Americanisation -During world war two there was a strong American feel in Brittan whether it was from the US servicemen living in Brittan or the American entertainment that was shown but it caused a strong influence on British citizens. This was one of the most effective long term social change caused by the second world war one reasons for this is many of the Us servicemen impregnated British women therefore during after the war there were many British-American families . Another reason for its remaining influence is the media that has remained in Brittan. Many movies and programs we watch today such as Desperate House Wife’s and the Simpsons would not be on our televisions if it wasn’t for the Strong American influence caused in the Second World War.
Another long term effect of the social revolution caused by World War Two Relationship between classes, despite the “classless society” no longer there, the memories of the shared experiences between classes still remains (Evacuations, Air raids rationing etc.) Evidence of this is that lower children who were evacuated to upper class family in the countryside during their war commonly keep in contact even today. Classes appreciate each other as they were able to understand the lifestyle they had (Evacuated children whom were mostly lower or middle class lived with many rich families in the countryside)
Arguably one of the most recognised long term social effect of the world war two is the BBC it was designed to united classes through media ( at the time it was radio) as it was available to all classes so no matter what background you were from you would still and still remains today and has evidently grown. This gave classes a chance to be socially connected as they had something that they all could discuss rather than the upper class discussing politics etc and lower classes not understand and being able to contribute.
Changes in the role of women has been a significant long term social effect from world war two. Women had a first chance to work to contribute to the war effort, despite them loosing their jobs at the end of the war when the soldiers returned , but after women of all classes of working it was widely acceptable for women to work and it also made women want to work hence the campaigns of the suffragettes and suffragists.
Despite there being countless long term social effects there is enough short term effects to balance out the strength of the social revolution caused by World War Two.
An obvious short term effect of the war was the idea of a “Classless society” after the war classes no longer worked together and felt united , this was due to working and lower class citizens returning to work in factories , whereas the upper class returned to their stately homes and working as bankers, their lives returned to how they were before the war apart from the memories of shared experiences throughout the war
Churchill’s support was a clear short term effect of World War Two , Churchill made a speech in the march of 1943 strongly supporting a social revolution including full employment and the emphasis of national insurance and support for improvement in education , healthcare and housing however in May 1945 Conservatives were voted out of office therefore no longer had a large influence on Britain. This therefore shows that Churchill’s support was not a strong effect as British citizens no longer wanted him in power , therefore his effected on society was not that great if it was not supported.
During the war there were many experiences that were universal shared irrespective of class. Some of these were short term for the duration of the war such as the fear of air raids , use of air raid shelters , evacuation of children and family to the county of urban areas and war work. Whilst it was mainly working of middle class families who lived in urban areas they were evacuated to the countryside in larger home typically of the more wealthy. Food and fuel rationing was experienced during the war and continued after the war ended. To the more wealthy upper class this was an negative effect limiting the quantity and quality of foo , to the working class not so much of a hardship. National service was also universal all eligible men were called up and this continued after the war as rationing.
Anyone could join the army no matter what class and the rank was not bias towards upper classes however this was short term due to the fact after the war is over soldiers must go back to the original training rout and only the highest educated (upper class ) who have enrolled will get the highest position’s in the army. this therefore shows that a social revolution has not occurred from the factor that all types of classes could enrol in the army.to work and therefore encouraged more women into the workforce later on.
I felt Propaganda to be one of many short term experiences as official and unofficial propaganda was used to unite the nation, however the reality was distant from reality despite the BBC and more extreme propaganda such as posters and movies were not so common after the war had ended as unity was essential for the war effort but no longer needed after.
Women Working is a arguably short term. During the war millions of women joined the work force in order to support the war effort , however some (not a lot) women continued working but it was more socially acceptable for women to work. But after the war women were forced to leave their jobs after this angered many women as they felt by the ability to work it was motivating more freedom an d causing a more personal social revolution for the women of Britain.
Changed attitudes were a key social effect of world war two which I believe to be a short term effect. During and after the war there was a changed attitude towards Communism as it was far more positive than before. This was due to the UK and USA being in Alliance with the USSR during the war therefore British citizens were more acceptant of it. We are able to recognise this as a short term social effect due to the red scare in the 50’s and the cold war from 1950’s-1990 therefore the acceptance of communism only lasted for a maximum of five years before the un-acceptance of communism returned. This was also because Capitalism had been discredited before the war due to the Wall Street Crash and the Great Depression in America. After the war the idea of building a new society was largely accepted after the amazing war effort and the effects of the war on Britain itself. this therefore shows that communism caused social change due to more people being acceptant of it which resulted in more British voting for the labour party.
The war caused many situation or circumstance where a wide cross section of society came into contact , co-operated and shared experience in the trauma of war and the adversity it brought. The nation and all its people were entitled by a common course , fighting the war and keeping our independence. Many of these influences were short term experiences , however some were cabalists of other culture such as “Americanisation” and a great sense that we were one nation rather than a class dominated culture.