Reform and Reconstruction : Britain After the War, 1945-51

"Reform and Reconstruction" examines one of the watersheds of 20th century British history: the work and impact of the 1945-51 Labour government led by Clement Attlee.

This established a framework for domestic and foreign policy which lasted more than thirty years.

The election of 1945 left an enduring legacy, through such landmarks as the nationalisation of the Bank of England in 1946, the independence of India in 1947, the establishment of the National Health Service in 1948, and the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in 1949.

This volume examines the full range of themes such as social and economic reform, foreign policy, imperial affairs and the social history of the era by drawing upon a wide array of documentary selections from the period unpublished papers, speeches, Cabinet documents, pamphlets, newspapers, public opinion polls, and literary excerpts.

The document sections familiarize the reader with key contemporary sources, while an introductory chapter and commentaries on each subject highlight current debates and research.

The volume provides a concise and readable guide to a crucial era in recent British history.