The National Government 1931-45

Question 1

Policies 1931-39

Answer 1

Combating economic depression - implemented severe spending cuts and tariffs, hoped to protect domestic industry.
Policies generally conservative and limited in scope.

Question 2

Tariffs

Answer 2

Import Duties Act 1932 - 10% tariff on most imports.
Attempts for Imperial Preference only had limited success.

Question 3

Interest rates

Answer 3

Bank rate reduced - 6% to 2%.
Reduced interest rates on borrowing - stimulated recovery.

Question 4

Unemployment

Answer 4

1934 Unemployment Act - introduced a ‘means test’ for insurance.
Most workers covered by 1920 Unemployment act.
Benefits only lasted 15 weeks per year.

Question 5

Special Areas Act

Answer 5

1934 introduced grants to try and stimulate industrial growth in depressed areas.

Question 6

Public order

Answer 6

Threats from extremism - Public Order Act 1936 banned inflammatory political meetings or wearing military style uniform.

Question 7

Rearmament

Answer 7

Increasing international tensions - rearmament late 1930s.
Helped to ease economic difficulties in the 1930s.
Some success - unemployment fell as a result of conscription.

Question 8

Extreme measures

Answer 8

Many political extremists favoured more radical measures.
1932 British Union of Fascists (BUF) set up - Sir Oswald Mosley, 50,000 members at its height.

Question 9

Wartime government

Answer 9

Neville Chamberlain - unsuccessful as a war leader.
Replaced by Winston Churchill after failure to defeat in Norway.

Question 10

Total war

Answer 10

Conscription, centralised economy, censorship, rationing.
People generally accepted - seen as necessary for victory.