The Jarrow Crusade

Question 1

Where is Jarrow?

Answer 1

In Tyneside and was part of the Special Area of the north-east.

Question 2

What did being part of the Special Area of the north-east mean?

Answer 2

Money was given to Jarrow as part of the Special Areas Act of 1934. However, this money was too little.

Question 3

Where did all the workers in Jarrow work?

Answer 3

At Palmer’s Shipyard.

Question 4

Why were all the workers in Jarrow left unemployed?

Answer 4

Because they all worked at Palmer’s Shipyard. In 1934, the NSS closed Palmer’s, meaning that the majority of workers living in Jarrow were left unemployed.

Question 5

What was the Jarrow Mach?

Answer 5

A march organised by people in Jarrow asking for work in Jarrow. They organised this after the National Unemployed Workers’ Movement organised a National Hunger March to Jarrow.

Question 6

Why did the people of Jarrow decide to march separately to the NUWM?

Answer 6

They thought the government would be more likely to help if they didn’t march with them. Many of the members of the NUWM were communist and their marches were seen as political. The Jarrow Crusade was not political.

Question 7

Why was there opposition to the march from the NUWM?

Answer 7

They wanted the unemployed to act together.

Question 8

Why was there opposition to the march from the Labour Party?

Answer 8

They supported the NUWM.

Question 9

How far did the marchers march?

Answer 9

291 miles in 22 stages.

Question 10

What were the 6 public reactions to the Jarrow March?

Answer 10

1. Public reaction varied.
2. In some towns, the local cinemas let them in free.
3. In Barnsley they used the public baths for free.
4. Sometimes local church or council groups ace them tea and food at their stops.
5. Sometimes they slept in halls, schools or churches.
6. Other times they had to sleep in the workhouse.

Question 11

What were the 4 government responses to the Jarrow Crusade?

Answer 11

1. Stanley Baldwin refused to see Ellen Wilkinson and accept the petition.
2. While the march was in progress, the cabinet had issued a statement disapproving of all marches.
3. The government made sure the marchers’ benefit payments stopped while they were on the march because they were ‘not available for work’.
4. Parliament accepted the petition but didn’t debate it.

Question 12

When did the Jarrow Crusade reach London?

Answer 12

October 31st.

Question 13

What were the 2 positive effects of the Jarrow Crusade?

Answer 13

1. Several marchers were offered work, but it meant leaving Jarrow. However, all but one marcher refused.
2. After the march, Sir John Jarvis MP said he would set up a steel works in Jarrow. This opened in December 1937 but only employed 200 men. However, it gave the government an excuse to ignore Jarrow.

Question 14

What was importance of the Jarrow Crusade?

Answer 14

1. Although many of the marchers felt that the march failed because it didn’t achieve its aim, unemployment did fall in Jarrow as WW2 approached and the country rearmed.
2. The Crusade became a legend and the spirit of the marchers inspired any more modern protests.