14: Industry, trade and agriculture Flashcards
What did the National Government Party claim in its manifesto in the 1935 election?
Under this leadership we have emerged from the depths of depression to a condition of steadily returning prosperity.
When did the government start cutting spending?
1931
What did the government cut? (2)
- wages for public sector workers
- unemployment benefits
What did the cuts in government spending help do? (2)
- Maintain international confidence
- Stopped the banking crisis
What did the policy of retrenchment do and what affect did this have?
- lowered the demand for goods and services
- Had an adverse affect on industry and unemployment rose sharply in 1932
What did government schemes to close down uncompetitive shipyards, mills and mines mean?
Those that did survive were able to attract new investment
What was still the problem with surviving industries?
They employed far fewer workers
What was the percentage of unemployment in Jarrow?
above 70%
Why was economic recovery more obvious in the midlands and south-east?
It was where the new industries were situated
Name the new industries (3)
- Chemical
- Motor vehicles
- Aircraft
What happened to the output of cars between 1929 and 1939? What did this make Britain?
- Doubled
- second largest car maker in the world
What happened to the output of electricity between 1925 and 1939?
quadrupled
By 1939 how many had the motor industry employed?
400,000
What happened to the coal industry production by 1938? (2)
- It was at 227 million tonnes
- Producing more than in 1928
What was the cause of industrial recovery?
Increased spending
What were the reasons for the increase in spending? (3)
- 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
What stopped the depression getting worse and helped recovery?
The expansion of the home market
What was the level of trade in the world in January 1933 compared to 1929?
1/3 of its level
What effect did the protection measures have on trade?
limited
How much did the price of wheat fall by?
50%
What did farmers do as arable land began to decline? (3)
- abandoned farms
- switched to other products such as egg/poultry production
- Became markets gardeners growing fruit and flowers
What did the government do to try and protect farmers and decline of cereal production?
impose import taxes and quotas on agricultural goods from Europe
Why did the Conservatives think that imports and quotas were not a long term solution for farmers?
Only protecting 10% of the population would likely bring retaliatory from other countries which would affect the suffering industrial population
What did the Conservatives view as better approaches for agriculture? (4)
- government assistance in land drainage and soil improvement schemes
- greater mechanisation
- improved credit facilities
- marketing boards
By 1939 how many marketing boards were there? and for what?(3)
- 17
- milk, bacon and potatoes
What proportion were rural wages to urban labourers?
1/3
When were agricultural workers included in the National Insurance Scheme?
1936
What did agricultural workers rely on before the National Insurance Scheme inclusion when they unemployed?
The Poor Law
