Study Guides

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils analyse the ways in which Britain changed after the Second World War. They learn about the creation of the NHS, the experiences of the Windrush generation and the technological and social changes that took place in the 1960s.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain how changes to technology during the Second World War impacted British people's lives after the war.

Key Notes

• During the war, technology changed rapidly, especially in electronics and computing.
• For ordinary Britons, this led to the adoption of a wide range of household appliances as these became cheaper.
• Television ownership grew quickly, with 75% of households having a TV by the 1960s, making it a common leisure activity.
• Other domestic appliances such as fridge-freezers, vacuum cleaners and washing machines all made domestic life easier.
• The appliances gave women more time to work, but poorer families did not benefit as much as others.

Vocabulary To Learn

• housewife: a woman whose main job is caring for her family and doing the domestic tasks at home is a housewife
• domestic: things that are to do with the home are described as domestic
• appliance: an appliance is a machine in the home that is used to do a job such as cleaning or cooking

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• That being a housewife was an easy role.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• Social and cultural change in the 1960s Study Guide
• The condition of Britain at the end of the Second World War Study Guide
• The creation of the National Health Service Study Guide
• The ways in which Britain changed after the Second World War Study Guide
• The Windrush generation Study Guide