AN INSPECTOR CALLS

Historical Context

Objectives

To know the events of the time period To understand how they affect the

play/author To complete note taking and set tasks

1912 – Key Events

Sinking of the Titanic Balkan War Republic of China established Scott’s expedition to the Antarctic Wilson elected president

1945 – Key Events

First meeting of the United Nations and UN Security Council

Yugoslavia’s constitution Bank of England nationalized as well as

mines Italy/Bulgaria – declared republics UNICEF founded

What do these events show? 1912 Victorian Era – new technology/rigid

social systems/conservative era (individual responsibility)

1946 Post war/Modern era – new ideas, new

politics/globalization (collective responsibility)

conservative Ideas

Trickle effect Little involvement from central

government Isolation…where possible Individuals job to better their situation. Class system comfortably established

Socialist Ideas

Central government in everyday life Rich contribute towards the poor

through taxes People can move through the class

system – ideal is to have no class system NHS, Free schooling till 16 and welfare

system (collective responsibility)

Old Order vs New Order

The Second World War had brought new ideas, socially and politically.

Those who still believed in conservative ideas (individual responsibility) and did not want things to change were part of an ‘old order’.

New ideas and socialist politics (collective responsibility) were part of a ‘new order’.

Globalisation

To make global or worldwide in scope or application.

The advantages and disadvantages of globalization have been debated and scrutinized heavily in recent years.

Proponents of globalization say that it helps developing nations "catch up" to industrialized nations much faster through increased employment and technological advances.

Critics of globalization say that it weakens national sovereignty and allows rich nations to ship domestic jobs overseas where labor is much cheaper..

Countries have become more inter-dependent!

League of Nations

The forerunner of the United Nations was the League of Nations, an organization conceived in similar circumstances during the first World War, and established in 1919 under the Treaty of Versailles "to promote international cooperation and to achieve peace and security."

The International Labour Organization was also created under the Treaty of Versailles as an affiliated agency of the League.

The League of Nations ceased its activities after failing to prevent the Second World War

United Nations

In 1945, representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco at the United Nations Conference on International Organization to draw up the United Nations Charter.

Those delegates deliberated on the basis of proposals worked out by the representatives of China, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States at Dumbarton Oaks, United States in August-October 1944. The Charter was signed on 26 June 1945 by the representatives of the 50 countries.

Poland, which was not represented at the Conference, signed it later and became one of the original 51 Member States.