British Domestic Politics 1929-1939 Flashcards
(28 cards)
who was in power in 1929
labour (second government)
how did labour win the 1929 general election
first past post
who was the leader of the labour party
MacDonald
who was the Exchequer in the labour government in 1929
Snowden
give 4 problems for labour and MacDonald in 1929
MacDonald had moved away from socialist policies
poor economic situation (1.2 million unemployed)
MacDonald showed himself to be more interested in foreign and imperial matters rather than domestic
labour was a minority government (still relied on liberal support)
give 4 examples of labour’s domestic policies
Housing Act 1930
Unemployment Insurance Act 1930
Road Traffic Act 1930
Town and Planning Act
summarise the Housing Act 1930
passed by Arthur Greenwood
obliged local councils to clear all remaining slum housing
provided further subsidies to re-house inhabitants
led to the clearance of more slums than at any time previously, and the building of 700,000 new homes
summarise the Unemployment insurance act 1930
It substantially reformed the benefits system and abolished the rule that those claiming benefits must genuinely be seeking work
why did the labour government fail to reform
lack of support from the liberals
when was the Wall Street Crash
october 1929
what was the impact of the wall street crash (3 reasons)
loss of trade with the USA and Europe
value of exports fell
increased unemployment (especially in the stable industries)
why was 1931 a year of crisis for labour (4 reasons)
MacDonald was inexperienced in economic matters
financial strain worsened through unemployment benefit needing to be paid
divisions within the party- Snowden (chancellor of exchequer) wanted to bring spending cuts and Mosley wanted to increase government to stimulate the economy
May Committee (curb expenditure) created divisions within the party, created panic and a rush to withdraw money (reduced gold reserves)
why did the labour government fall from power in 1931
divisions created within the party (trade unions wanted to raise taxes, needed to cut unemployment, differing views on Snowden and Moseley)
trade unions rejected cuts that affected the unemployed completely and rejected the May Committee proposals
New York bankers would only agree to loans if unemployment benefit was cut (conservatives and liberals agreed but labour disagreed as it went against their ideology)
MacDonald went to the king to resign (1931) as he was unable to lead his party due to the disagreement
why did the national government form in 1931
it was agreed that MacDonald was to remain as prime minister but he would lead a national government with all parties, however many in labour felt betrayed by MacDonald and refused to be part of the national government
who consisted of the national government
dominated by conservatives
why was the 1931 general election held
Britain was forced to come off the Gold Standard
why was the 1931 general election so bad for labour
seats for labour fell from 288 to 52
MacDonald blamed for calling the election at a really bad time
labour was blamed for making the depression and Britain’s debt worse by not making cuts
blamed for May Committee and creating panic
divisions within the party
why did MacDonald stay as PM of labour and the national government (4)
persuaded by the king
he was hoping to maintain socialist policies and help for the working class by staying on as PM
to reduce influence and power of the conservatives in the national government
without the divisions and restraints of those in the labour party (who had refused to make cuts), he could improve the economy
give 4 criticisms of MacDonald
he was accused of abandoning the cause of helping the working class men and just following his own ambitions
too slow to react to the economic crisis
ignored feelings of his own party and trade unions
setting up the May committee
give 3 positives of MacDonald
he still served the country when nobody else wanted to
he attempted to maintain unemployment benefit
many other politicans also accepted traditional economic benefit (e.g. wanted to stay on the gold standard to avoid inflation, rejected Moseley’s idea to increase government spending)
to what extent did labour recover in the 1930s
seats in parliament began to increase throughout as they won many by-elections in late 1930s
labour became the main opposition party
why did support for labour return
unemployment remained high under the national government
cuts in employment benefit and the means test angered the working test which led to hunger marches and demonstrations
organisational reforms within labour (more power with moderate trade union leaders (Bevin), leadership improved- Henderson and Clement Attlee as leader from 1935)
gained support from some newspaper
moderate policies- the more extreme left wingers left the party and set up the socialist league, Bevin was anti-communist, economist ideas were practical e.g. followed ideas of Keynes (increase in government spending) and supported nationalisation of British industries
they were helped by the weakness of other parties e.g. fall of liberals, lack of support for communists
why was there limited recovery for the labour party (2)
conservatives still had a majority and Baldwin and Chamberlain were generally respected prime ministers by the late 1930s
labour did not well in more prosperous and middle class areas
what were the economic problems during the national government
depression affected the staple industries and exports hit especially hard (e.g. cotton, coal, shipbuilding) unemployment rose dramatically in these areas
long term unemployment in certain areas- Wales, North England, Scotland and Northern Ireland (e.g. Jarrow March- 5th October 1936)
