The impact of rapidly changing technology
I can explain how changes to technology during the Second World War impacted British people's lives after the war.
The impact of rapidly changing technology
I can explain how changes to technology during the Second World War impacted British people's lives after the war.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- During the war, technology changed rapidly, especially in electronics and computing.
- For ordinary Britons, this led to the adoption of a wide range of household appliances as these became cheaper.
- Television ownership grew quickly, with 75% of households having a TV by the 1960s, making it a common leisure activity.
- Other domestic appliances such as fridge-freezers, vacuum cleaners and washing machines all made domestic life easier.
- The appliances gave women more time to work, but poorer families did not benefit as much as others.
Common misconception
That being a housewife was an easy role.
Working in the home on domestic tasks for 70 hours a week was more than a full time working week with a paid job.
Keywords
Housewife - a woman whose main job is caring for her family and doing the domestic tasks at home is a housewife
Domestic - things that are to do with the home are described as domestic
Appliance - an appliance is a machine in the home that is used to do a job such as cleaning or cooking
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
treating someone unfairly
when people are violent and disturb the peace
Exit quiz
6 Questions
a woman whose main job is looking after the home and family
things that are to do with the home
an electrical device or machine designed to do a specific task