The Age of Uncertainty

Collaborative Study Guide

Decide if the statements are true or false. Justify your choice.

The new international order

1. The after-war alliances carried into peace time.

2. Britain considered itself to be a world power this confidence was strengthened by three
important technical developments.
3. Britain, together with France and Egypt, attacked Israel.
4. Egypt gave Britain the Suez Canal, and that allowed Britain it to continue dealing with
the United States and the Soviet Union.
5. At the end of WW2, the victorious Allies created the United Nations, which expressed
the idea of the Atlantic Charter.
6. British foreign policy only wanted to make new friends for fear of Soviet intentions.
7. The basis of the Atlantic Charter was the United States President Harry Truman's "four
freedoms": freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom of fear, and
freedom of want.
8. The two great powers of the world where Britain and the Soviet Union.

The welfare state

9. At the end of WW2 many reforms were introduced both by Conservative and Labour
party ministers.
10. The reforms introduced were based on the new liberal reforms which had been carried
out after the first world war.
11. During this period (1954-1948), there was progress in education, free medical treatment
and financial help.
12. The results of new ideas weren't at all related to basic human rights.
13. Nationalisation was an act of progress and success between industries in society.
14. The welfare state is a result of the changes which gave importance to people's
happiness and well-being.
15. Britain became in fact a social democracy in which only one political party agreed on the
basic values and methods.
16. People agreed with the welfare state.

Youthful Britain and A popular monarchy

17. After WW2, working people didn't get a better living standards than before.
18. Youngsters began to influence fashion.
19. Young people didn't rebel against the sexual rules of the Christian Society.
20. All the people were proud of this new youth culture.
21. People hated George V.
22. Edward the VIII gave up the throne because of political reasons.
23. Edward VII became greatly loved for his visits to the bombed areas of Britain.
 24. When Elizabeth II became Queen, the monarchy increased in popularity.

The loss of Empire

25. The Palestine colonies of Africa were added to Britain's area of control.
26. Mahatma Gandhi was a nationalist leader from India; he created a movement which
disturbed the British rule.
27. In 1950 the British finally left India, which then divided into Hindu states.
28. Britain, through its Commonwealth, allowed the members of colonies to give their
opinions and discuss international issues in a peaceful way.
29. Even though Britain tried to keep its influences via treaties with governments, most of
them did not wish to be brought into agreements with Britain.
30. The war itself had cost one billion pounds but the total cost of defence since 1982 had
risen to £3 billion by 1987.
31. Between 1945 and 1970, 500 million people in former colonies became completely self-
governing.
32. By the late 1960s, most of Britain's territories had become independent countries.

Northern Ireland and Scotland and Wales

33. The government of Northern Ireland was controlled by Catholics, and many protestants
were unable to vote.
34. In 1969, Republicans who wanted to unite Ireland started a nationalist rebellion against
British rule.
35. In 1972 a direct rule from London to hold of Northern Ireland’s government.
36. According to the Hillsborough agreement between Britain and Ireland they would
exchange views on Ireland regularly.
37. In the 1970's, the feeling that the government in London had too much power was
increasing both in Scotland and Wales.
38. In 1979 Welsh nationalism gained support to become a full self-government.
39. The conservatives were being pushed into third place after SPN took the second place
in Scotland during 1974.
40. The Welsh and Gaelic languages were the most popular spoken languages in Wales
and Scotland.

The years of discontent

41. Britain's economy had increased by the end of the 1970s.

42. Britain's European neighbours had the same economic problems.
43. The relationship between black immigrants and the white population was easy.
44. Saturday football matches were peaceful. Many British families enjoyed watching
football matches.
45. The first immigrants started to arrive from the West Indies, looking for jobs.
46. Women had the same work opportunities and pay as men.
47. Industrial problems also increased the differences between the South and the North.
48. The industries that were built during the industrial Revolution weren't replaced in the
largest cities and towns.
The new politics

49. The government elected in the 1980s was the Labour Party.
50. The Conservative Party was a strong movement to the left, while the Labour Party was a
strong movement to the right.
51. By the mid 1980s, the number of poor people decreased.
52. The Falklands/Malvinas war was the major factor for Thatcher’s victory in 1983.
53. By 1987 telecommunications, gas, British Airways, British Aerospace and British
Shipbuilders had all been put into private ownership.
54. Minorities didn't gain any representation during the 1987 election.
55. Most black people lived in poor inner-city areas.
56. Thatcher's policies created a society which seemed interested in labour philosophy.