The final stretch of the history chapter covers the welfare state, immigration from the Commonwealth, and the devolution settlements that explain how the UK is governed today.
From chapter 3 of the handbook: A long and illustrious history
1948 is a busy year: the NHS begins and London hosts the Olympics.
Devolution comes in two steps: the referendums in 1997, the new parliaments in 1999.
Our summary, in our own words. The test can ask about anything in the chapter, so read the official handbook too.
All 13 of our questions on this topic. Say your answer before you open it: trying to answer first helps you remember it.
In which year was the National Health Service established?
The NHS was established in 1948 and provides healthcare free at the point of use.
Which minister led the creation of the National Health Service?
Aneurin Bevan, the minister for health, led the creation of the NHS.
Whose 1942 report set out the plan for the welfare state?
The Beveridge Report of 1942 set out the plan that became the welfare state.
In which decade did the UK invite workers from overseas to fill a shortage of labour?
The UK was short of labour in the 1950s, and people were invited from the West Indies, India, Pakistan and later Bangladesh to come and work.
After the Second World War, workers were invited to the UK from which regions to fill labour shortages?
In the 1950s the UK was short of labour, and people were invited from the West Indies, India, Pakistan and later Bangladesh to come and work.
In the 1970s, roughly how many people of Indian origin forced to leave Uganda did Britain admit?
Britain admitted around 28,000 people of Indian origin who were forced to leave Uganda.
In which year did the UK join the European Economic Community?
The UK joined the EEC in 1973.
Changed since the book: The UK left the European Union on 31 January 2020.
Who became the UK's first woman prime minister, in 1979?
Margaret Thatcher became prime minister in 1979 and served until 1990.
In which year was the Falklands War?
The Falklands War was fought in 1982 after Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands.
Who invented the World Wide Web?
Sir Tim Berners-Lee, who is British, invented the World Wide Web. Information was first sent across it on 25 December 1990.
In which year were the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly established?
Both were set up in 1999, after referendums in 1997.
Changed since the book: The Welsh Assembly has been called the Senedd, or Welsh Parliament, since 2020.
The Northern Ireland Assembly was established after which agreement?
The Northern Ireland Assembly was established in 1998 after the Good Friday Agreement, though it has been suspended at times.
Dolly the sheep, the first successfully cloned mammal, was created where?
Dolly the sheep was cloned in Scotland in 1996.
Chapter 3 practice test: Britain since 1945 · 13 questions · 24 minutes if you take it timed