Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Macmillan
1957-1964
- Macmillan himself
- Macmillan came across as a war hero following the Suez crisis. He was a
classi Edwardian scholar but suffered from physical and mental pain.
- He was very much related to the government he ran
via blood or through marriage. He was related to 35/85
government figures and 7/19 cabinet ministers.
- He was known as supermac following a cartoon created by Vicky
- Early 1960's he was the focus of satirical attacks, like tv show "that was the week that was"
- resignations
- Macmillan's various Chancellors carried on the consensus
economics; operating a mixed economy, following - loosely -
Keynsianism, soon Macmillan refused prioritise deflationary
policies over full so 3 coe's resigned.
- economy
- Generally a time of 'stop-go' economics;
sudden tax rises and cuts to control
spending, Consumer goods became
widespread as Britain became more affluent
- Although the government continued the consensus
aim of full employment. Unemployment rose by
over 150,000 during Macmillan's premiership
- 10 million tv's were owned and consumerism
rose as washing machines and dishwashers
became popular.
- Balance of payments worsened from a surplus of
£345 million in 1958 to £258 million deficit in 1960
- Inflation rose from 3.6% in the 50's to 5.5% in the 60's
- BY 1963, unemployment was
870,000. Average economic
growth shrank by 2% a year.
Balance of payments problem
forced Britain to borrow £714
million from the IMF to support
the value of the pound.
- "Britain never had it so good"
- decolonization
- The "wind of change" ultimately meant that the British Empire's
days were numbered, and on the whole, Britain adopted a policy of
peaceful disengagement from its colonies once stable,
non-Communist governments were available to transfer power to.
- Churchill and Eden wanted to maintain the British Empire,
Macmillan realised it could no longer play a major world role
so he emphasised international co-operation with the USA
and advocated entry to the EEC. De Gaulle vetoed Britain
- Profumo affair
- In june 1963, John Profumo confessed to an affair in 1961
with showgirl Christine Keeler who was also having an
affair with Captain Ivanov a Russian diplomat and spy. His
initial dishonesty made people question the government.
- 'night of the long knives' mac sacks 7 ministers in 1962