KQ2 - Life During The Depression Flashcards
What were the nicknames for the 1930s?
‘The Black Years’, ‘ The Devil’s Decade’ and ‘The Hungry Thirties’
When was the Unemployment Insurance Act?
1920
What was the Unemployment Insurance Act?
A system of payments for unemployment’s workers. Provided 39 weeks of benefits to those who were registered as unemployed.
Known as Dole
By how much did economists suggest the Dole should be cut by?
By at least 10%
Why did Ramsey MacDonald resign?
The issue of cutting the dole split the ministers in the Labour Government and the PM resigned
When was the Means Test introduced?
1931
What was the purpose of the means test?
It was designed for o control and reduce the amount of dole that was paid
What was the means test?
After 6 months on unemployment benefit, people went on a benefit known as ‘the dole’.
If family had other sources of income, like a part time job or a pension, deductions were made from weekly payments.
The amount paid was based on the income of the whole family with the maximum payment varying from area to area.
Who carried out the means test?
Carried out by inspectors from the local Public Assistance Committees (PACs), which was set up in 1930.
Stats relating to the means test
The average maximum for a family of 2 adults and 3 children was fixed at £1.46 per week, but many were paid less because of earnings from other members of the family.
In 1936, the maximum sum was raised to £1.80 per week but still below the average wage of £3
Why was the means test extremely unpopular? (7 points)
Many claimed it was for the Govt. to save money rather than help the unemployed
People hated having inspector go through belongings, forcing them to sell some.
People forced relatives to live somewhere else to receive the full amount each week.
Humiliating to reveal earnings, savings + value of possessions.
If officials thought there was enough money in house, they would stop dole.
Some local authorities applied test harshly, whilst others (E.g Country Durham) refused to carry it out.
Strained family relationships (e,g an older child forced to pay towards family
When did the hunger marches begin?
Autumn of 1931
How many places had protest marches against the means test by the end of 1931?
Were they peaceful?
By the end of 1931, there had been protest marches against the means test in more than 30 towns.
However, not all these marches were peaceful
Example of a march that resulted in violence
In 1932, there were clashes with the police in Rochdale and Belfast where 2 demonstrators were killed.
What was set up to try to put pressure on the government during the hunger marches?
The National Unemployed Worker’s Movement (NUWM)
When was the March on London organised by the National Unemployed Worker’s Movement?
What happened in this?
October 1932
Marchers attempting to present a petition to parliament were stopped by the police
When was the Jarrow March?
1936
Where is Jarrow?
North-East of England
What was the nickname for the Jarrow March?
The Jarrow Crusade
Unemployment in Jarrow
Unemployment rose from 3245 in 1929, to 7178 in 1933
What was the worse affected town during the Depression?
Jarrow
What were the problems faced by Palmer’s shipyard?
By the 1930s, the yard was too small for the type of ships that were being built.
The ‘Queen Elizabeth’ and ‘Queen Mary’, launched in the 1930s, were over 80 000 tonnes which Palmers could not match.
When was Palmers Shipyard closed?
1934
What was the National Shipbuilders’ Securities?
What did it do?
It was a group of shipyard owners that set up the company to help save the shipyard industry. The decided to buy smaller yards and then scrap them.
Palmers was one of the first to go. It was announced that no shops would be built there for 40 years.