Britain Social Flashcards
Literacy
compulsory school leaving age from 14 in 1930s to 15 in 1939
working class element schools
middle to grammar schools
upper class went to public schools
only 1/5th of the adolescent population went secondary
1936 education act
increased school leaving age but allowed 14 year old to work to support struggling families
paperback books
became popular after Allen Lane made them cheap
Women
New industries employed women
women work in light industries cause of small hands
more women joined unions
new appliances slightly improved home conditions
1930s 1/10 married worked
Fashion
1930s more feminine fashion was encouraged
influenced by Hollywood films
respectful women wore hats
Health
fall in mortality rates
15 deaths per 1000 population 1606 / 12 per 1000 1636
infant mortality
110 per 1000 1910 / 56 per 1000 1940
decline in infectious dieses
better understanding of diet and vitamins for health
more awareness of hygiene
technology
1930s TVs became entirely electronic
BBC began broadcasting
New locomotive in 1935
Benefits of Depression
Some people became more affluent prices fell improvements at work 3 million homes better health radio and more entertainment
Rich and Poor divide
employment black spots in Scotland and north England government didnt plan, thought would resolve itself means test introduced protest tariffs on good to protect industry new industries rearmament overall standard improved expansion in welfare
Housing
people wanted homes so houses in suburbs built
internal bathrooms and three bedrooms
3/4 houses had radios and embraced technology
after removing Gold standard interest rates low so people could borrow
rent generally between 4s to 10s per week
average semi £450 to buy
Wales
worst hit areas
June 1938 - 1/4 of all unemployed workers been unemployed for a year
440k left wales between 21-38 leaving workforce
workforce didnt have correct skills
limited new factories
Wales country of two halves
spending on clothing dropped 40% phone - 1 in 50 Rhondda, 1 in 9 Newport wages and prices fell 1 wireless set per house Cardiff but half in Merthyr coastal towns better then valleys increased tourism in north 55k cars in wales 1938
Language in wales
population of wales fell
large fall in welsh speakers 155k in 1921 to 60k in 1939
English migration made language obsolete
1931 37% could speak language
Poverty in wales
short lived improvements only significant development in housing was middle class poverty still had stigma, means test intrusive illness was common
religion in wales
some communities church and chapel was centre of social life
church and Sunday school attendance declined
dance halls and cinemas improved
lack of change made people rethink way of things
many young people rejected church for social time
Sports in wales
6 welsh teams in league
communities rallied to keep clubs going
rugby suffered
cricket and boxing improved
Literature in wales
Dylan Thomas famous welsh writer
Alun Lewis poetry
Anglo welsh magazines
Cinema
cinema seat for every 10 persons in south wales
mostly for entertainment
Tan yn Llyn 1936
concern for language after decision to establish bombing base in Lyn Penisula
protest of 500k ignored by Baldwin
migration in wales
focus on staple industries and unemployment make people move to affluent areas of england
population of Rhondda fell by 18% in 1930s
Politics in Wales
liberal decline due to industrial crisis
Labour grew by 1922 won 50% of seats in wales
Plaid Cymru 1925 for Welsh rights
didnt get seat till 1966
Women in Wales
welsh women not historically documented
representation act in 1918 and 28 gave right to vote
women post war pushed for in house job
Welsh feminists
Lady Rhondda fought for education and employment
Eleonore Rathbone for new feminism which was more popular
Women in work
Low rate for welsh women 1931 21.5% employment limited opportunities many left wales for work Low wages poor conditions only training was in domestic jobs
Women in Home
83% of welsh women classed as housewives
poor housing and high rent
constant fighting with poor houses and diet
homes only place where women had influence
women cut their own food to save money
more important to pay men and kids
Health and childbearing
Many women suffered from overwork and poor health service
Welsh infant mortality rates higher
1930s maternity and child welfare clinics were permitted to give advice on birth control
many died from illegal abortions
Women campaigners
many women involved in campaigns and community groups
many participated in hunger march from Rhondda to London in 1934 in effort to improve conditions
1935 women attacked unemployment assistant board office and government backed down in attempt to cut benefits
Church of England
largest branch of Christianity in England
church gave donations to poor
Catholics
strong in north and midlands with Irish communities
jarrow huge catholic
Role of religion
source of comfort in harsh times
number of devote followers dipped
only Stanley Baldwin was devote Christian PM in 1930s
Welsh revival
very chrisitan but large non conformist community
strong musical influence
literal beliefs meant people saw suffering as divine
liberal south saw decline in religion
