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A level history Britain 1780-1939 > 3.7 Depression and the Dole > Flashcards

3.7 Depression and the Dole Flashcards

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1
Q

What was the NUWM?

what were the 3 aims of this group?

A

National unemployed worker’s movement.

Draw attention to the plight of the hungry.
Rights for unemployed.
Destroy capitalism.

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2
Q

What areas in the UK were most hit by the Great Depression?

What did they all have in common?

A
  • South Wales.
  • NW England, NE England.
  • Northern Ireland
  • Cydeside.

These all were in common as they relied on the Old industries, like:
Shipbuilding, Coal and Steel.

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3
Q

What was another reason that the UK struggled financially?

A

America asked for its loans back after Wall Street Crash.

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4
Q

What was the particular industry that was hit the most due to the end of the FWW?

A

in the 1920s International disarmament caused a contraction in Demand for Shipbuilding.
Went from 1.4M tonnes to 133,000 tonne.

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5
Q

Why was there prosperity in 1930s Britain?

A
  • South and South East experienced growth.
    As workforce was readily adapted: production of Motor industries.
    -Light industries like chemical production and printing.
  • The falling value of the pound made exports cheaper for other countries.
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6
Q

Why was there the North South Divide due to depression?

A
  • Old industries in North died and South experienced growth.
  • 3 Million people were unemployed.
  • USA demanded loans back so Britain stopped investing.
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7
Q

Why was North South Divide not due to depression?

A
  • The old industries were already in decline before the Great Depression because of disarmament and competition.
  • The government created tariffs
  • Geographical concentration of Jobs led to decline.
  • New industries were willing to adapt.
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8
Q

How was Jarrow linked to Britain?

A

Jarrow Crusade
5th Oct-1st Nov 1936.
Jarrow March.

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9
Q

What was the Jarrow March?

What did they have with them?

A

In October 1936 , Mass unemployment and poverty drove 200 men to march 300 miles from Jarrow to London.

They carried a petition signed by 11,000 people for Parliament which requested the re-establishment of industry in Jarrow.

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10
Q

What were the main causes for the poverty in Jarrow?

A
  • The closing of Palmer’s Shipyard which was the main employer of labour in Jarrow.
  • 75% of people were unemployed in Jarrow.
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11
Q

What were the aims of the March?

A
  • To re-establish industry in Jarrow.

- To create sympathy for the plight of the Unemployed, to show they were hard-working and Law abiding citizens.

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12
Q

How was the initial idea of the March received?

A

Idea was backed by the Jarrow Borough Council, the local Mayor, MP Ellen Wilkinson and religious groups.

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13
Q

What was the support of the March?

A

-At some stop overs marchers were greeted warmly and provided with good quality accommodation, food, bath and spare clothes.

However, in other locations they only had the beds that the workhouse offered.

  • The general public went to line the route of the Marchers as they were seen as good family men in the midst of the Abdication crisis.
  • The Labour Party Conference was not supportive as it was argued that Ellen Wilkinson was sending hungry men that would put them in even more discomfort.
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14
Q

What was the support from the TUC?

A

the TUC and other Executive Councils of the Labour Party advised trade councils to not go and offer any support to the Marchers, but they ignored this advice.

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15
Q

What was the support from the Church?

A

Bishop of Durham Henson, Criticised his colleague Bishop of Jarrow for giving the Marchers the Church blessing.

Henson was critical of Socialism and Trade Unionism, so denounced the Bishop of Jarrow.

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16
Q

How was the petition received by government?

A

Jarrow MP presented petition to parliament but after a few minutes of discussion they moved onto other matters.

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17
Q

What were the successes of the Jarrow March?

A
  • Due to the abdication crisis people wanted more family men and the Jarrow Marchers were approved.
  • It gained National and Local media coverage\
  • It gave those living in comfort, in the south east, a vivid image of what unemployment was like.
  • It helped form people’s perception of poverty in 1930s so could have impacted 1945 social reforms.
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18
Q

What were the failures of the Jarrow March?

A
  • The Parliament abdication crisis was a bigger problem at that point in time.
  • The government did not respond to the March
  • When they returned home their dole pay was completely cut.
  • The TUC advised the Labour Party to not support the March.
  • The Marchers left empty handed.
  • They gained nothing in the short term.
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19
Q

When and what was the first hunger March?

A

-The first Welsh Hunger March, 8th NOV 1927.

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20
Q

Why did the first Hunger March happen?

A

The first Hunger March was to highlight the limitations of unemployment relief and the impact this had on Miners’ families.
Miners’ federation.

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21
Q

What happened at the First Hunger March?

A

The Miners marched selected to March to London on the 8th of March to coincide with the opening of Parliament but changed their minds.

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22
Q

Why did the Miners’ federation change their mind?

What did they end up doing?

A

They received opposition from the TUC.

The NUWM remained steadfast of their support of 270 Marchers to London.

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23
Q

What was the reception of the First Hunger March?

A
  • The local trade councils supported the miners.

- However, TUC, press and Government remained Hostile.

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24
Q

When and What was the second hunger march?

A

1932- NUWM national hunger march of unemployed workers to protest against means test.

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25
Q

What did the 1932 March entail?

What did they also intend to do?

A

3,000 people marched to Hyde Park from 18 starting points.

They intended to present a petition with 1M signatures.

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26
Q

What was the aim of the Marchers?

A

The Marchers believed if they had enough numbers they would be able to make the government reconsider the means test.

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27
Q

How did the Government react to the 1932 March?

How did they react in the protest?

A

The Government was alarmed with Law and Order so they drafted in 2,000 police.

As serious violence broke out in Hyde Park mounted Police was used to disperse the demonstrators.

28
Q

How much did exposure did those of the 1932 March get?

A

On the way to London they did not get a large amount of exposure but many people got injured which raised awareness.

29
Q

What happened to try and prevent these future rebellions?

A

Spies were trained to infiltrate the NUWM.

In 1934 Incitement to disaffection act was passed that made it illegal to seduce a member of the police for allegiance.

30
Q

When was the final Hunger March and what was it

Who supported it?

A

1936- 10 contingents of Marchers converged at Hyde park.
12,000 Marchers in total.

Supported by Labour Party and Jarrow Marchers.

31
Q

What were 3 successes of the Hunger Marches

A
  • The government had to get spies into the NUWM and 1934 Incitement disaffection act. (Shows they were a threat)
  • The marchers grew steadily in size (1927-270), (1932-3,000), (1936-12,000)
  • The Marchers came from all ove the UK.
32
Q

What are 3 disadvantages of the hunger marches?

A
  • Labelled as a group that was violent- (Eg bad press they got for second Hunger march.
  • Never managed to get to a change in Legislation.
  • Media condemned what they were doing.
33
Q

Who was the prime minister between 1929-1935.

A

Ramsay Mcdonald - Labour.

34
Q

Why did the government find it difficult to act against poverty in 1930s?

A
  • The abdication crisis was a priority.
  • Rise of Hitler and other Fascists
  • Rearmament crisis.
35
Q

Why did the government find it hard to act against the depression?

A
  • Foreign investors were withdrawing money from London Banks, Between July and August 1931, 33 Million in gold was withdrawn.
  • Balancing the Fiscal deficit was proving difficult.
36
Q

How did the Labour government try to address the depression?

Who was the Chancellor?

A

The Chancellor of the Exchequer: Philip Snowden, set up a committee to advise on what could be done to reduce expenditure.

-This committee was headed by Sir George May.

37
Q

What did the Committee on expenditure propose?

A
  • 120 Million was needed to balance the books.
  • 23 Million could be found from increased taxation
  • 97 Million from cuts in government spending.
38
Q

What were three of the May report recommendations

A
  • Reduction in teachers salary
  • Reduction in police pay
  • Postponing road schemes.
39
Q

Why was the May Report controversial?

A

they proposed Cutting unemployment benefit, but cabinet argued that unemployment had suffered enough.

40
Q

What was the impact of the Labour report?

A

The Labour government were severely divided by May Report

41
Q

What are the 3 direct impacts of the Great Depression on Britain?

A

1- There was a massive drop in US demand for exports, which led to a fall in industrial
2- There was a flight of capital from Britain.
3- The instability in the world currencies resulted in a decline of world trade.

42
Q

What areas did well during the Depression?

A

Light industries in the south and Midlands

specialising electrics, cars and chemicals flourished and expanded.

43
Q

How were the 1920s to 1930s for people in Britain?

A

For many people they saw an increase in the real wage, employment in new industries and improvements in health care.

Yet many people experienced poverty in the Industrial areas of Clyde-side, Tynside, South Wales

44
Q

How did the Old industry decline in the UK?

A

Markets changed and technologies changed and heavy industries failed to adapt EG mining, shipbuilding, Iron and Textiles.

  • No demand for new ships- only 7% of their pre-war output.
  • Export markets for coal fell from 100 million tonnes per year to 50 million tonnes per year.
  • Cheap Iron flooded the markets British production of steel fell by 45% and Pig iron 54%
45
Q

Why was the decline of the old staple industries bad?

A

The geographical concentration meant there was no other employment because these industries were more dominant.

46
Q

How did Britain try and deal with the 1929 depression?

A
  • Mckenna duties

- Safeguarding of industries act 1921.

47
Q

What was the McKenna duties?

A

A 33.3% tax on the importing of commercial vehicles.

48
Q

What was the Safeguarding of industries act?

A

This was to protect any industries who would be useful to a future war. In these cases a 33.3% tax was levied on these imports.

49
Q

How was the post depression limited in helping staple industries ?

A
  • Britain refused to give tariff protection to many of the staple industries as they adhered to free trade.
  • They also believed that consumer demand would correct the market but instead of buying British they bought foreign.

-There was investment in the old staple industries which caused them to be overcapitalised.

50
Q

What did Britain do in 1925 in an effort to stabilise things?
What impact did this have?

A

April 1925-0 Britain went back to the Gold Standard that fixed currency against price of Gold.
-When Britain did this they caused British exports to be too expensive.

51
Q

How was Britain impacted by the USA’s collapse?

A

The USA was Britian’s biggest trading partner so the depression stopped the US from buying British goods so businesses had to lay off workers and bankrupt.

Britain would have used its income from imports to pay back the loans it had but they could not.

Many allies had loans from Britain who were not able to pay back.

Situation exacerbated by return to Gold standard

52
Q

Why was there prosperity for some in 1920s, 1930s

A

In the midlands and south east they had a readily adaptable workforce that diversified into light industries like chemicals and motor vehicles.

There was investment and expansion and therefore fuller employment.

53
Q

What was the highest and lowest unemployed region?

IN 1936.

A
  1. 6% in South East

28. 5%

54
Q

What was the highest employed trade and lowest?

A

Ship building 30%

Commerce and finance 3.8%

55
Q

Why did the light industries succeed?

What was the industry that did most well?

A

They readily met demand for leisure and convenience goods.
Car industry 1913- produced 33,000.
Car industry 1923-95,000
Car industry 1937- 511,000

HOUSING meant for most rapid building over 1 million houses were built.

56
Q

What was the means test and when was it implemented?

A

Implemented in 1931.

This meant that the income of every member in the family was taken into account before relief was distributed.

57
Q

What did the cabinet propose?

After the May Report.

A

TUC led support to Henderson’s plea to not touch unemployment benefit.
John Maynard Keynes suggested that they should come off the Gold Standard to makes exports cheaper

58
Q

What did the Government eventually do after the May Report?

A

They managed cutbacks of 56Million.

59
Q

How did the second labour government come to an end?

A

On 24th August they had their final meeting and the cabinet were dumbfounded and they accused him of Betrayal and plotting to retain power.

60
Q

What government came after Labour?

A

National Government (A coalition government

61
Q

What were the first actions of the National Government?

A

They tried to implement Snowden’s package.

  • Teacher’s pay was reduced by 15%
  • Armed forces, Judges and MPs reduced by 10%
  • Employment benefit reduced by 10%
  • Police pay reduced by 5%

Tax increases that were estimated to get 50 Million.

62
Q

How did Britain achieve recovery under the National Government?
Was it down to their own merits?

A
  • The falling value of the pound meant that Britain exported more.
  • The Nazi government drove reanarnament so shipbuilding.
  • Neville Chamberlain the COE, introduced tariffs and protection for farmers.
63
Q

How did the National Government address Unemployment? (4) ways

A
  • Unemployment Act 1934
  • Iron and Steel Federation 1932
  • Special Areas act 1932
  • 1935 Loans for ships
64
Q

What was the unemployment act 1934?

A

Set up a national unemployment board which standardised dole payments and introduced a means test.
This was strictly enforced and national rates were set.
This caused fierce protests like 1936 NUWM march.

65
Q

What was the Iron and steel federation?

A

1932- This destroyed old Jobs and created new ones.

66
Q

What was the special areas act?

A

1934- This targeted areas like South Wales, Tyneside and Clydeside and southern Scotland.

This was to create and finance projects to stimulate employment in these areas.
May 1939 only 8,500 people were employed by this scheme.

67
Q

What was the shipbuilding Scheme?

A

1935- The government developed a scheme whereby ship owners could apply for government loans that would allow them to scram old ships and buy new ones eg - Queen Mary.

A level history Britain 1780-1939 (7 decks)

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