14: Industry, trade and agriculture

Question 1

What did the National Government Party claim in its manifesto in the 1935 election?

Answer 1

Under this leadership we have emerged from the depths of depression to a condition of steadily returning prosperity.

Question 2

When did the government start cutting spending?

Answer 2

1931

Question 3

What did the government cut? (2)

Answer 3

• wages for public sector workers

- unemployment benefits

Question 4

What did the cuts in government spending help do? (2)

Answer 4

• Maintain international confidence

- Stopped the banking crisis

Question 5

What did the policy of retrenchment do and what affect did this have?

Answer 5

• lowered the demand for goods and services

- Had an adverse affect on industry and unemployment rose sharply in 1932

Question 6

What did government schemes to close down uncompetitive shipyards, mills and mines mean?

Answer 6

Those that did survive were able to attract new investment

Question 7

What was still the problem with surviving industries?

Answer 7

They employed far fewer workers

Question 8

What was the percentage of unemployment in Jarrow?

Answer 8

above 70%

Question 9

Why was economic recovery more obvious in the midlands and south-east?

Answer 9

It was where the new industries were situated

Question 10

Name the new industries (3)

Answer 10

• Chemical
• Motor vehicles
• Aircraft

Question 11

What happened to the output of cars between 1929 and 1939? What did this make Britain?

Answer 11

• Doubled

- second largest car maker in the world

Question 12

What happened to the output of electricity between 1925 and 1939?

Answer 12

quadrupled

Question 13

By 1939 how many had the motor industry employed?

Answer 13

400,000

Question 14

What happened to the coal industry production by 1938? (2)

Answer 14

• It was at 227 million tonnes

- Producing more than in 1928

Question 15

What was the cause of industrial recovery?

Answer 15

Increased spending

Question 16

What were the reasons for the increase in spending? (3)

Answer 16

• Lower prices due the depression made wages stretch further
• There was more people in work than out of it, so with lower prices and cheaper borrowing it created rising consumer demand in areas like housing
• Social trends such as a smaller family meant those in work had more disposable income

Question 17

What stopped the depression getting worse and helped recovery?

Answer 17

The expansion of the home market

Question 18

What was the level of trade in the world in January 1933 compared to 1929?

Answer 18

1/3 of its level

Question 19

What effect did the protection measures have on trade?

Answer 19

limited

Question 20

How much did the price of wheat fall by?

Answer 20

50%

Question 21

What did farmers do as arable land began to decline? (3)

Answer 21

• abandoned farms
• switched to other products such as egg/poultry production
• Became markets gardeners growing fruit and flowers

Question 22

What did the government do to try and protect farmers and decline of cereal production?

Answer 22

impose import taxes and quotas on agricultural goods from Europe

Question 23

Why did the Conservatives think that imports and quotas were not a long term solution for farmers?

Answer 23

Only protecting 10% of the population would likely bring retaliatory from other countries which would affect the suffering industrial population

Question 24

What did the Conservatives view as better approaches for agriculture? (4)

Answer 24

• government assistance in land drainage and soil improvement schemes
• greater mechanisation
• improved credit facilities
• marketing boards

Question 25

By 1939 how many marketing boards were there? and for what?(3)

Answer 25

• 17

- milk, bacon and potatoes

Question 26

What proportion were rural wages to urban labourers?

Answer 26

1/3

Question 27

When were agricultural workers included in the National Insurance Scheme?

Answer 27

1936

Question 28

What did agricultural workers rely on before the National Insurance Scheme inclusion when they unemployed?

Answer 28

The Poor Law