(Changing Living Standards) The impact of Boom, Crisis & Recovery, 1918-39

Question 1

What had seemed achievable after the end of WW1?

Why?

Answer 1

DLG’s ‘land fit for hereos’.

There was a short-lived consumer boom fuelled by credit, 1918-20.

Question 2

What followed the short-lived consumer boom in 1918-20?

How is this evident?

Answer 2

A recession

There was 1 million unemployed in 1920

Question 3

What had quietly emerged in 1930-38?

Answer 3

A consumer society

Question 4

How was it evident that a consumer society was emerging in 1930-38?

Answer 4

The number of vacuum cleaners doubled, mainly paid for on credit.

10% owned their own home in 1914, 32% in 1938 - The National Government’s policy drove this change.

Growth of M&S and Sainsburys - created growing demand for new consumer products.

Question 5

How is it evident that pockets of depression still remained in areas throughout Britain during the consumer society?

Answer 5

People suffered from bad nutrition in the poorest areas - mostly concentrated in places suffering with unemployment due to the decline in traditional industry.

Working class women suffered from hunger more as they prioritised feeding their children and husbands (‘workers’ of the household).