History - Great Depression Flashcards
Causes of the Great Depression
- US stock market crash on 28th October 1929
- people sold shares at the same time, reducing their value
- worldwide slump in food prices
Assistance given
- church groups
- charities (food, clothing, blankets)
- Oslo lunch for school children (wholemeal bread, vegemite, an orange)
Who did well in during this time?
- employers
- rich people were barely affected
What did men and women fear?
men: unemployment, men would often move out to relieve stress and tension
women: having more children
What happened to children?
- many worked
- many did not receive an education
- could not afford clothes, books, education
Entertainment
dances, choirs, radio clubs
What happened between Australia and Britain?
British lent money to Australia for major projects (hospitals, infrastructure, Sydney Harbour Bridge), but struggled to pay Britain back
What new technology were people buying?
fridges, irons, vacuums, radios, cars (purchase on credit)
In 1932, what was Australia’s unemployment level?
Peaked at 30%.
Today it is (6%)
Who was James Scullin and what did he plan?
- PM between 1929-32, Labor Party
- told farmers to grow as much wheat as possible and he would buy it for a good price
- the Senate didn’t agree (promised farmers money he couldn’t pay), sounded like communism
Who was Jack Lang and what did he introduce?
- Premier of NSW
- introduced pensions and 44 hour week (welfare of people and job creation)
What were secret armies and what did they plan?
- made up of ordinary people who were unhappy with the government
- planned to overthrow government (revolution)
When did the Great Depression end?
-ended at outbreak of WW2, September 1939
Positives and negatives that came out of depression
positives: Australia should become a welfare state
negatives: uneducated children, some experienced long term hardship
