Unit 3: War and the Transformation of British Society

Key
topic

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Area you must be able to describe the topics below,

giving statistics, names and dates to use as examples
throughout the exam.
Key Topic 1: The impact of the Depression 193139
The nature and extent of unemployment:
Industries that were affected
Areas that were affected
Public spending cuts 1924-1936
The introduction of the Dole
The Means Test
The Special Areas Act of 1934
The Unemployment Insurance Act (1936)
The experience of the unemployed including the impact
on living standards
Attempts to influence public opinion, such as the Means
Test
The causes of the Jarrow Crusade:
Impact of the Depression on Jarrow
What happened to the shipbuilding industry in Jarrow
The event of the Jarrow Crusade:
Who were the leaders
What was the route
What did they do along the way
The effects of the Jarrow Crusade:
Political effects and the government response
Effects on public opinion
Opposition to the Jarrow Crusade, especially from the
Labour Party and NUWM
Key Topic 2: Britain at war 193945
The details of the German invasion of the Low Countries
and France
The retreat of the BEF towards Dunkirk
The importance of Dunkirk and the reasons for British
survival, including the leadership of Churchill
The reasons for the Battle of Britain
The events of the Battle of Britain
Reasons for British victory
The preparation and organisation for the invasion
The events of D-Day and reasons for Allied success during
D-Day
The Allied drive to victory, 194445
Key events of the Battle of Arnhem
Key events of the Battle of the Bulge
Reasons for Germanys defeat in World War Two
Key Topic 3: The home front 193945

I am very
confident

I need
some
revision

I need a
lot of
support

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The reasons why the Germans launched the Blitz

The evacuation
The effects of the Blitz on British towns and cities 194041
the effects of the second Blitz by the V1 and V2 bombs
194445
The blackout
Air-raid shelters and the work of the Home Guard
Censorship
Propaganda
The impact of the war on food supplies in Britain
British government measures to deal with the problems of
food supply
The contribution made by women on the home front,
especially in employment, including heavy industry,
transport and the armed forces
The effects on the role and status of women of their
contributions during the war
Key Topic 4: Labour in power 194551
The reasons for the Labour election victory of 1945,
including party politics
The election campaign and the legacy of wartime attitudes
The recommendations of the Beveridge Report, including
the Five Giants
The importance of the Beveridge Report
Want including the introduction of family allowances
The 1946 National Insurance Act, the 1948 National
Assistance Act and their effects on peoples lives.
The National Health Act of 1946
Opposition from the medical profession to the NHS
the introduction of the National Health Service in 1948
and its impact in the years 194851.