Britain, 1948-1970 (Edexcel GCSE History) : Revision Note

What was post-war Britain like?- Summary

After the Second World War, Britain faced major problems like bomb damage, housing shortages, and a lack of workers. The Labour government introduced big changes to improve people’s lives, such as creating the NHS and welfare state. To fill jobs in areas like transport, healthcare and construction, the government encouraged migrants from the Commonwealth. Many people moved from the Caribbean, India and Africa, hoping for better opportunities and a new life in the "mother country".

However, life in Britain was not easy for many migrants. Although the 1960s were known as the “Swinging Sixties”, poverty and discrimination were still common. In London, poor housing and unfair policing made things difficult for Caribbean communities. While some groups created community festivals and cultural spaces, migrants often had to fight for equality and respect in their new home.

Britain after the Second World War

Housing damage and shortages

• During the Second World War, Germany bombed many British cities

  • Around 220,000 homes were destroyed

  • Approximately 3.5 million homes were damaged

• In London, the damage made about 1.5 million people homeless

• After the war, people had to live in:

  • Overcrowded homes

  • Temporary housing or old, damaged buildings

• British people experienced shortages in many areas, from houses to food

The Labour Government

• After the war, the British public elected the Labour Party to rebuild Britain.

• They made big changes to improve people’s lives, such as:

  • Creating the NHS (1948)

    • This provided free healthcare at the point of access for everyone

  • Setting up the welfare state

    • This gave benefits and pensions for those in need

  • Improving the education system

    • The government raised the school leaving age

  • Nationalising key industries like coal, steel, and railways to protect jobs

• These changes were designed to make life fairer and help the country recover after the war

Labour shortages

• In 1945-1946, Britain had 1.38 million fewer workers than before the war

• This was because:

  • Many people had died in the war, either as a soldier or a civilian casualty

  • Soldiers left the army and retired from working

  • Some people emigrated to Canada or America

  • Restrictions on married women working

• This meant there were not enough workers in key industries, such as:

  • transport

  • construction

  • healthcare

The British Empire

• After the war, the British Empire began to collapse

• Former British colonies joined the Commonwealth of Nations

  • Countries like India, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Pakistan were all members

• These countries kept close ties with Britain by:

  • Sharing language, education systems, and legal structures

  • Allowing people to travel more freely between countries

Why did Commonwealth migrants come to Britain?

• Migration after the Second World War was often influenced by a combination of push and pull factors

  • Push factors are reasons people left their homeland

  • Pull factors are are reasons people were attracted to Britain

Push factors in the 1940s and 1950s

• Poverty and unemployment in countries like Jamaica and Trinidad

• Natural disasters (such as hurricanes) damaged homes and jobs

• Lack of opportunities or poor living conditions

Pull factors in the 1940s and 1950s

• Britain needed workers, especially in transport, construction, and hospitals

• Wages in Britain were much higher than in the Caribbean

• People saw Britain as the 'mother country' and expected a warm welcome

• The British Nationality Act (1948) gave Commonwealth citizens the right to live and work in Britain

Poverty & policing in London

Poverty

• Many people in post-war London lived in poverty

  • Housing shortages meant that migrants and locals often lived in overcrowded slums

  • Rationing of food did not end until 1954

  • In 1947, Britain faced one of its coldest winters which disrupted the energy industry

    • This caused further shortages in food and power

Crime

• Poverty led to crime

• Common crimes in post-war London include:

  • Theft from damaged buildings

  • Selling rationed goods on the black market

Policing

• Policing was a major issue, especially for Black and Asian migrants

  • Migrants saw the police as hostile or unfair

    • In many incidents, the police failed to protect migrants from racist attacks

  • There were few Black or Asian officers

    • This led to further unfair and racist treatment of migrant communities by the police

The Swinging Sixties

• Life began to improve during the 1950s

  • Rationing on products ended

  • There were fewer labour shortages in key industries

• The 1960s is often remembered for fashion, music, and culture

  • Historians refer to this period as the 'Swinging Sixties'

Impact on the 'Swinging Sixties' in London

• The 'Swinging Sixties' impacted young people in London in a variety of ways

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A concept map of the impacts of the 'Swinging Sixties' on London

• However, not all people benefitted from the 'Swinging Sixties'

  • Many migrants still experienced poverty, stuck in low-paid jobs and poor housing

  • Areas in the North East still faced severe poverty due to loss of industry and lack of government funding