Examkin

Question

Difficulty: EasyThe 1950s: Economic and Social Changes

In the 1950s, Britain saw a significant improvement in living standards, leading Prime Minister Harold Macmillan to claim that the people had "never had it so good." During this period of economic growth, from which countries were many workers specifically recruited to fill roles in the National Health Service (NHS) and the transport sectors?

  1. India and PakistanAnswer
  2. B
    Germany and Italy
  3. C
    The United States and Canada
  4. D
    Spain and Portugal

Answer

India and Pakistan
In the 1950s, Britain experienced a period of post-war prosperity, famously described by Prime Minister Harold Macmillan as a time when people had 'never had it so good.' To manage the resulting labor shortages in public services, the government actively recruited workers from India and Pakistan to staff the National Health Service (NHS) and the transport sectors. This happened alongside the large-scale migration from the West Indies that had begun with the arrival of the Empire Windrush in 1948.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the historical context provided in the stem.
The 1950s was a period of post-war recovery, rising prosperity, and the expansion of the Welfare State.
Establishing the timeframe is essential for choosing the correct migration pattern.
2
Recall the specific labor needs of the 1950s.
The newly established NHS and the transport sectors required a large number of workers to function effectively.
This narrows the focus to government recruitment programs.
3
Identify the primary source of recruited workers for these sectors.
While the West Indies (Windrush generation) provided many workers, India and Pakistan were also major sources of recruited staff for the NHS and transport.
This identifies the correct geographical recruitment areas defined in the syllabus.

Key Concept

Post-war migration and labor recruitment in the 1950s
Estimated Time:45s
Rate this question

Topics

The 1950s: Economic and Social Changes

More questions from this topic