AQA A-level History · 2M

Wars and Welfare: Britain in Transition, 1906–1957

Exam-style questions with answers for 2M Wars and Welfare: Britain in Transition, 1906–1957 in AQA A-level History (spec 7042). Practise with flashcards, a topic quiz, a random quiz across the course, 5 crosswords, or read every question and answer below.

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Question 1 · Spec 2M, Part one
Why did the Liberals win in 1906? [2 marks]
Answer:
Any two from: Conservative splits over tariff reform (1); Chinese slavery scandal (1); the Education Act angered Nonconformists (1); the Lib-Lab pact (1).
Question 2 · Spec 2M, Part one
State two Liberal welfare reforms. [2 marks]
Answer:
Any two from: free school meals (1906) (1); old age pensions (1908) (1); labour exchanges (1909) (1); National Insurance (1911) (1).
Question 3 · Spec 2M, Part one
What was the People’s Budget (1909)? [1 mark]
Answer:
Lloyd George’s budget taxing the wealthy and land.
Question 4 · Spec 2M, Part one
What did the Parliament Act (1911) do? [1 mark]
Answer:
It ended the Lords’ veto over money bills and limited it to a two-year delay on others.
Question 5 · Spec 2M, Part one
What was the Osborne Judgement (1909)? [1 mark]
Answer:
It banned unions from using funds for political purposes.
Question 6 · Spec 2M, Part one
Who were the suffragettes? [1 mark]
Answer:
The WSPU, led by Emmeline Pankhurst, who used militant tactics.
Question 7 · Spec 2M, Part one
What was the Curragh Mutiny (1914)? [1 mark]
Answer:
Army officers threatened to resign rather than enforce Home Rule in Ulster.
Question 8 · Spec 2M, Part one
What was the Triple Alliance of unions? [1 mark]
Answer:
An alliance of miners, railwaymen and transport workers formed in 1914.
Question 9 · Spec 2M, Part one
What was the Shells Scandal (1915)? [1 mark]
Answer:
A shortage of shells that led to a coalition government and a Ministry of Munitions.
Question 10 · Spec 2M, Part one
When did Lloyd George become Prime Minister? [1 mark]
Answer:
December 1916.
Question 11 · Spec 2M, Part one
What was DORA? [1 mark]
Answer:
The Defence of the Realm Act (1914), giving the government wide wartime powers.
Question 12 · Spec 2M, Part one
When was conscription introduced? [1 mark]
Answer:
1916.
Question 13 · Spec 2M, Part one
What was the coupon election (1918)? [1 mark]
Answer:
The election in which coalition candidates were endorsed by a letter (coupon).
Question 14 · Spec 2M, Part one
What happened on Black Friday (1921)? [1 mark]
Answer:
The Triple Alliance collapsed when rail and transport unions did not support the miners.
Question 15 · Spec 2M, Part one
What was the Geddes Axe (1922)? [1 mark]
Answer:
Cuts in public spending.
Question 16 · Spec 2M, Part one
When did Britain return to the Gold Standard? [1 mark]
Answer:
1925, under Churchill.
Question 17 · Spec 2M, Part one
What was the Zinoviev letter (1924)? [1 mark]
Answer:
A forged letter linking Labour to communism, published before the election.
Question 18 · Spec 2M, Part one
What was the Trades Disputes Act (1927)? [1 mark]
Answer:
It banned general strikes after 1926.
Question 19 · Spec 2M, Part one
What was the ‘flapper vote’ (1928)? [1 mark]
Answer:
The Equal Franchise Act giving women the vote at 21.
Question 20 · Spec 2M, Part one
Who was Campbell-Bannerman? [1 mark]
Answer:
The Liberal Prime Minister from 1905 to 1908.
Question 21 · Spec 2M, Part one
Who was Asquith? [1 mark]
Answer:
The Liberal Prime Minister from 1908 to 1916.
Question 22 · Spec 2M, Part one
What was the Labour Exchanges Act (1909)? [1 mark]
Answer:
It created offices to help unemployed people find work.
Question 23 · Spec 2M, Part one
What was the Cat and Mouse Act (1913)? [1 mark]
Answer:
It allowed hunger-striking suffragettes to be released and re-arrested.
Question 24 · Spec 2M, Part one
What was the Third Home Rule Bill (1912)? [1 mark]
Answer:
A bill for Irish self-government, opposed by Ulster Unionists.
Question 25 · Spec 2M, Part one
What was the Easter Rising (1916)? [1 mark]
Answer:
A republican rebellion in Dublin.
Question 26 · Spec 2M, Part one
What was the Anglo-Irish Treaty (1921)? [1 mark]
Answer:
It created the Irish Free State.
Question 27 · Spec 2M, Part one
What was the Representation of the People Act (1918)? [1 mark]
Answer:
It gave votes to men over 21 and women over 30.
Question 28 · Spec 2M, Part one
What was the first Labour government (1924)? [1 mark]
Answer:
A minority government led by Ramsay MacDonald.
Question 29 · Spec 2M, Part one
What was the General Strike (1926)? [1 mark]
Answer:
A nine-day strike in support of the miners.
Question 30 · Spec 2M, Part two
What was the May Report (1931)? [1 mark]
Answer:
A report recommending cuts in spending, including unemployment benefit.
Question 31 · Spec 2M, Part two
Why did the Labour government fall in 1931? [1 mark]
Answer:
The cabinet split over benefit cuts.
Question 32 · Spec 2M, Part two
What was the means test? [1 mark]
Answer:
An inspection of household income before benefits were paid.
Question 33 · Spec 2M, Part two
What was the Import Duties Act (1932)? [1 mark]
Answer:
It introduced general tariffs, ending free trade.
Question 34 · Spec 2M, Part two
What was ‘cheap money’? [1 mark]
Answer:
Low interest rates that encouraged house building in the 1930s.
Question 35 · Spec 2M, Part two
State two areas of growth in the 1930s. [2 marks]
Answer:
Any two from: the South East and Midlands (1); car manufacture (1); electrical goods (1); house building (1).
Question 36 · Spec 2M, Part two
What was the Battle of Cable Street (1936)? [1 mark]
Answer:
Anti-fascists blocked a BUF march through the East End of London.
Question 37 · Spec 2M, Part two
What was the Emergency Powers Act (1940)? [1 mark]
Answer:
It gave the government almost unlimited control over people and property.
Question 38 · Spec 2M, Part two
What was the Beveridge Report (1942)? [1 mark]
Answer:
A plan for a welfare state to tackle the five giants.
Question 39 · Spec 2M, Part two
What was the Education Act (1944)? [1 mark]
Answer:
Butler’s Act making secondary education free for all.
Question 40 · Spec 2M, Part two
What was nationalisation under Attlee? [1 mark]
Answer:
Taking industries such as coal, railways and the Bank of England into state ownership.
Question 41 · Spec 2M, Part two
What was the National Insurance Act (1946)? [1 mark]
Answer:
It provided benefits for sickness, unemployment and retirement.
Question 42 · Spec 2M, Part two
When did Britain devalue the pound? [1 mark]
Answer:
1949.
Question 43 · Spec 2M, Part two
Why did Bevan resign in 1951? [1 mark]
Answer:
He opposed prescription charges introduced to pay for rearmament.
Question 44 · Spec 2M, Part two
Who won the 1951 election? [1 mark]
Answer:
The Conservatives under Churchill.
Question 45 · Spec 2M, Part two
What was the Suez Crisis (1956)? [1 mark]
Answer:
The failed Anglo-French invasion of Egypt, which led to Eden’s resignation.
Question 46 · Spec 2M, Part two
When did Macmillan become Prime Minister? [1 mark]
Answer:
January 1957.
Question 47 · Spec 2M, Part two
What was the National Government (1931)? [1 mark]
Answer:
A coalition led by MacDonald but dominated by Conservatives.
Question 48 · Spec 2M, Part two
What was the abdication crisis (1936)? [1 mark]
Answer:
Edward VIII abdicated to marry Wallis Simpson.
Question 49 · Spec 2M, Part two
Who was Oswald Mosley? [1 mark]
Answer:
The leader of the British Union of Fascists.
Question 50 · Spec 2M, Part two
When was the NHS founded? [1 mark]
Answer:
1948.

← 2L Italy and Fascism, c1900–1945 2N Revolution and dictatorship: Russia, 1917–1953 →

Wars and Welfare: Britain in Transition, 1906–1957

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