3.7 Depression And Dole (poverty In Interwar Yrs)

Question 1

Which areas in Britain were the worst affected by the Depression in Britain in the 1930s

Answer 1

Clydeside, South Wales north west & north east England & Northern Ireland

Question 2

Why were those areas in Britain affected by the depression in the 1930s

Answer 2

Old industries were in these areas such as : coal mining ship building textile, iron and steel industries these were already in decline also specific areas specialised in one industry

Question 3

Why were old staple industries already in decline

Answer 3

Because of growth of completion from USA and Japan which was cheaper than Britain . Also there was free trade

Question 4

Why was Britain one of the main countries to be affected by the Wall Street crash

Answer 4

America asked for its loans back payed in full and quickly

Question 5

What was the decline in shipbuilding 1930-1933

Answer 5

1.4 million tonnes - 133 thousand tonnes - resulting in massive unemployment particularly in the northeast

Question 6

By 1932 how many people were unemployed

Answer 6

3 million

Question 7

Why were many of the unemployed thrust into long term

Answer 7

They only had skills for 1 job
Whole towns dedicate themselves to 1 type of industry
Old industries already in decline
Not enough support for the unemployed

Question 8

Consequences of the depression

Answer 8

South and southeast benefitted

Workforce adapted to new light industries motor vehicles building chemical printing electrical engineering industries

Question 9

How many cars were produced in 1937 and how many houses were built in 1924 - 1935

Answer 9

511 000 cars

1 million houses

Question 10

Why were these industries able to meet growing post war demand

Answer 10

Convenience and leisure amongst certain classes and their popularity was protected
Industries where helped by government tariffs

Question 11

What 2 government tariffs were introduced to protect new

Answer 11

McKenna Duties put a 33.3% tariff on the importing of commercial vehicles
Safeguarding of industries Act put a 33.3 % tariff on synthetic chemicals

Question 12

Consequences of a country of 2 nations

Answer 12

Migration
Protests against the government
Political divide
Support for the war (rearmament)

Question 13

Jarrow Crusade

Answer 13

5th of October to 1st November 
200 men marching to London 
75% were unemployed 
A town that was murdered 
Wanted long term employment

Question 14

How many signatures did the jarrow crusade petition have

Answer 14

1200

Question 15

Why was it a bad time to ask parliament for help

Answer 15

Edward 8th abdication also he was a Nazi supported which was a greater problem

Question 16

National Unemployed workers movement

Answer 16

Set by communist part in 1921
Aims - draw attention to plight on the hunger
- rights for unemployed
- destroy capitalism

Question 17

Welsh hunger march

Answer 17

Rhonda to London - November 8th
Aims - protest against limitations that the government placed on unemployment relief and the impact it had on miners
NUWM and local trade councils and Rhonda district of the South Wales miners federation however changed their minds because of opposition from trade union congress.

Question 18

1932 hunger march

Answer 18

To end the means test 
3000 people 
To Hyde park 
Minimal publicity 
1 million signatures on petition 
national press - made it to parliament

Question 19

1936 hunger march

Answer 19

Government Spies infiltrated nuwm
Clement atlee (leader of Labour Party)gave a speech
Joined by jarrow marchers

Question 20

What Act was introduced in 1934

Answer 20

Incitement to disaffection act made it a crime to seduce members of his majesty forces of his duties or allegiance

Question 21

Why was it difficult to help those in poverty

Answer 21

Depression
Hustler preparing the war
Rearmament
Foreign investors making withdrawals from London
Balancing the annual budget was difficult

Question 22

What did Phillip Snowden (the chancellor of exchequer) set up

Answer 22

Committee to advise on what to do to reduce national expenditures
Headed by sir George may
May report produced July 1931
120 million needed - 23 mil increased taxation 97 mil government cuts

Question 23

What happened to the labour government

Answer 23

Severely divided. 23 rd August 1931 Ramsay McDonald offered resignation of his government to the king - resulted in national government (coalition)

Question 24

What government cuts made on the May report

Answer 24

Teacher salary - 14million 
Police pay - 1 million 
Armed services - 12 million 
Postponing road schemes - 8 million 
Unemployment benefit - 10%
Britain to come off gold standard - exports cheaper

Question 25

What reforms were introduced by the national government

Answer 25

Unemployment act
Backing iron and steel federation
Special areas act
Shipbuilding scheme

Question 26

Unemployment act 1934

reforms introduced by national government

Answer 26

Applied nationally had no variation, had a means test standardised dole - less of a contribution than unemployment benefits

Question 27

Backing Iron and steel federation

reforms introduced by national government

Answer 27

Supervise the demolition of old unprofitable works creating new jobs

Question 28

Special areas act

reforms introduced by national government

Answer 28

Applied to regions of high unemployment eg South Wales, Tyneside, southern Scotland, creating new jobs
1939 273 factories employed 8500 total number unemployed in July 1939 was 226,193

Question 29

Shipbuilding scheme 
(reforms introduced by national government)

Answer 29

Shipowners could apply for government loans that would enable them to by new ones creating work for unemployed shipbuilders

Question 30

How was recovery done

Answer 30

Helped by factors that had little to do with the government. 
From mid 30s there was general recovery in world trade 
Neville chamberlain (new chancellor of exchequer) introduced tariffs to protect agriculture and old industries