12.2 The 1929 election

Question 1

What themes did the Conservatives use in the 1929 election campaign? (3)

Answer 1

• ‘Safety first’
• Baldwin as ‘The Man you can Trust’
• No radical new ideas to combat unemployment

Question 2

What were the strengths of Labour’s campaign?

Answer 2

• ‘Socialist commonwealth’ but had vague details in manifesto
• Moderate and did not have any radical ideas
• Advertised to a broad section of society

Question 3

What was the Liberal Party’s main policy offer in the election?

Answer 3

‘We can conquer Unemployment’ through radical ideas developed with Keynes that aimed to use public works to increase employment

Question 4

Why was it a historic result for the winner of the election?

Answer 4

This was a historic win as it was the first time Labour had won the largest number of seats 288

• Conservatives 260 seats
• Liberals 59 seats

Question 5

Who became Prime Minister in 1929?

Answer 5

MacDonald

Question 6

Which party leader resigned after the 1929 election?

Answer 6

Conservative leader Baldwin

Question 7

Was it more the success of Labour or the weaknesses of the other parties that lead to victory?

Answer 7

Labour was just the other alternative as the other parties had greater weaknesses