2. Today’s lesson – Post-War Government Policy
We are developing our knowledge and understanding of
post-war Government policy introduced after the war.
By the end of today’s lesson I should be able to:
1) Analyse the Success of Post-War Government policy.
2) Describe why different governments took different measures to
tackle housing inequalities.
Today’s lesson involves:
Note taking
National 5 Question
3. Reasons for changing policy
Before the war began, many people
lived in poverty with the Government
adopting a ‘lassiez faire’ attitude.
After the war people did not want to
live in poverty any longer so steps
were taken to improve their lives.
One area the Government wanted to
improve was housing conditions.
4. Task 1
Take a new mind-map in your jotter titled in the centre:
‘Post-war Government policy to tackle housing inequality’
5. ‘Homes fit for heroes’
When men returned from the war, Prime
Minister David Lloyd George promised that
he would introduce ‘Homes fit for heroes’.
This would focus Government attention on
solving housing inequality.
The project involved building new houses
and improving current housing to ensure
that they had access to clean water and
sanitation.
Many inner-city slums were demolished to
make way for new homes. Many homes in
Glasgow and Dundee were rebuilt as a result
of this.
Does this sound
like a good idea?
Why?
6. Why was ‘Homes fit for heroes’ introduced?
One reason this was introduced was to thank the men and women for
their work during the war.
The war also revealed how bad poverty was in Britain with many men
who tried to volunteer or be conscripted were deemed not healthy
enough to fight in the war. This could lead to problems if there was
another war.
War taught the rich and the powerful about poverty problems as many
men served together. These rich and powerful individuals realised that
something had to change.
There was also a fear of revolution after the Battle of George Square in
1919.
7. Addison Act 1919
Before the war the Government could only
build houses through the private sector
(companies not owned by the Government).
The Addison Act allowed councils and the
Government to build houses for the first time.
So thousands of new council houses were built.
Various council estates were built as a result of
this act such as the Logie estate in Dundee and
Ferry Road in Leith.
They believed this act would lead to the
building of around 500,000 homes but only
213,000 of these homes were built.
The Government also stopped funding council
housing in 1921 due to the recession.
Was this successful?
Why?
8. Why was the Addison Act introduced?
The Liberal Government were terrified in case a violent revolution
happened in Britain as it had done in Russia.
Many poor people now had the vote for the first time and they
demanded changes to their lives, for the first time politicians had to
listen.
The new success of the Labour party also worried the Liberals as both
parties were going after the same votes so Liberals had to make sure
the working classes still supported Liberal.
9. Wheatley Housing Act 1921
In 1924, the first Labour Government passed this act which aimed to
build more houses which had indoor toilets and electricity.
The Government would pay money to councils to ensure that they
could afford to build these homes.
More than 500,000 new homes were built but many still remained in
slum housing.
10. Exam Question
Evaluate the usefulness of Source A as evidence of post-war
Government policy.
The war-time Liberal Government no longer found itself in war time and in
order to avoid becoming irrelevant they had to act on the needs of the
people. They introduced a ‘Homes fit for heroes’ programme to reward those
who fought in the war. They also introduced this due to a fear of revolution in
Britain especially after Russia was overthrown in 1917 with the Battle of
George Square solidifying this fear.
