Logo

History Quiz - Britain: British Society 1931-1951 - The 1945 General Election (Questions)

British society at different times in the past is one topic studied in GCSE History, and one of the periods covered is from 1931-1951. A major event of those years was the 1945 general election.

The result of the 1945 general election caused an upset in British society. Their victory came as a surprise to the Labour Party, and as a shock to the Conservative Party. The actual campaign was long, drawn out and bitter, as the wartime coalition dissolved.

Test your knowledge of British society and the 1945 general election in this enlightening quiz.

1. What was the main significance for Labour, which achieved an overall majority in the Commons of 146 votes?
[ ] It gave the opportunity for a third Labour government
[ ] It was the first time that the Labour Party was in a position to form a majority government
[ ] Labour had won, for the first time, a majority of the votes cast
[ ] Labour polled extremely well among servicemen, most of whom voted for them
2. When had the previous general election taken place?
[ ] 1931
[ ] 1935
[ ] 1939
[ ] 1933
3. Which Tory figure claimed that, if Labour won, Britain would experience a "Gestapo"?
[ ] Churchill
[ ] Eden
[ ] Beaverbrook
[ ] Chamberlain
4. Which of the following promises was not made by Labour during the 1945 campaign?
[ ] Full employment
[ ] A National Health Service
[ ] A welfare state
[ ] Free housing for all
5. Which 1942 report did Churchill refuse to endorse in the 1945 campaign?
[ ] The Butler Report
[ ] The Bevin Report
[ ] The Beveridge Report
[ ] The Morrison Report
6. Why was the election result delayed for several days?
[ ] There was a lack of trained staff to supervise the poll and count the votes cast
[ ] Counting the votes of far flung rural and island constituencies took a long time
[ ] There was a widely spread service vote
[ ] There were difficulties in interpreting the votes cast by inexperienced voters (e.g. many women) who had not voted before
7. Which of the following Labour figures had not served in Churchill's war cabinet?
[ ] Attlee
[ ] Foot
[ ] Bevin
[ ] Morrison
8. What was the turnout in the 1945 election?
[ ] 90%
[ ] 72.8%
[ ] 63.7%
[ ] 54%
9. Which of the following industries was not listed in the 1945 Labour manifesto as targeted for public ownership (nationalisation)?
[ ] Electricity
[ ] Coal mining
[ ] Iron and steel
[ ] Banking
10. What was Labour's share of the votes cast?
[ ] 48.8%
[ ] 51.9%
[ ] 53.1%
[ ] 55.6%

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Depression, war and recovery, 1930-1953

Logo
History Quiz - Britain: British Society 1931-1951 - The 1945 General Election (Answers)
1. What was the main significance for Labour, which achieved an overall majority in the Commons of 146 votes?
[ ] It gave the opportunity for a third Labour government
[x] It was the first time that the Labour Party was in a position to form a majority government
[ ] Labour had won, for the first time, a majority of the votes cast
[ ] Labour polled extremely well among servicemen, most of whom voted for them
Tories blamed the Army Bureau of Current Affairs for indoctrinating servicemen against the Tories and in favour of the Labour Party
2. When had the previous general election taken place?
[ ] 1931
[x] 1935
[ ] 1939
[ ] 1933
There had been an electoral truce during the war, so it was hard to predict the eventual result
3. Which Tory figure claimed that, if Labour won, Britain would experience a "Gestapo"?
[x] Churchill
[ ] Eden
[ ] Beaverbrook
[ ] Chamberlain
This excessive remark no doubt did the Tories much harm
4. Which of the following promises was not made by Labour during the 1945 campaign?
[ ] Full employment
[ ] A National Health Service
[ ] A welfare state
[x] Free housing for all
Labour made sweeping promises in domestic policy, which were not matched in the Tory manifesto
5. Which 1942 report did Churchill refuse to endorse in the 1945 campaign?
[ ] The Butler Report
[ ] The Bevin Report
[x] The Beveridge Report
[ ] The Morrison Report
Beveridge proposed a welfare state, something the conservatives opposed
6. Why was the election result delayed for several days?
[ ] There was a lack of trained staff to supervise the poll and count the votes cast
[ ] Counting the votes of far flung rural and island constituencies took a long time
[x] There was a widely spread service vote
[ ] There were difficulties in interpreting the votes cast by inexperienced voters (e.g. many women) who had not voted before
The electorate was huge - the largest ever. It included many servicemen, especially in the Far East, where the war against Japan continued into August 1945. The election took place in July
7. Which of the following Labour figures had not served in Churchill's war cabinet?
[ ] Attlee
[x] Foot
[ ] Bevin
[ ] Morrison
Several Labour politicians gained very useful cabinet experience by serving in Churchill's wartime coalition
8. What was the turnout in the 1945 election?
[ ] 90%
[x] 72.8%
[ ] 63.7%
[ ] 54%
There were huge difficulties in registering all those who had the right to vote
9. Which of the following industries was not listed in the 1945 Labour manifesto as targeted for public ownership (nationalisation)?
[ ] Electricity
[ ] Coal mining
[ ] Iron and steel
[x] Banking
Labour intended the government to take over a number of industries, either because they were monopolies or because they were owned by a small group of very rich men
10. What was Labour's share of the votes cast?
[x] 48.8%
[ ] 51.9%
[ ] 53.1%
[ ] 55.6%
Labour benefited more than the Tories from the "First past the Post" system, while the Liberals - formerly in the coalition - lost out