The General Strike Flashcards
When was the General Strike?
3rd May 1926.
Who called the Strike?
The Trade Union Congress.
Why was the Strike called?
The miners were unhappy with their pay and working conditions, they were backed by the TUC who called in other working areas.
How long did the strike last?
9 Days.
How long before hand had the government spent preparing officially and unofficially?
3 months officially, 9 months unofficially.
How long did the TUC spend preparing for the Strike?
1 week.
What is a General Strike?
A strike in which multiple industries are called out.
Who were the four key groups involved in the General Strike?
Miners, Mine owners, TUC, Government.
Who was the Prime minister at the time of General strike and whose party was he in?
Stanley Baldwin, the conservative party.
What did the Government use to rally in Special Constables?
The “Emergency Powers” act.
What did the Government use to organise volunteer workers to continue vital industries?
The “Organisation of the Maintenance of Supplies” (OMS).
How many Special Constables volunteered?
200’000.
How many volunteer workers were there?
100,000.
What was the Name of the Governments Newspaper?
“British Gazette”.
What was the name of the TUC newspaper?
“British Worker”.
What did Baldwin claim was the real aim for the Strike?
To overthrow the Government.
What fear did the Government exploit to combat the Strike?
The fear of Communism.
Who were the leaders of the TUC?
A.J Cook and Herbert Smith.
What was the Strike trying to achieve?
Stop miners wage cuts and improve working conditions.
What did the Government do to prevent another General Strike?
Passed the “Trade Disputes Act” in 1927.
How much money did the TUC have set aside for the strike and how much did they spend by the end?
£12 million set aside, £4 million spent.
What date did the Strike end?
12th May 1926.
When did the Miners end their strike?
November 1926.
What did the Samuel Commission suggest?
Resume negotiations and renew wage subsidys.
What did the Government offer the TUC in order to get them to call the strike off?
The promise that the Miners would be cared for. They weren’t.
What were the consequences of the Strike for the miners?
They had to accept longer working hours and less pay.
What happened to the TUC after the Strike?
Their public opinion dropped and their membership dropped to below 5 million?
How many districts did the Government divide the country in to? How many areas was the country further divided into?
11 Divisions, 88 areas.
When were the miners first told of their wage reductions?
June 1925.
How much money did the government spend on miner wage subsidy’s?
£3 Billion.
When was the Samuel Commission enacted?
March 1926.
When were the Miners locked out of the mines?
Friday 30th April, 1926.
How many workers went out on strike?
1.5 - 1.75 Million.
What two government actions help cause the General Strike?
Dawes Plan 1924 and the Gold Standard 1925.
