look in to these newcomers ideals and prospects within Britain, this is were housing and such comes under the agenda. The racialisation aspect meant the British government were trying to make an issue of race within British politics. Both leading parties Labour and Conservative felt they needed to try and appeal to immigrants coming to Britain. Meaning a racialisation was created in which they both fought against each other in trying to make better policies for them. Policies involving better housing, social welfare reform and new job opportunities. In the general election of 1959, the public were in favour of the Conservative party and there policies.
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