What Are The Political Issues In 1950

Politics and Its Issues in 1950’s Britain Script

Slide 1
⇒ Today in Britain is a time of peace, happiness and prosperity. However not so long ago, it was not like this.
⇒ I will be discussing the issues and politics of the 1950s, especially focusing on the United Kingdom.

Slide 2
⇒ The 1950s were not happy years for Britain. At this time, the UK was involved in many wars, conflicts, and crises. After the conclusion of WWII, and during the 1950s, Britain saw the Korean War, the Suez Crisis, and the Cold War, as well as losing the territories of Ireland, India, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanganyika, which, up until that time, were all a part of the British empire.
Slide 3
⇒ And if that wasn’t bad enough, King George VI died in early
For this reason, the government of Egypt decided to take control of the canal. They then proceeded to charge tolls, as they need to raise money for the construction of the Aswan dam.
⇒ Unfortunately, this canal was vital for the shipment of oil, from the Middle East, to Britain.
⇒ Then, to make matters worse, the country of Israel enters the fray, takes over the canal from Egypt, and threatens to block the British ships.
⇒ At this point, Britain and France bomb the area surrounding the canal.
⇒ While the United States urges Britain to stop fighting, the Canadian government organizes the first United Nations peacekeeping mission to end the Suez Crisis. At this, British, French, and Israeli forces withdraw, and Canadian Prime Minister, Lester B. Pearson, wins the Nobel Peace Prize.
⇒ Although this was a major conflict, it was not terribly influential, as things returned to the status quo, with no big changes.
Slide 7
⇒ While this was happening in Africa, the world was undergoing nuclear
Both parties were scared of the other’s nuclear research, and as a result, worked harder on their own development.
⇒ Except, other countries began their own development into atomic weapons, as well as nuclear power. This is what happened with Britain.

Slide 8
⇒ First off, Britain played no part in the Cold War conflict between the USA and the USSR.
⇒ Research had previously been done, as the UK assisted the USA with the development for the Manhattan Project. That is, the two atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But in the ten years following those events, little more had been done by Britain.
⇒ In the mid 1950s, the British government began funding atomic research. This resulted in the first nuclear power plant in Britain opening in 1956.
⇒ Shortly following, the British began testing a Hydrogen Bomb in Christmas Island in 1957 followed by other nuclear weapon detonation tests lasting the next two years.
⇒ In 1958, and organization called, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament was created, and nuclear research