3.7-Depression And The Dole: Poverty In The Interwar Years, 1920-1939 Flashcards
What is prosperity?
A successful, flourishing, or thriving condition, especially in financial respects, good fortune
What was the Depression?
The economic crisis and period of low business activity in the U.S. and other countries, roughly beginning with the stock-market crash in October, 1929, and continuing through most of the 1930s.
Explain why Britain would have
been one of the countries affected by the
Depression.
The USA asked for their loans to be paid back in full, immediately. The USA had been Britain’s biggest trading partner; this stopped.
Which areas were the worst affected by the Depression in Britain in the 1930s?
South Wales, Clydeside, North West, North East,
Northern Ireland
Why were these areas the worst affected?
Had old, staple industries, eg. coal, ship building,
textiles (cotton), iron and steel.
Other places around the world using electricity… and using manufacturing, no longer need these industries
Relied a lot on these limited markets especially in these areas due to seasonality and rural landscape
Why were old staple industries already in decline in the 1920s?
• Because there was competition from the USA/ Japan, eg. the cost of coal.
• In the 1920s, countries were also beginning to disarm = loss of
shipbuilding.
• British Gov also had a policy of free trade – no oversees companies paid
tariffs.
Why was Britain one of the main countries to be affected by the Wall Street Crash?
• The USA asked for their loans to be paid back in full, immediately.
• The USA also put high tariffs on any foreign goods. British
manufacturers were left with very limited markets. – the USA had
been Britain’s biggest trading partner.
What was the decline in shipbuilding from 1930 to 1933?
1930 = 1.4million tonnes,
1933 = 133,000 tonnes
(Huge unemployment)
In 1929, British production of steel fell by 45%
and pig iron by 54%,
By 1938, the number of people employed in
Britain’s cotton industry had fallen by 50%.
By 1932 how many people were unemployed in Britain?
3 million people most of which were part of ‘old industries’
Why were many of the unemployed thrust into long-term
poverty?
Cycle of depression (lack of employment)
Caused changes in attitudes towards the poor where by previous progress was set back, white people being prioritised and views of morality as many fell into crime due to economic issues…
Structural unemployment- specific skills, UK well renowned for these industries which are no longer prominent- no alternatives
Explain industries that did actually flourish during the 1930s, why were they flourishing, how did the government help?
• The South and South-East of Britain experienced remarkable growth
and prosperity in the 1930s.
• This was because the workforce were readily adapted to the new,
light industries that were being invested in after the FWW.
• These new industries included: motor vehicles, building industries,
chemical production, printing and electrical engineering.
• The car industry, for example, produced 511,000 cars in 1937 (as
opposed to 33,000 in 1913) and between 1924-1935, over 1 million
houses were built for local authorities.
• These industries were able to meet the growing post-war demand for
convenience and leisure amongst certain classes and their
popularity was therefore protected.
• These industries were also helped by Government-introduced tariffs:
• The McKenna duties put a 33.3% tariff on the importing of
commercial vehicles.
• The Safeguarding of Industries Act put a 33.3% tariff on synthetic
chemicals.
What is it that the Depression is said to have caused?
The north and south divide
Reasons the depression did cause the ‘country of 2 Nations’
Cycle of depression- thrust them into long term poverty
Unemployment- 3 million
USA stopped trading and demanded loan- especially in old industries like iron (left with limited markets)
Perceptions of changes- associated unemployment with the north, ‘claiming the dole’
Name other factors that may have caused the ‘country of 2 Nations’
Lack of government intervention
Divide in industries between old and light, and relying too much on these old industries which were declining anyway
Competition- USA, Japan
Modernisation
Disarmament
Government failure to protect north and cyclical unemployment in north eg: seasonal unemployment
So in summary (from slides):
The old, staple industries were already in decline before the Depression because of disarmament and competition from other countries like the USA and Japan. • The government created tariffs which supported newer industries. • Geographical concentration of jobs led to decline. • The fact that new industries were willing to adapt, and respond to consumer demand, meant that they prospered.
What are the consequences from having the north and south divide?
Main: started to
protest/campaign – eg. the
hunger strike and the Jarrow
marches.
Migrate to south but many couldn’t afford again, went into crime which meant a decline in attitudes and a decline in help from organisations and welfare state
Unemployment benefits increased
Re-start industries/ innovate existing ones
Only changed when SWW started due to the increase in employment (resources needed) and the re-armament in 1936
When was the Jarrow Crusade? Outline a basic summary of what happened
5th October-1st November 1936
North East
From Jarrow to London
Put forward a petition to ask the government for intervention in their unemployment and to rethink the disregard of old industries
Ellen Wilkinson- labour MP organised it
What was the name of the shipyard in Jarrow?
Palmer’s shipyard
When did the last ship ever leave the yard?
1931, Cruiser HSM York
What percentage of the population of the workforce was left unemployed?
75%
What did the MP (Ellen Wilkinson) say about it?
‘Town that was murdered’
What did the unemployed workers of Jarrow decide to do?
Do a crusade/ march to London
Who was chosen to be Marshall of the march?
Councillor David Riley
What is a crusade?
a vigorous campaign for political, social, or religious
change.
In the 1930s, the unemployed marched to London. 200 men
came from Jarrow (in the North East). This event became known
as the Jarrow crusade.
How many men were chose to march?
200
How many months preparation took place?
3 months
Had to set up kits, rules for conduct, doctors examination…
