1918- 1939 (ECO + SOCIAL) Flashcards
1919 the effects of war
745,000 Britains were killed 9% of all men under 45
1.6 million were wounded
The balence of females in Britain Rose in 1911 595 per thousand of the population to in 1921 638 per thousand
1919 25% of government income was spent on interest payments
Serious decline in housing due to fewer being built but demand increased this gave rise to the Holmes fit For Heroes campaign
Overinvestment in Staple Industries: iron, Steel, ships, coal and textiles
was no longer required in peacetime these Industries lost their pre-war primacy and enter the period of slow decline
The 1918 total government expenditure was over 50% of GNP
Unemployment rose from 300,000 over 1 million by 1920
in June 1921 2 million people were unemployed
The War sped up the Liberal parties decline and benefited the Labour Party greatly there were no more liberal governments in the 20th century and labor replaced him as the main political opposition to the Conservative Party
Lloyd George Coalition [1916-1922]
The representation of the people act 1918 + changes to voting system
This acts acknowledges the sacrifices made by the people of Britain and increases the electorate from 7 million to 21 million
this was done by:
Universal male suffrage over the age of 21 with a 6 month residency qualification
All women over 30 given the vote if they met the correct property qualifications or were wives to husbands who owned property
Men who had served in the war could vote age 19 but conscientious objectors were banned from voting for five years
+ changes to voting system
Polling now took place on 1 day
The amount of financial expenditure permitted per candidate was reduced
A redistribution of seats dividing the country into single member constituencies
increasing the representation in industrial cities
creating a predominantly working-class constituencies
The last two factors severely helps the Labour Party increased their representation in the parliament of 707 MPs
Coupon election dec 1918
This was done to continue the wartime coalition into peace time where Lloyd George and Bona law sent each other’s candidates letters of support which would ridicued by Asquith as a “coupon”
Lloyd George got to stay in power and have prestige of winning the war
while the Conservatives got to use him as a scapegoat so that if their policies failed they could blame it on him
as Lloyd George was 100% dependent on the conservative figures to stay in power
so if nessasary they could get rid of him
He also represented the economic interests of the House of Commons
Lloyd George was also popular so keeping him arround helped improve the coalitions popularity
In the December 1918 general election
the people who were allowed to now vote due to representation of the people act 1918
could not vote until the next election
The coalition government one by a landslide of 478 seats
while asquiths liberals got 28 seats
labour got 63 seats
sinn fein got 73 seats
David Lloyd George coalition [1916-1922]
Foreign policy after WW1
Treaty of Versailles +
League of Nations +
Chanak Crisis -
Russian Revolution -
The Treaty of Versailles
This was to punish the Germans for ww1 but not to be too harsh to disrupt future relations with them
US President Wilson wanted to not punish the Germans very harshly (thought treaty too harsh)
whereas the torys and the French wanted them to be punished very harshly
therefore he had to impress both of them
this led to him not handling the Paris peace conference very well as he couldn’t really pleased both sides
Treaty was pop in britain for punishing the germans
The League of Nations on the 10/1/1920
The maintaining peace was very popular in Britain
However they also a policy of disarmament after a war
but the League of Nations members have to be ready to fight
But to keep peace and fight means to have weapons which is against disarmament
and therefore a difficult situation
This was pop in Britain as they wanted to keep peace
Chanak crisis
Turkey attacked Greece in 1922 so British troops were sent to chanak to prevent Turkey from militarizing the region
LG wanted war
when his party and the public mood wanted peace this misjudgment decreased his popularity
This was unpopular in Britain as LG almost started another war
which they didnt want
The 1917 Russian Revolution
Britain sent diplomats do peace with the new Russia
But the British Public was not ready to accept it and there was a fear of a revolt and socialism in britain
this was unpopular in britain due to a fear of a socialist uprising and revolt
David Lloyd George coalition [1916-1922]
Fisher’s Education Act 1918
This raised the school leaving age from 12 to 14 with a local authority option of 15
An increase in grants for more secondary schools be built and more scholarships to grammar schools
£8 million grant given to ex-servicemen to attend University
David Lloyd George coalition [1916-1922]
Maternity and child welfare act 1918
Increased maternity benefits
David Lloyd George coalition [1916-1922]
Old age pensions act 1919
Increase the amount of benefits from the 1908 scheme
David Lloyd George coalition [1916-1922]
Unemployment act 1920
Extends the earliest system (1911) by covering the majority of workers to claim for up to 15 weeks
(increase the amount of ppl who can claim the benifits for up to 15 weeks)
David Lloyd George coalition [1916-1922]
National Insurance act 1919
(health)
Compulsory Health insurance was extended to those earning up to £250 per year
David Lloyd George coalition [1916-1922]
Unemployment insurance 1921
(transitional payments)
After 26 weeks of payments under the insurance scheme set up in 1911 and extended in 1920
There would be “transitional payments”
or as they were known as “the dole”
For people receiving unemployment pay for sickness
To keep unemployed workers from going into the workhouses
[ after 26 weeks of unemployment pay there was more unemployment pay (transitional payments) to keep unemployed people from going into workhouses]
David Lloyd George coalition [1916-1922]
Unemployment dependencies act 1921
Gave benefits to the families of unemployed workers
David Lloyd George coalition [1916-1922]
Addison’s Housing Act 1919
(important one)
More low rent council houses would be built to help with the housing shortage
there would be 70,000 houses built per year
with subsides of £260 a house were given by the government to pay for them
213,000 in total were built
400,000 homes were needed tho
They did this as they couldn’t expect healthy people to live in substandard housing
The exchecker pay for the houses and the rents were raised and it also acted as slum clearance
The act was a success but it was not the homes for Heroes that Were Promised by LG
David Lloyd George coalition [1916-1922]
Coal mines act 1919
A 7-hour day for miners
David Lloyd George coalition [1916-1922]
Agriculture act 1920
Guaranteed prices for Farmers
Labourers wages were protected
David Lloyd George coalition [1916-1922]
Economic problems by 1922 summary
Britain was broke
they were in debt
half of them were unemployed
most the Industries have become denationalised
the budget had become cut
they were less trades
many men died
there was a small baby boom
some women didn’t want to go back to work
David Lloyd George coalition [1916-1922]
Geddes Axe 1922
Sir Eric Geddes chaired a committee in Aug 1921
in Feb 1922 their 3 reports on the economy were published
It was recommended that the government cut £87 million in spending to help the debt recover
The government only could 53 million which was 10% of their total spending this including:
Denationalising the railways into four big companies
increasing the numbers of hours that miners worked
reducing police sallarys
Scrapping fisher’s Education Act 1918
and Addison’s Housing Act 1919 among others
David Lloyd George coalition [1916-1922]
Black and tans
ex soldiers given the nickname due to the colour of their uniform sent you by Lloyd George to fight the IRA they were seen as extreme and violence
for example in 1920 they burnt down large parts of the city of Cork
Although without reason forces it may have caused a revolution that Britain may not have been prepared to deal with after just coming out of ww1
David Lloyd George coalition [1916-1922]
Government of Ireland act 1920
LG passed this to partition the North (the unionists and protestants Ulster)
from the South which was mainly nationalist and Catholics
sinn fein rejected it as they wanted complete independence
however the Ulster did set up his own Parliament for the six Counties near Belfast
David Lloyd George coalition [1916-1922]
The Anglo Irish Treaty
+ blame LG
Sinn fein (michael collins) signed a second treaty to make ireland a free state and the North a small British territory therefore Ireland was divided
however this was very unpopular with many sinn fein members
and collins was murdered for signing the Treaty
And replaced by De Valera
This led to a civil war in Southern Ireland between those who supported the Treaty and those who didn’t
This treaty was confirmed by the London agreement
LG was blamed for:
using the black and tans
encouraging a civil war
handling over most of Ireland starting at the decline of the empire (conservitists and unionists)
and dividing Ireland
David Lloyd George coalition [1916-1922]
The Downfall of Lloyd George
Stage 1: resentment
Dislike among Conservatives over Lloyd George grew
He had begun to be viewed as becoming more dictatorial and out of touch of public oppinion
Many conservative MPs didn’t trust him and felt he liked moral and political principles
and he was known to have a wife and a mistress and it was said that he was unfaithful to both of them
Unconservative like policies such as the Handling of Ireland and the chanak crisis he became extremely unpopular
and some viewed him as a Tory puppet
David Lloyd George coalition [1916-1922]
The downfall of Lloyd George
Stage 2: Honours Scandal 1922
This was a corrupt policy led by Lloyd George as traded patronage such as titles for cash
He was accused of raising funds for his party through the sales of peerages
and using the Honor system in attempt to avoid newspaper criticism
This led to the honours act of 1925
It also led to a lot of criticism from conservative and the general population who knew about it
£10,000 for knight Hood
£40,000 baronetcy
David Lloyd George coalition [1916-1922]
The downfall of Lloyd George
Stage 3: The Carlton Club meeting 1922
In 1922 at a by-election in Newport and independent conservative beat a coalition liberal and therefore it was deemed that it was political suicide to be associated with Lloyd George
1921 bonar law retired as leader of the conservators due to ill health and was replaced by Austin Chamberlain
Who was out of touch with his back benches and the rest of his party he was also attached to Lloyd George
Have to realising this discontent among the backbenchers Chamberlain agreed with Lloyd George to an immediate election in October 1922 as a coalition
This decision was taken without Consulting the party
So the back benches demanded a Party meeting, this was held on the 19th of October 1922 at the Carlton club at this meeting these back benches of the Conservatives had decided that they wanted the party to stand without LG at the next election
At the meeting a surprise guest appearance by bonar law!
he gave a speech against a continuation of the Coalition
the vote
187:87
Lloyd George was forced to resign and Bonar law became the Prime Minister
Bonar law [1922-1923]
nov 1922 election
The conservators had won the election with 345 seats
with labour coming in second with 142 seats
and the liberals being divided with
Lloyd George’s liberals being 62 seats
and asquith’s liberals having 54 seats
Yay now Bona law can be Prime Minister for a very long time oh no he spent seven office and died in October 1923
and he hadn’t said anything about making a successor
Although his secretary reported that he had said that he should advise the king to send for Baldwin
however the expected choice for the new leader was going to be the Foreign Secretary Lord Curzon
But I didn’t let him because he was on the House of Lords
Bonar law [1922-23] and Stanley Baldwin [1923-24]
problems with the gov
-There was a rising labour popularity as between 1918 and 1922 their seats had doubled meaning that the traditional two party Force between the Conservatives and the liberals now had a third party to compete with
- Churchill Called Bonar laws cabinets as a government of the 2nd XI which was a cricket reference for the second team
This was due to most of the cabinet ministers were new and unfamiliar to the public - also there were seven members of The House of Lords which made this a very aristocratic cabinet
- And very controversial as the Parliament Act in 1911 was meant to reduce the house of Lord’s powers however by being in the Cabinets they therefore have a lot of power
- all of the popular conservatives that would have been on the cabinet
- including Austin Chamberlain and Balfour had rejected the carlton club decision and therefore there were not allowed to join Bonar law’s cabinets
- Policies favoured the lower middle class (such as nevile chamberlins housing act) which caused resentment in the working class
- has foreign secretary cousin replaced for Treaty of lausanne which the Turkish hates it with the Treaty of sèvres
- relationships with France deteriorated due to their invasion of the ruhr causing tension and resentment in the new German weimar Republic
- had to pay debts to USA for 62 years
- Bonar Law died of throat cancer in 1923
- the King george V show Stanley Baldwin to be the new prime minister because Lord curzon was a member of the House of Lords
- Stanley bowling decided that they should do tariff reform (to reinforce the economy) instead of free trade this saved from having another argument like in 1906 which made them lose the election
- the general election in December 1923 was fought over the issue of protection free trade was taken up again by the liberals who had reunited behind Asquith and some free trade Conservatives especially in Lancashire
-Baldwin head this election in 1923 to settle the issue of tarif reform as if he had won the election then he would have the mandate and backing to introduce it
Baldwin [1923-24]
1923 election on tarriff reform
-The conservators “won” with 258 seats and 38.1% of the votes
-with labor coming second with 35% of votes and 191 seats
- libs got 29.6% and 158 seats
- however due to the results being very close there was no clear winner as it was not a significant majority
This situation is known as a Hung Parliament - Baldwin decides to let labour being charge of the government
This was similar to balfour’s tactic in 1906 where he let the liberals run the governments so when they fail they could come back in and save the day and become very popular
Unlike Balfour’s 1906 version however Baldwin’s version worked
The decline of the Liberal Party by 1924
- during the war the Liberal Party had split between the supporters of asquith and Lloyd George [ST]
- it had never fully recovered from this and never held office on its own ever again [ST]
-Liberal value such as freedom of the individual have become compromised by government measures during the war for example conscription [LT]
-before 1914 the party had always been able to rely on parliamentary support of the Irish nationalists which were no longer available after sinn fein Boycotted the House of Commons in 1922 [ST]
- the had become unpopular and labour party had become a alternative to the Conservative Party instead of the liberals being the alternative [ST]/[LT]
- they no longer represented major economic interests in 20th century Britain [LT]
The Rise of the Labour Party by 1924
- the working class voters defected from the Liberal Party once they split up and lost confidencebin them, to the more radical trade union financed Labour Party
- it’s strong trade union links provided with a sound financial base
- the latest party had a good record as after initial discord
-it did play a major role in The patriotic war efforts - it’s senior politicians gained experience as Cabinet Ministers during the war
- it’s improved it’s constituency organization during the war and in 1918 adopted the formal constitution setting out its program and its commitment to socialism
- due to the representation of the people act 1918 now allowing for the working class to vote they had a much wider appeal as the trade unions would directly linked to the Labour Party
MacDonald [1924-1924]
The Red Scare
The prospect of the Labour government was met by Panic by the British people
as the Russian Revolution still fresh in their minds and labour was associated with communism
some people believe that labor would confiscate their lives and end the Empire and alter the British way of life beyond recognition
MacDonald [1924-1924]
dependency on liberals
Due to the Labour government only having 191 seats which was insufficient to defeat the torys they were dependent on the liberals for survival
this limited their ability to introduce any radical domestic legislation and they had to compromise on laws
MacDonald [1924-1924]
The cabinet
-MacDonald was both prime minister and Foreign Secretary
-Snowden was Chancellor
-Henderson was at the Home Office
-John Wheatley was the Minister of health and the only representative of the radical wing of the party
- other than these the rest of the cabinet lacked experience
-therefore may have been unable to successfully and efficiently deal with the problems at the time such as unemployment
MacDonald [1924-1924]
Social reform
- old age pension act and the unemployment benefits were raised
- state scholarships to universities were Revived
among the wheatley’s housing act
MacDonald [1924-1924]
Wheatley’s Housing Act 1924
Provided government aid in building council houses
521,000 Council houses were built
the houses to rent would directly benefit the working class
MacDonald [1924-1924]
Trade unions relations
Unemployment in 1924 led to poor industrial relations during the lifetime MacDonald’s government
for example there was a national Dock striking February 1924
MacDonald [1924-1924]
Relations with the independent Labour Party
This was the group within the party but outside of Parliament they had moved furthers for left wing and I demanded more radical social measures which would end inequality exploitation and Injustice more quickly
However due to the dependencies on the liberals these radical reforms would not be possible has the liberals would not support them and therefore they would never be passed
MacDonald [1924-1924]
Foreign policy
Relations with France improved
MD Accepted the dawn’s plan which ease the German reparation payments and arranged a US loan
MD Attended League of Nations meeting in September 1924 and participated in the move towards collective security
MacDonald [1924-1924]
Zinoviev letter 1924
A forged letter from zinoviev (chairman of the communist international) urging the British Communist Party to support labour
this cause panic and people created conspiracys on a communist take over
This letter was made public of the labour’s main downfall but before the election
therefore is not a very strong point on why they lost the election
The Daily Mail stated that this letter caused the loss of 40 labour seats
zinoviev later wrote two days after the letter was made public, confirming that it was a forgery as he was on holiday when it was supposedly wrote so he couldn’t have written it
MacDonald [1924-1924]
Cambell case and the downfall of the Labour Gov
The left wing newspaper writer Campbell wrote encouraging over 1700 soldiers to refuse to act against striking workers
St Patrick Hastings took him to court on the basis of intent of mutiny
the Prosecution was suddenly withdrawn and labor was attacked for left-wing influence on the judicial system
This caused MacDonald to call for a vote of no confidence in himself to which he lost, as both the liberals and tories had voted against him
however before he lost he resigned, causing the Labour government to end
Baldwin [1924-1929]
oct general election 1924
The conservators one with 48% of the votes and 419 seats which is double the seats from the previous election in the end of 1923
the Labour Party came second with 33% of vote and 151 seats (191 > 151) this loss was not as significant as their votes had increased by a million
The Liberal Party however had 17.6% the votes with 40 seats these had heavily dropped from the 158 seats to 40 seats from the previous election 1923 this means that the votes had almost halfed and their popularity has therefore plummeted out of relevancy
Baldwin [1924-1929]
Baldwin’s policies
and New Conservatism
-to keep the Conservative Party United
- to preserve peace at home and Abroad
- avoid controversial issues such as tarriff reform and class conflict
- incorporate labor into the mainstream of politics (to avoid it becoming a militant socialist party)
- cautious and inexpensive reform
New Conservatism:
Combined efficiency and moral purpose
national unity (popularist pop policys only)
encourage the Labour Party to be mainstream
moderate social reform
social harmony would create political stability
summary:
Populist popular policies
make labour mainstream to avoid conflict as their scared of socialism and the rise of labor
tries to keep everybody on his side and to not piss anybody off
and also demonetization
Baldwin [1924-1929]
Cabinet
Austen Chamberlain - Foreign Secretary
Lord curzon - Lord President of the council
Lord brickenhead - secretary for India
Neville Chamberlain - minister of health
Winston Churchill - chancellor of the exchecker
Churchill who had left the conserved as 1904 and been a liberal for nearly 20 years
being back in the party was very unpopular as Churchill had a history of Supporting free trade
he also had no financial experience
Baldwin could have made him chancellor of the exchecker:
to show that he wasn’t going to introduce protection by appointing a free trade Chancellor
and to stop Churchill from drifting back to the liberals
Baldwin [1924-1929]
Churchill as the Chancellor of the Exchequer
Churchill put Britain back on the gold standard in 1925
which turned the pounds value back to the value of gold
The argument in favour of this was that if gold value increased then the pounds value increased
and to link sterling back to gold as it was traditionally
This led to less export overall and a massive decline in Heavy Industries such as cold and steel
over 1 million were unemployed in 1929
his economic policies were very success showing no overall trend between 1924 and 1929 with both lowering and rising levels unemployments
the success of the economic policies on unemployment fluctuated year by year
and over half the army recruits were rejected for ill health possibly due to not being able to afford health care
Baldwin [1924-1929]
Neville Chamberlain as Minister of health
He had a four year plan of Change with 25 proposed acts including food hygiene and medical training
22 of these were passed
including:
The widows, orphans and old age pensions acts 1925
[established a compulsory, contributory system ]
providing old-age pensions to be paid to wage earners aged 65+ (reduce age from 1911 act)
+ benefits to widows and children of insured men who die. (2dimes)
1929 local government reform
Power over the county to run education, public health, slum clearance and town planning, water, electricity, gas etc.
poor law 1834 abolished
Labour oposed these reforms as it stopped local authorities from giving too much to the poor and called it popularism
Baldwin [1924-1929]
other reforms
National grid 26
BBC 27
franchise 28
-1926 National Grid
Set up to nationalised the national supply of electricity which is handicapped by high costs many local generating stations in varying frequencies
Between 1927 and 1933 the National Grid code for country with pylons linking 130 generating stations to 630 local plants
This was criticised by Tories for the nationalisation and socialism and criticized by labour for not nationalizing the system enough
The British Broadcasting Corporation 1927
The BBC was taken into public ownership under the management of the board of governors appointed by the post-master general
the BBC was allowed to raise funds via a licence fee set up by Parliament to be paid by everyone who owns radios
the idea was to preserve the Independence of the BBC
Franchise act 1928
The voting age for women was now 21 the same as men
and the resident qualification for all was set at 3 months
however plural voting was not abolished
this increased the electorates from 22 million to 29 million
Baldwin [1924-1929]
Austin Chamberlain as Foreign Secretary
(foreign policts 24-29)
Locarno pact 1925
which was signed by Britain France Germany and Italy
as a non-aggressive pact between France Belgium and Germany
however this did not include Russia to Germany’s East
1926
Dominions = self governing
united to britain by only the monarch
germany in League of nations
1928 kellogg-briand pact
in 65 countrys out lawing war
Russian trade ended tensions high
British Forces who are meant to be not getting involved in conflicts are busy keeping order in India
Doesn’t apologise for the ruhr and continues to ignore Germany’s needs
Refuses the Geneva protocol (ban bio weapons e.g gas) at the League of Nations that MacDonald urged him to accept
Overall did make impossible Commitments to peace while also committing to keeping the peace via conflicts in for example India and signing pacts such as the kellogg-briand pact 1928
Ignoring Germany’s needs
giving some independence to dominions
and making them more popular with the USA and France
women 1920s
Changes to their position
e.g. equality, votes, jobs and such
First female was elected in the coupon election but was sinn fein so didn’t take a seat
Lady astor became a conservative MP in 1919
1925 men and women have equal rights over child custody
Divorce laws equalised in 1923
1922 married women could be elected
By 1923 there were 8 female MPs
The flapper act/ franchise act 1928
Women finally gets vote on equal terms to men but not by a long campaign or a pioneering individual but by modernising the 1918 act being consistent with Chamberlain updating the social policies and the local government
1929 general election
why tories lost
-General strike 1926 problems with the trade union
-1927 it suffered a series of by-election defeats
-the conservative party was divided by a whole range of issues such as the House of Lords reform, disarmament and unemployment
- they were talks and finding a successor to Baldwin who’s leadership was seen to be ineffective however the only repaid placements that they can actually think of were Neville Chamberlain (who was too narrow-minded) and Winston Churchill (who wasn’t a proper conservative)
1929 elections why did they (all partys) get as many seats as they did
Labour
got 287 seats
as they wasnt as extreem as their rivals, and focus on public works, housing and new roads and more electricity
defficiant financing to pay for state action which would lead to increased wages and therefore increased spending
but there was no nationalisation or redistrubution of wealth, like labour would usualy do (this was to play it safe)
Conservatives
got 260 seats
“saftey first” and “trust baldwin” and “the only way to stop an extreem socialist gov” motos
There was a lack of effective and imaginative policies to deal with issues such as unemployment
Liberals
59 seats
Lloyd george, radical liberal ideas on conquering unemployment
Liberals had ideas but didnt inspire any Trust such as Baldwin and McDonald did also Lloyd George was head of the Liberal party and still had a negative reputation from the wartime Coalition
Impact of World War One on the economy
Due to increased workforce during the war there was an increase in production in Heavy Industries (e.g steel for shells), agriculture for food, cotton, rubber and petrol and electrical goods
Recently colony was good due to full Employment and more production therefore higher wages
After the war
there was a post war Boom: -because the demobilised soldiers were integrated back into the economy
-new businesses and agricultural smallholdings were created
-and small reforms under Lloyd George’s Housing act boosted the economy
-and britain was able to export goods again which was helped by the lack of competition from Germany and other countries that were damaged during the war
Long-term economic problems for Britain
Agriculture
Mechanisation made prices and demand for crops decreased due to production increasing
This was similar in coal and ship building Industries
Worldwide fall in demand and prices
Can’t match the wartime demands and therefore profits and prices decrease
Finances in the UK do not grow very quickly post-war so USA overtakes as the world lead
manufacturing methords
the unions and management made no effort to be cost effective and rely on traditional machinery (out dated) and working methods (out dated) which made them uncompetitive compared to foreign competitions such as India
also manufacturing costs dont lower and productivity dosnt increase
The government attempted to protect certain Industries
with safeguards of industry’s Acts 1921
only 3% of exports were protected and they were mainly specialist products
The world finance and economic lead went to USA as during the war they expanded their Industries and got ahead of everybody else while they were busy
The British stable Industries
Textiles such as in Lancashire
Steel such as in the West Midlands and Sheffield
ship building such as in Newcastle
and the coal industry such as in South Wales
These Industries faced problems from the end of the 19th century
including:
- over expansion during the war and post war so they over produce and therefore prices decrease when demand is low
- coal suffers from replacement by other energy sources
- the more the world’s governments did restrictions (cant make more than x amount) or bi-lateral agreements (between 2 countrys help each others economy out) as remedies for the economy, the more they were bound to injure the Industries which relied on the free market
- old Industries won’t/ cant expand/ modernize and there is no mechanization
As the old fashioned and badly suited for expansion - after 1925 there was a loss of Markets due to them being aggravated by an overvaluation of the pound
This led to unemployment in Britain being higher than the other countries in the 1920s
Red clydeside 1919
Trade union members had doubled during the war giving the greater power
It was believed that the united action (militancy) could bring greater benefits
70,000 workers went on strike for a 40-hour week in Glasgow January 1919
They raise the Red Flag from the town hall and it was known as bloody Friday
the police and gov had to get involved with sending a special branch of 12,000 troops with machine guns and 6 tanks to deal with the strike as they feared maybe a revolution
The strike leaders were sentenced to light prisons sentences
coal industy 1919
almost strike and settle on sankey commision being made
In 1919 the government was still in temporary control of the Mines
The Miners demanded a pay increase of 30% and a six-hour day and nationalization
the demands were rejected and strike was threatened
London had only three days supply of coal
and the Miners announced the recreation of the triple Alliance (a pre-war agreement between the miners, transport workers and railway men to assist each other in times of dispute)
The government made it clear that they would use troops if a strike took a place
and if it didn’t they’d establish a royal commission to investigate the Miners complaints
so the Miners postpone their strike on the condition that Lloyd George appointed three men who would have known to favor nationalism
This led to the Sankey commission
The 1919 Sankey commission
This outlines that’s there should be a rising wages shorter working days seven not eight hours this was accepted by the government
It was also outlined that they should nationalised the industry with the government refused this which was at the time the Coalition Conservatives
This made the miners sad
Black Friday 1921 April 1st
Lloyd George ( under the influence of Coalition tories) gave the Minds back to the owners who then tried to administer pay cuts the Miners didn’t like this and immediately went on strike the next day
The head of the railway union JH Thomas cancelled the Alliances help over the last second and so did the transport union leader as we just wanted to threaten a strike for negotiations but not actually do the strike
So they striked alone until the 1st of July
where they gave up
and gave in to the lower wages
and now the Miners didn’t like the rail and transport Unions very much anymore
leading up to The general strike 1926
Unemployment up trade was down and production was down so after the Minds were handed back to the owners in 1921 and the owners decided to cut their wages
they did the Black Friday strike in 1921 which didn’t work so they had to give into the lower wages
By 1920 the unions have become more powerful due to their members doubling over the war
War of a trade union itself is not radical some of the strikes were
e.g red clydesids 1919, black friday 1921 these strikes also showed the TU wern’t organised as the tripple alience pulled out last second in black friday 1921
In August 1918 the police striked until the gov banned the police unions from existing
From 1921 to 1926 a coal industry was in decline this is due to the increase in alternate energy sources such as oil
And the lack of modernization, mechanization and productivity as in 1925 86% of coal was gathered by hand and not machine
march 1926 Samuel commission was rejected by mine owners and the government didnt attempt to convince them otherwise
The gov
acts restricting hours
National pay rates 1924
but
41% reduced wages between 1920 and 1925
Employers proposed ending the 1924 act increasing the hours and decreasing the pay
by July 1925 the Miners had appealed to the TUC to have a strike
Baldwin temporary subsided £10 million for a year for another inquiry and the sir Herbert Samuel to be made
this also gave them time to prepare for the strike
and find volunteers so the country’s not on a complete standstill
preparing:
They used 1920 powers to control 11 large areas and 88 sub districts to maintain supplies during the strike
and gathered the army with 26,000 special constables
plan:
During the strike the power and transport was maintained and if there was a revolution the Armed Forces would join in
Meanwhile the Union militant forces raised £2.5 million for the strike fund
The Samuel commission 1926
It recommended:
Pit head baths and decent housing
national wage agreements and against the lengthening of the working day m
ining royalties that should be nationalised (nationalisation)
industry should be more efficient with amalgations
and it did recommend that the only way for the industry to survivals to introduce wage cuts implied at 10%
This was rejected by the mine owners and the government did little to convince them otherwise
The general strike 1926 4th of May
On the 30th of April the subside ended and on the 1st of May the TUC agreed to a general strike when the Miners rejected the wage cuts
The strike started
- The TU would not budge in negotiations which is more like a deal than actual bartering and the TU leaders would not accept any wage cuts
- Cook and Smith were terrible negotiators but so were the owners of the mines
- An MP stated that the Union leaders were the stupidest men in England if he hadn’t of also had met the owners
- Despite warning that it could cause legislation against the unions the TU still supported The Miners and agreed to do the strike
- The government and the TU had negotiated for better conditions and they had accepted some minor pay cuts
- however on the 3rd of May Baldwin had heard that the Daily Mail had refused to go to work
despite the TUC not having authorized it - and therefore had decided that it was pointless to continue the negotiations
- The TUC decided to investigate this and went to Number 10 Downing Street however when they arrived they was told that the prime minister had gone to bed
- The more people they got to go on strike for less for strikers were confident and committed to do so
- The strike reduced the public reception of the TUC
- Both the Liberal Party and the Labour Party did not support the actions of the TUC
- and the middle class acted as volunteers to work and support the government
- Not many people wanted to strike for the Miners who had got better deals from the government than they did
- Churchill’s newspaper the British Gazette was more popular than the trade unions British worker newspaper so there was less communication
- The miners (who stayed out after the strike ended to the end of the year) funds eventually run out and they were forced back to work in December 1926 with lower wages
- The government had good prep and volunteers and the army protected the food suplys and they all kept the country going
- there were 1760 prosecutions
- The entire strike organisation committee was arrested in Birmingham
- The government spend £433 million in 9 days
- The TU only spent £4 million but they couldn’t afford any more so the strike ended and the unions were forced to surrender.
Baldwin [1924-1929]
Trades disputes act 1927
Sympathetic strikes were made illegal
Trade unionists paying political Levy (payment) to the Labour Party had to agree in writing to pay
it was reversing the procedure of the 1913 act
this was the provision that baldwin had prevented at the start of his ministry in his wish to avoid the disagreement but it would cause this
reduced the income of the labour Party by ¼
Civil servants trade unions were forbidden to affiliate with the TUC
This showed that they wanted to reduce the amount of types of strikes
reduced the labour parties funding and it must be official
and to reduce the influence of the TUC on civil servants EG police
Staple Industries cotton and wall
state in 20s and 30s
Phenomenal decline post 1918 exports from Lancashire drop due to demand of course cotton goods from India and Japan
whereas markets in Western Europe and at home were mainly fine cottons
Also competition from manufactured sympathetic fibers such as rayon also grew
When it became apparent that the markets were lost, steps were taken to eliminate surplus capacity by getting rid of old machines and out-of-date factories
In the 1920s a number of cotton combines formed for example the Lancashire cotton company in 1929 took over factories consisting of 10 million spindles for spinning yarn and 30,000 looms
Overall decline but the combines do help a little bit
Staple Industries iron and steel
state in 20s and 30s
The West Midlands and West Yorkshire
Decline an export even before they were passed by the USA and Germany
Steel replaced iron
And cheap Steel was replaced by acid Steel in the UK especially by 1921 onward production decreased rapidly
the exports worsened in the 1920s as home markets were flooded with foreign cheaper Steel
Tarriffs were introduced in 1932 which increased the home markets (as cheaper their than buy abroad) and helped the steel industry recover but they still suffered for some unemployment
In 1933 they recovered due to the rise in the car industry requiring alloys
Import quotas in 1935 restricted imports so British Steel was safe from foreign competition
The furnaces were too small and unmechanised there was also high transport costs
The import quotas and the rise in the Motor Industry helped steal stay alive
Staple Industries coal
state in 20s and 30s
Yorkshire and Lancashire and South Wales
It was in demand post World War 1 especially with France and Belgium in the rure but it already began to fall behind competition in 1918 due to mines being poorly equipped and housing outdated machinery and methords
They had to compete oversee and make do with the gold standard in 1925 there were cheaper foreign competition in Poland and Germany and ultimate energy sources such as Oil and Gas
Between 1924 and 1930 employment reduced from 1.25 million to 1 million
The coal mines at 1930 further promoted a molegations so Minds could combine to reduce running costs
The act also controlled outputs and prices of each mining area
Both the Sankey Commission in 1919 and the Samuel Commission in 1925 recommended nationalization but this did not occur in this period of time
That was no mechanisation whereas in the US 70% of the coal was mechanized at this time in 1924
There was some recovery to survive until at least 1984 where there was the very big coal strike
Staple Industries ship building
state in 20s and 30s
Tyneside and Belfast has increased at home demand
as other countries such as the USA in Japan made them themselves
there was initial demand after the war but then afterwards demand harshly fell and unemployment in Shipbuilding became one of the highest in the country
the USA took over as a number one ship builder in the world
in 1926 the demand for motor ships increased dramatically as a replacement for steamboats
Britain lack behind making this new type of ship compared everybody else
This industry was left unaided by the government and was unable to recover until late 1930s whereas demand for warships increased due to World War 2 approaching
In the 1930s ship building firms eliminated inferior yards a ⅓ of total building capacity was bought out and scrapped
What’s in the end the man Returned due to the war
The wall street crash and the Great depression 1929
negative impacts
Negative impacts of the depression in Britain:
- World trade decreased v
- prices decreased v
- protection tariffs increased ^
‐ and unemployment increased ^ - in 1929 there were 45,000 people in long term unemployment by 1932 this had increased to 400,000
- Between 1929 and 1932 exports at halft
- unemployment had went from 1 to 2 million
- and 6 million people were living off benefits
- Britain was dependent on trade and the staple Industries were export-based
- so when the world trade decreased
- countries set up barriers to stop foreign trade this affected Britain negativly
- In 1938 manufacturing trade had decreased by 30% compared to 1929
- whereas re-export had decreased by 23%
- this decrease in trade also meant a decrease in services
- Import and exports were mainly from the Empire rather than other countries
- Britain was economically dependent on the Empire and focused on the demands of its people and not just exports
- Newer Industries needed skilled laborers so they could not absorb unemployment from declining old Industries
- Roundtree’s 1935 report stated that 31% of families in York were living in poverty
- Compared to his 1901 report which found that 28% of people living in York were living in poverty
- Showing that poverty had increased
The Wall Street crash and the Great Depression 1929
not so negative impacts
Britain wasn’t impacted so negativly:
- it produced political Changes with the formation of the national government in 1931
- while there was growth in borderline political extremism it did not lead to political change or Revolution
- nor did it lead to policy changes over downfall of the UK political system, as it had done in other countries during the depression
- the depression simply confirmed the extent of the economic problems had been growing in the 1920s for example: the staple Industries sales v and an ^ in unemployment and poverty in Old industrial areas such as york
- the gold standard was abandoned as so it would not lead to inflation (such as in Germany 1923)
- and there was no extended government control over the economy
- new Industries meant that there were more work for people and services also increased
- a rise in leisure such as cinema (1930’s 5000 cinemas in britain) and film entertainment (11 million took seaside holidays) meant that the quality of life ^
- due to the increase in Empire imports the cost of living v due to food prices being cheaper
- due to interest rates dramatically V it was much cheaper to borrow money to finance for houses ( new semi detached houses cost only £450)
- in the late 1930s rearmint created a million jobs
Overall the effects of the depression were Limited in Britain due to the rise in inter Empire trading, leisure activities and the new Industries
unemployment in 1930s
1927: 1,088,000 unemployed (8.7%)
1929: 1,216,000 unemployed (10.1%)
1932: 2,745,000 unemployed (21.4%)
1936: 1,755,000 unemployed (12.3%)
1940: 963,000 unemployed
The depression made unemployment significantly worse
In the late 1920s unemployment average at around 1.2 million
between 1931 and 1935 the employment figures did not dip below 2 million
The peak of unemployment was reached in early 1933 January when there was 2,979,000 people unemployed
While after this there was a steady decline the total never fell below the 1920s average of 1.2 million until after the start of the war
and only breached this trend in 1936
And only breached below 1 million total unemployed in 1940
Types of unemployment
Personal unemployment
(mental/physical ill)
(disability)
(last employed in eco ^, first fired in eco v)
these are people who are
the last to be employed during an economic boom
and the first person to be fired during a bad economic times
this may be due to physical or mental illness or a disability
as they were only marginally part of the workforce when nessasary
Types of unemployment
frictional unemployment
(between employments/ jobs)
These are people who are in in-between employment
[for example workers such as dockers who may have been employed on a Casual basis and they find themselves out of work for two or three days per week]
this is tends to be short term as these workers are often rapidly re-employed when they are needed
Types of unemployment
seasonal unemployment
(seasonal variation in job activity may be unemployed for part of the year)
This is where activity in certain trades is varied depending on the time of the year
for example agriculture
So in winter these people tend to be unemployed
This is short term as the following year they will be re-employed at the time of year where their trade is in high activity e.g summer
Types of unemployment
structural unemployment
(unemployment due to a perminet decline in industry they worked in)
This is where people are unemployed due to the permanent decline in their industry
for example coal and other staple Industries
this is oftern long term due to the perminant decline in the industry causing less workers to be needed
but the unemployed may not find other jobs in new industrys due to a lack of the correct skills
Types of unemployment
Cyclical Unemployment
( unemployment in an economic slump and employment in an economic boom in a 8-10 yr cycle)
(staple industrys still disproportionatly high)
This is where somebody is unemployed during the economic slump
and employed in an economic boom
which usually takes place in an 8 to 10 year cycle
while reasonably short term
even in periods of Recovery from a slump
for example in the late 1920s
unemployment in Staple Industries ( steel 27% unemployed 1934/ 22% 1928) remained disproportionately high
whilst other Industries such as new Industries (cars :11% unemployed 1934 / 6% 1928) recovered
this may have been due to the permanent decline of these staple Industries
Distribution of staple Industries, new Industries and unemployment rates
In the United Kingdom
during the 1930s
North ^ unemployed + staple
south v UnE + new
Staple Industries including coal steel and textiles which can all be found in Yorkshire
and ship building which could be found in Tyneside
were all mainly distributed in the north of England and the north of the UK in general
New Industries such as
cars in the West Midlands
and the BBC in London
and housemaking in the south of England
were mainly distributed in the south and south east and in the Midlands in the UK
Unemployment rates were highest in the North
in places such as Jarrow at 68%
and MaryPort at 53%
with some outliers including Merthyr at 62% in Wales
( this is due to the coal industry being present in the area)
These northern areas with high rates of unemployment
are also the areas where the staple Industries are located
which are in permanent decline at this time
In areas in the Southeast such as greater London, that we would expect to find a higher percentage of new Industries in the area
the unemployment rate is much lower at 9% (greater london) and 5% in oxford and 6% in birmingham where the motor industry is located
1930s groups Who suffered from unemployment more than others
(old 36’ and young 37’)
Old age groups
The percentage of unemployment rose with age
those aged 55-65 were 12% of the total labour Force
but were 18.4% of the unemployed
In 1936 over 33% of the unemployed were ages 45-65
Young age groups
Younger people could be employed cheaply ages of 18-21
and were often sacked when they became eligible for an adult wage
especially in industry such as mining in textiles
Again unemployment rose with age
However young people benefited disproportionately as industry Revived
as in 1937 the 18-24 age group had the lowest proportion of unemployed
for their share of the Labour Force
The Jarrow Crusade 1936
Jarrow in the northeast of England was wholly dependent on the Palmer’s shipyard for employment
so when Palmers was closed (due to decline in industry in 1933)
unemployment increased to the level of 67.8% in 1934
To raise awareness of the impact of unemployment
the Jarrow Crusade launched in 1936 (5th oct - 31st oct)
where 200 men from Jarrow Marched to London (funded by the town and met with positivity on their way to london)
they marched hoping to present a petition to Parliament when they arrived, for government assistance to help their town and jobs (help industry to improove= jobs for town workers)
when they gave the petition to Parliament (4th nov) they did not debate it and the marches returned home
Unemployment relief provided by the government 1930s
Scheme 1:
Unemployment benifit
- This was a benefit for insured workers (which made up around 15.4 million people in 1938) who were unemployed for less than 27 weeks
- (payed for by contribution build up off the unemployment fund
however the unemployment fund was only sufficient to cater for 4% of the unemployed - despite unemployment being always well above this level between the wars (1930-34 18.7%))
- 17s/week men
- 9s/week women
- 3s/week children below 14
Scheme 2 :
Transitional payments
- These were benefits for people who were insured who had been employed for more than 27 weeks
- it was funded by the Treasury
- the amount that was received was determined by a means test that was done by
-the public assistance committee or PAC
Scheme 3:
Poor relief
- This was for uninsured workers
Such as agricultural labourers domestic servants and people who were self-employed
this included 120-140,000 people
(excluding dependence) - It was funded by partly the Treasury and partly from rates
- It was administered by PAC and the rate was at the discretion of the PAC with possible MEANS tests for the rate.
1931
- The national government cuts benefits to insured workers by 10%
- and introduces the means test in 1931 to cut government costs
1934
- Minor changes were made to the unemployment act however the hated means test still remained
Means test 1931
This was created to keep the government spending lower by paying those with benifits for e.g unemployment less
Then there was an inspection done by the PAC
who judged your savings, pensions and the value of household items etc.
then, using this, the PAC would then judge how much additional support was required (very strict oftern find 1 valuable ish item u get nothing)
the maximum rate for a man was 15s and 3d /week
Means Test hate reasons:
- many people saw that they were rightfully entitled to unemployment benefits as they had paid contributions to the scheme
- the PACs was still associated with the Poor Law
- in Britain 50% of the applicants for transitional payment receive less than the full amount
- in Lancashire only 16% of people applying were given the full rate and 33% were disallowed all together
- in 1932-33 the means test saved about £24 million in total
Unemployment act 1934
(minor changes, more ppl, UAB take over PAC (35 36 could choose) do a even cheaper job but started to tackle the issue but ignored causes and other problems, + means test is still here)
- more workers(agricultural labourers bracket were brought into the system
- the unemployment assistant board (UAB) was set up to take responsibility for all who had exhausted their entitlement benefits
- this took things out of the hands of the PACs and provided a more standardized and centrally funded benefits
- however UAB scales of relief were often lower than PAC scales leading to public outcry
- 1935-36 people could choose whichever rate of benift was higher
- In 1937 the UAB was introduced fully without fuss
- means test was retained, although the regulations for testing were slightly relaxed
The UAB did begin to tackle the issue of providing adequate maintenance for the unemployed however:
- it did not tackle unemployment itself
- it was a policy of alleviation not reconstruction so the underlying problems (causes) still existed such as: poverty
- the means test continued to cause much hardship and bitterness
Despite these problems assistant for helping the unemployment Britain would probably more comprehensive than in any other democratic country
The national government 1931 attempting to fix the economy
Balence budget sept 1931
Balancing the budget sept 1931
- 10% captain unemployment benefits
- pay cuts in government employees (MPs, teachers, military etc)
- overall gov cut £70 million in spending
- raise tax from 22.5% to 25% raising £50 million in revenue
- cuts restored in 1936
- 1935 buget income tax cut
- statutory holidays (paid holidays for workers)
Bad
- Snowden’s budget dealt with the immediate banking crisis
- however the policy of balancing the budget lowered the total demands for goods and services
The national government 1931 attempting to fix the economy
Protection
1931: Empire imports = 25%
Empire exports = 36%
1938: Empire imports = 38%
Empire exports = 45%
(Brit empire trading ^ while world trading v)
[in Empire = Free trade]
Abnormal importations act 1931
50% import duty on pottery, cutlery, wood and cotten goods
___________________________________
Import Dutys act 1932
Dominions * (not want free trade at expense of own eco) + other countrys = General Tariffs and dutys of 10% on everything but imported food
The Import duty and Advisary bord could increase dutys on goods that could effect british industry e.g. steel
[some tariffs could be as high as 30%]
- there were import duties on dominions for 80% of the products made by the dominions entered Britain free of Dutys
But
- little money made, but loads of trade
National government 1931 attempting to fix the economy
Direct help to depressed areas
Special areas act in 1934
- Public money was used in depressed areas
- 1st yr = £2 million in tyneside and south wales
- 1937 = increased to £5 million/year
- When the Government received £7 million gift from a motor manufacturer Lord Nuffield
- There was support for steelworks in Ebbw vale, who employ 74000 ppl
National shipping act
- £9.5 million subside for ship builders to build the Queen Mary in Queen Elizabeth passenger ships
- in 1935 British Airways was founded
- The cost of living v and the standard of living ^
- 1932 wheat Act made wheat prices guaranteed to be 45s a quarter
Milk act 1934
- gave milk to school children
to help dairy industy
BUT
- The government had limited responsibility for those who suffered in bad times
- and it doesn’t help unemployed people and only helps employed people
National government 1931 trying to fix the economy
Managing production
- Partly nationalising staple Industries with government funding
- creation of the national ship building security = tonnage increases by 7x to 920,000 between 1933-37
- coal produced ^ from 207 million tonnes in 1933 to 241 million tonnes in 1937
BUT
- very expensive for the government that’s also attempting to cut back on their spending
Why did re-armament help the British economy in the late 1930s
- Defences began being rebuilt from 1936
- spent £ 1 million on radar stations 1938-39, invunreble in 1940
Defence spending was in the millions:
- 1935-36 = £137 million
- 1929-40 = £237 million
- British factories were used to create weapons and aircraft and equipment
- conscription April 1939
- not much was done to improve the efficiency or do any modern methods or machines in these factories
- despite this British design and manufacturing created the Spitfire and hurricane aircraft that ensured Britain survival in the 1940s
- While the efficiency was not improved
- production massively ^ especially in Stapel Industries such as iron, steel and coal
- other the places that production ^ in include food and engineering
- re-armament therefore provided jobs for the British people leading to less people being unemployed and massively aiding the economy
How well did the national government deal the ECONOMIC problems
Success
- Focus on domestic economic growth and ensuring low interest rates to keep spending under control and protect some Industries
- limited subsides
- regional assistance and support for the reduction of production
- prevented over-production
- unemployment has slightly decreased
- ⅓ of 2.7 million houses cost <£300
- there was an increase in consumer good sales, services, wages, electricity and electrical goods
- new Industries such as cars chemicals and Plastics were ^
Limitations
- did little regional balancing of areas with new industrial developments and areas of severe industrial decline
- there was no overall planned programme of National Recovery
- British goods were far too costly for export markets effectiveness
- tariff policy limits oversea trades
- farmers have not been modernised as <10% have access to electricity and <60,000 tractors in the country
- and there was no investment in modernization or machines
Nat Gov
It was the best of times it was the worst of times SOCIAL policies of the national government
Success and failure
Sucess
- 30 mph speed limit was introducing urban areas
- pensions were extended in 1937
- low interest rates meant housing stock increased by 2.5 million
- slum clearance schemes
- improved transport and education and ^ standards of Livings, health insurance, pensions, electricity, consumer goods and cheap housing
- wages increased by 17% between 1931-33
- factory act 1937 changes regulations improving the safety, heating and lights in factories
FAILURE
- didn’t introduce a comprehensive Health Service
- didn’t insure workers families and dependence
- not ensure poverty in old age
- didn’t reduce the gap in standards of living between rich and poor areas of the country
- unemployment and employment inequalities between regions remained
- Rowntree’s report showed 31% of people in York were living in poverty this is increased from the 1901 report that showed only 28% of people living in poverty in York
Leisure in the 1930s
Music and radio
Music
- The gramophone grew rapidly in popularity
- and there were popular dances such as the quick step and the fox trot
- jazz started in the US which is popularized by bing cosby
- and Swing which was popularized by Benny Goodman
Radio
- in 1925 the radio licence introduced
- in 1926 they were eight radio stations
- the radios were cheap leisures that the poor could afford which means that they could access news, drama and comedies
- the BBC had a monopoly on the radio
Leisure in the 1930s
Sport
- Traditional sports such as cricket and horse racing were popular as these were cheap
- they went for fun but still gambled on Saturdays the maximum money that could bet in circulation in 1931 = £34,000 in 1938 = £40 million
- 16X more people gambled
- lots of prestigious sports the rich including car racing and yacht racing
Leisure in the 1930s
Holidays
- a 1-week holiday in Blackpool costs £3
- this was not paid for by the state so thrift clubs provided financial aids so ppl could take time off to go on holiday
- foreign holidays were preferred by the rich and not available for the poor
- thousands of foreign tourists to the UK came for holidays
- and in 1938 butlins in Skegness opened
and that’s where sadness originated from
Leisure in the 1930s
Automobiles
- 1920 = 200,000 private cars
- 1930 = 1 million +
- no driving test till 1934
- only requirement = +17 yrs only
- cars reintroduced people to seaside towns as they were easier to get to
Leisure in the 1930s
Cinema
- talkie cinema (sound) made at start of 1930s
- coloured films by end of 1930s
- 20 million tickets were sold / week
- American culture begins to influence the British this never stops
- people’s favourite films included the ideas of Escape, romantic films and comedy films such as with Charlie Chaplin
- reminiscent of the Golden Years with films such as “wings of the morning”
- Walt Disney’s career started in 1923
- steamboat willie 1928
- disney win every cartoon oscar 1932-39
The 1930s were the BEST of times
+
(overall, social, eco ect. (MAINLY SOCIAL)
- consumer goods, electricity, cheap houses, leisure and shopping increased leading to an increase in standard of living and quality of life and increasing private housing and people who were happy
- holiday pay, cars, pensions, credits and education all increased
- there was a 7.5 million profits in one year
- new industries in the south were absolutely booming with business
- there was a 48 hour week
- health care was better
- Neville Chamberlain as chancellor of the exchecker save the economy
- more tutor style houses were built at this time than in the tutor times because it was cheaper
- in 1935 98% of people could tune in on BBC Radio 1
The 1930s was the WORST of times
—
(Overall social, eco ect. MAINLY SOCIAL)
- George Orwell the road to Wigan Pier wrote: “there were little Grey slum houses” referring to housing estate that have been built (unpop in mid class)
- mass unemployment
- Jarrow crusade
- shipyards and derelict fat trees
- churchill’s policies did little to help it the industrial Wasteland of Britain
- old industry and rapid decline due to a limited market and competitors producing it far more effectively
- anxiety of dictators in europe
- rearment
- Chamberlain did nothing to help those in Old industrial regions in the North
- it was not socially acceptable to speak of Higher and credit purchases as they were associated with being poor
- an increase in class divisions over housing estates credits and higher purchases
- north South divide with the North having higher rates of unemployment in Old industry and the South having high rate of employment in new industry
- Chamberlain’s reputation rapidly decreased moments after he said “peace of our time” this is because World War 2 started imedietly after and he looked like a right twat
The new Industries
light electrical engineering
LEE
- In 1920 there were 730,000 electrical consumers in the United Kingdom
- whereas in 1938 there were 9 million
- 1/17 houses in 1920 had electricity
- in 1930 this was ⅔ houses
- 156,000 were employed in the electrical sector in 1924
- in 1938 this wss 325,000
- the National Grid was founded in 1926 and the stations lines and houses were fully connected by 1933
- with everyone connected to the National Grid that was 4x use of electricity than before
- light industry was located mainly in the South East of England especially in London
- electrical appliances such as fridges, cookers, radios, electric irons, gramophones etc had an expand in production due to the access of electricity
- the government central Electricity Board which was founded in 1926 decides how much and where the electricity goes and then sends the electricity to that place
New Industries
chemicals
- in 1926 for big chemical Industries combined to form one giant chemical industry called 〔imperial chemical industry〕 Limited they produced: soap, rayon and vegetable oils etc.
- by 1926 the total capital of the company was £56 million
- rayon factorys was centered in North Wales
- the government helped the company by adding rayon tariffs on import protection during World War I
New industrys
leisure and communication
News papers such as the News chronicle increased in the 1930s
- the news chronicle in 1935 held a bounty hunt to find “lobby lud” who was described in the paper, this didn’t happen oftern as it was an expensive campain to get ppl to buy newspapers, so ofc the daily mirror coppyed it
- Radio’s such as The BBC (it was the only one) frived, as ot was founded in 1926 but by 1939 71% of the population owned a radio
- BBC was based in London
- and was created by the government and paid for by a licensed fee
New industrys
House building
- Addison’s house alert 1919 under the Coalition war government and wheatley’s housing act 1924 in the Labour government both increased production of houses in the United Kingdom
- in 1930s as a booming house and for those who could borrow money
- low cost to make and low cost to buy
- the remainly built in the South of England however all over country they were being built where slums have been cleared
- the 1935 and 1933 housing acts set up subsidies to local authorities to concentrate on slum clearance and overcrowding to therefore eventually build more houses
- and housing estates that became very popular in the 1930s among everybody but the middle and upper class who despised them
- a three bedroom one and bathroom a house in the South of England would have cost £500
- or with a £25 deposits with £3-£4 monthly payments over 25 years
- everywhere else in Britain this would have cost less between £350-£400
New Industries
motor cars
automobiles
vehicles
cars
- in 1908 Henry Ford Pioneers the assembly line production of cars
- in 1915 it was cheap enough for Morris to start using the assembly line production of cars in the UK
- in 1920 there were 32,000 cars
- in 1929 there were 182,000 cars
- and by 1937 there were more than 500,000 cars
- due to the assembly line the cost to build it was decreased and the efficiency was increased and there was no need to export it which led to the growth of the industry
- the horsepower tax meant that Britain made small powerful engines and exported them for profit
- the British Motoring industry was mainly located in the West Midlands
