Introduction: In the start of the 20th century, British society
was divided into classes – aristocracy, middle class and working class. By the
end of the 20th century, class boundaries became blurred as attitudes, fame and
popularity played a bigger part in defining social groups rather than income.
Some see the 20th century as the period when individuals became more important
than wider society. British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher even
said: There is no such thing as society... There are individual men and
women. The changes in society were brought about by many events, both big and
small, but some of the key changes were:
War - two world wars altered Britain by changing the role of
women, accelerating technological advances and opening the way for
increased immigration.
Politics - interest in politics waned. When
Labour won the 1950 election, the turnout was 84 per cent. In the 2001
election, the turnout was 59 per cent. Young people became more interested in
single issues such as the environment, than party politics.
Mass media - the growth of cinema at the start of
the century followed by the arrival of radio in the 1920s and regular
television broadcasts from the mid-1930s onwards meant people could be informed
and entertained on a huge scale. Although a private company at first, the BBC
became a not-for-profit organisation when it gained its royal charter in 1927.
The BBC was the UK's first broadcaster and is licensed to operate by the
government.
Civil rights movements - groups that had
previously had their rights controlled by the government began to make their
voices heard. From Suffragettes in the early part of the century to
racial equality groups and gay rights organisations, many people have
campaigned to be fully included in British society and politics.
Welfare State - after the Second
World War the government felt that the British people needed a country
"fit for heroes". The NHS and welfare state were set up in 1948 to
take care of people when they were vulnerable and sick.
Education - in the early 1900s working class
children often worked half the day and then went to school for half the day to
learn the '3 Rs' - reading, writing and arithmetic. After 1945, all children
got a good education and by the 1960s children had full-time education, free
milk and more leisure time. In the 1960s, the number of students going to
university doubled.
Multiculturalism - the arrival of
immigrants from places such as the West Indies and south Asia brought about the
idea of multicultural Britain. Some feel that multiculturalism has not worked
and that it has created a more segregated society. Others believe it is an
important aspect of modern Britain.
Strikes - in 1926 the General Strike saw working
class people try to defend their jobs against wage cuts during an economic
depression. By 1927 the Trades Disputes Act made General strikes illegal. In
the 1970s and 1980s there were strikes by miners, steelworkers, teachers and
other groups that led to huge tension in some parts of the UK. Striking remains
a method for workers to try to improve their conditions.
Conclusion:
Everyday life in the 20th century had seen huge changes. By the end of the
century humans had been into space, transplanted organs and invented the
Internet, but there were still huge inequalities.
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