Nationalism increased in 1950s Moved towards a more secular society. Divorce rates increased. Car owners and house owners Industrial unrest and coal strike in 1919. 1925 Gold Standard led to British exports increasing in price by 10%. Grammar and secondary schools changed to secondary schools, in 1961 10% of Welsh speaking secondary school children attended welsh speaking comprehensive schools. By 1980 it was 99%. Demand for staple products remained steady in Wales until the 1960s. Coal main employer 1945 1960 106000 1979 30000 1946 coal industry overtaken by general manufacturing as the largest source of employment. Welfare state- free healthcare Social, religious and cultural change Economy, work and employment Mid 60s Wales lost half of its railways. This was bad for communications and investments Oil complex around Milford Haven grew steadily. The Significance of the main developments in Wales and England 1918-1980 Bridgend and Hirwuan munitions factories turned into industrial estates. Non conformity dropped: 1923= 400,000, dropped by 42,000 by the end of the war. Women remained an important part of the workforce. 1931 40% 1945 around 35% 1961 census ¼ 1971= 20%. 1981 19% In 1962 Saunders Lewis gave a radio Fate of the language Nationalism increased in 1950s Plaid win Carmarthen 1966 limited. Plaid Cymru created in 1925. Plaid against War= lose support. In 1962 Plaid Cymru formed a successful Language Society. 1967 Welsh Language Act gave equal validity in England and Wales. In 1964 James Griffiths 1st Secretary of State for Wales 1945 ready for political change. Labour won general election with 25 seats in Wales. Rose to 27 seats in 51 and 55 elections. Dominant party 1949-56 parliament for Wales rose and fell. Only party to commit was Plaid Cymru. Support increased slowly. Won its first seat in 1966 Welsh language and culture Political changes School 1945 Aberystwyth private Rhyl 1951 comp 1971 5000 children Taught thru welsh In the 60s and 70s universities flourished especially, in Aberystwyth and Bangor, championing the language and culture. In the 1970 general election Plaid Cymru contested every seat in Wales for the first time. The vote surged from 4.5% in 1966 to 11.5%.