6.1 A prosperous country
6.1 A prosperous country
Goal:
I can explain what the economic and political situation was in the Netherlands after WW2.
Lesson duration is: 50 minItems in this lesson
6.1 A prosperous country
Goal:
I can explain what the economic and political situation was in the Netherlands after WW2.
Introduction question
Imagine you are 25 years old. You work in a factory and you break both your legs. You are unable to work for months. You have no savings and you have three children to feed. What do you do?
Scenario A (1900): You have no income. You are dependent on the church or on begging. Your children will likely have to go to work.
Scenario B (Today): You receive social security benefits, your hospital bills are covered, and your children can simply stay in school.
What option would you choose? Why? Discuss.
After WWII
* Reconstruction
*Recovery difficult -> shortages of food, fuel and money
* Succesful recovery within 5 years
- Great efforts population
- Marshall Plan
- Low wages
Dutch economy started to grow further
* Fast Recovery
* Natural gas field discoverd 1959
* Switch coal -> gas
* Profit from selling abroad
* 3 consequences
1. Able to invest in infrastructure
* Roads and railways
* Construction of the Delta Works -> large dykes that protect Zeeland and South Holland
2. A Consumer society developed
* 1960
* Incomes rose
* Luxury goods
3. Factory work disappeared to countries with lower wages
* Service Industries
* Office employees
* Hotel and restaurant sector
Start of a welfare state
= Society in which the government takes care of those who cannot take care of themselfs
* Eldery, ill and unemployed
*Prevent Poverty
Questions
1. Write down at least 3 rights that make the Netherlands a welfare state
Rights
* AOW -> General Old Age Pension Act (1957)
* Child benefits for families
* General Social Assistance Act -> minimum income from the state
Slide titelPolitical development
Pillarization:
The division of society in groups based on religious belief or political conviction (=overtuiging).
Four large groups: Catholics, Protestants, social democrats and liberals.
People from different pillars had almost no contact with each other.
From 1960s --> Depillarization.
Pillars start crumbling--> fewer and fewer people belonged to the Christian Church.
Consequences: 1) Decrease of Protestant and Catholic parties
2) More parties arise that do not belong to any one pillar
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