New
New
Year 6
The condition of Britain at the end of the Second World War
I can describe the situation in Britain following the Second World War.
New
New
Year 6
The condition of Britain at the end of the Second World War
I can describe the situation in Britain following the Second World War.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- At the end of the Second World War Britain was victorious but weak.
- Bombing campaigns had destroyed many homes and factories in Britain's cities.
- Britain was nearly bankrupt having had to spend so much money on the war.
- 384 000 British soldiers had died alongside 70 000 civilians.
- In 1945 the British public elected a new government that promised to help Britain to recover.
Keywords
Bankrupt - when a country, company or person has no money they are declared bankrupt
Election - an election is when people vote to choose who they want to represent them in government
Common misconception
Pupils may think that Churchill was unpopular because the majority of the British public did not vote for him in 1945.
Churchill was a popular individual. It was the lack of promises of his political party to make social changes that lost him the election in 1945.
Look up some new towns that were built after the war to see if you live in one, or if there are any near you. You could also find out what your area looked like before WWII and the rebuilding that came after.
Teacher tip
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on
Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Starter quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
In History, what is an idea, event, or action that leads to permanent change called?
milestone
era
episode
Q2.
What is the term used to describe someone who was not part of the armed forces in WWII?
diplomat
soldier
officer
Q3.
Which is the most accurate description of 'conscription'?
volunteering for the armed forces
retiring from the armed forces
studying the history of the armed forces
Q4.
Only men were conscripted during the Second World War.
True
Q5.
How did the lives of women and nurses in Britain change during WWII?
They had to get married.
They had to become soldiers.
Q6.
Which of the below is the most accurate description of the term 'evacuation'?
the process of people going on a long journey
the practice of training for an emergency
the experience of celebrating a historical event
Exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
When a country, company or person that has no money what are they declared?
Q2.
How many British soldiers lost their lives during the Second World War?
4,800
84,000
Q3.
Which of the below was significantly destroyed or damaged as a result of the Second World War?
farms and farmlands
Q4.
Who was the Prime Minister during much of the Second World War?
Margaret Thatcher
Tony Blair
David Lloyd George
Q5.
Complete the sentence: In 1945 the party won the election in Britain.
Q6.
Choose the correct word to finish the sentence: Under the Labour party, between 1945 and 1955, one million were built.
factories
warehouses
offices
Additional material
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