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History - Power and the People > The General Strike > Flashcards

The General Strike Flashcards

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1
Q

What year was the General Strike?

A

1926

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2
Q

What were Britain’s heavy industries like during the First World War?

A

They enjoyed high output and a dramatic increase in people working for them.

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3
Q

What had happened to all coal mines during the war?

A

They had all been nationalised.

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4
Q

Why had all miners hoped that they would continue to be owned by the country?

A

The government would be obliged to invest money, thus their jobs would be safe.

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5
Q

Why was the future not looking good for Britain’s mining industry after 1918?

A

There was a fall in the demand for coal.

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6
Q

What 2 options did mine owners have to dramatically reduce costs?

A

-Closing down mines that were inefficient to concentrate on the mines that made the most money
-Starting to introduce new automatic machinery so fewer men were needed

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7
Q

What 2 factors put British coal mine owners further into crisis?

A

-Foreign competition
-A lack of modern technology

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8
Q

Give an example of a country with good coal production and why?

A

Germany had more modern equipment, as they were owned by big companies that could invest lots of money in new technology.

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9
Q

What did unions want about mines?

A

They wanted the government to re-nationalise the mines; the mines needed investment.

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10
Q

When was ‘Black Friday’?

A

Friday 15 April 1921

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11
Q

What 2 things did mine owners announce on Black Friday?

A

-Extension of the working day
-Drop in wages

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12
Q

How did the miners feel about Black Friday and what did they do?

A

They were outraged and decided to strike.

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13
Q

What is the TUC?

A

Trade Union Congress.

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14
Q

What did the TUC do, worried that other employers would do the same as the mine owners?

A

They called other industries out on strike in solidarity.

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15
Q

Who pulled out at the last minute before striking after Black Friday?

Why?

A

The railway and dockers’ unions pulled out, as they did not feel the immediate concerns as the miners did. They were not as worried for their jobs.

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16
Q

What happened as a result of railway and dockers’ unions pulling out?

A

The miners felt that they had no other option but to return to work with longer days and for lower wages.

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17
Q

What happened to the price of coal in 1925 and what did mine owners do?

A

They fell again and the mine owners declared further changes to hours and pay.

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18
Q

Who was the Prime Minister in 1925?

A

Stanley Baldwin.

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19
Q

What did Baldwin believe would happen when the mine owners made further changes to hours and pay in 1925?

A

He knew that the other unions would support the miners this time.

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20
Q

When was ‘Red Friday’?

A

Friday 31 July 1925

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21
Q

What 2 things did Baldwin do on Red Friday?

A

-He agreed to subsidise the coal industry
-He set up the Samuels Commission

22
Q

What was the Samuels Commission?

A

A job of which was to reach an agreement between the miners and the mine owners.

23
Q

What did many believe Baldwin was doing with Red Friday?

A

That he was just buying time with the commission, so he could prepare Britain for the inevitable General Strike.

24
Q

When did Baldwin’s subsidy money run out?

A

April 1926

25
Q

When did the TUC agree to strike?

A

On 1 May - May Day: a day when worker’s rights are celebrated.

26
Q

When did Britain’s first General Strike begin?

A

3 May 1926.

27
Q

What did the strike do to the country?

A

It divided the country - ships sat unloaded in docks, trains didn’t move and coal wasn’t mined.

28
Q

How many days did the General Strike last for?

A

9 days

29
Q

What act did the government use from the First World War to arrange for the army to do what?

A

It used the Emergency Powers Act to arrange for the army to take over the jobs of the striking workers.

30
Q

What did the TUC do in response to the government calling the Emergency Powers Act?

A

They created their own newspaper, The British Worker, and used it to explain the motivations of the strike.

31
Q

What did the government encourage middle-class students to do?

A

To take a break from university and work in heavy industries.

32
Q

How many student volunteers did the government get to work in heavy industries?

A

226,000

33
Q

What did the TUC do in response to students working in heavy industries?

A

They used the paper to remind strikers to remain peaceful and not use violent tactics.

34
Q

What did the government start in response to the strike?

A

A propaganda campaign.

35
Q

How did the government start their propaganda campaign?

A

With their own newspaper, the British Gazette, which tried to turn the public against the strikers.

36
Q

What the TUC do in response to the government’s propaganda campaign and their newspaper?

A

Some strikers did become violent and there were clashes with the police.

37
Q

Baldwin made speeches referring to the strike as what?

What did this do?

A

A revolution; this fuelled the public’ fear of communism.

38
Q

What did the TUC do in response to Baldwin referring the strike to a revolution?

A

Strikers travelled the country to picket with other industries in solidarity.

39
Q

What did the government send to key cities to do what?

A

Armoured cars were sent to stop the violent clashes between the strikers and government supporters. They were driven by the army and police and were armed with machine guns.

40
Q

How did the strike end?

A

The TUC decided to negotiate with the government and finally accept the findings of the Samuel Commission.

41
Q

What had forced the TUC to end the strike?

A

They had run out of money and could not possibly continue with the strike action.

42
Q

How long had the government been preparing for the strike?

A

9 months

43
Q

What had caused the public opinion to go against the strikers?

A

Violent actions by some.

44
Q

Which party was meant to represent the workers but was not in full support of the strike action?

A

The Labour Party.

45
Q

When did the miners fully return to work?

A

November 1926.

46
Q

What forced the miners back to work by November?

A

Hunger and disillusionment.

47
Q

What happened to unions as a result of the failure of the strike?

A

Union membership fell dramatically.

48
Q

What did the union membership decline coincide with?

A

A rise in unemployment.

49
Q

What act did the government pass in 1927?

A

The Trade Disputes and Trade Unions Act of 1927.

50
Q

What was the the Trade Disputes and Trade Unions Act?

A

An act that the government passed which made it illegal for unions to join together to strike. Unions could no longer use money from union memberships to fund political parties: all members had to agree for this to happen.

51
Q

What were 3 impacts of the Trade Disputes and Trade Unions Act?

A

-It had an impact on the unions’ relationship with the Labour Party
-It weakened the power of the unions.
-Union membership would not reach peak levels again until the Second World War

History - Power and the People (25 decks)

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