History - Depression, War and Recovery (DWR) 1930-51

Give three reasons for Britains Post WWI industrial decline.

Competition from abroad, obsolete methods and the failure to find new markets.

What was the impact of the Wall Street Crash?

Banks collasped, businesses went bust, the USA called in loans.

Which industries were affected in the UK?

Coal, Textiles, Iron/Steel, and Shipbuilding

In the UK unemployment in 1932 was?

3 Million

What was the dole?

The name given to unemployment relief

What was the Means Test?

An inspection before recieving The Dole

Why was the Means Test hated?

It was a great strain on family life. People felt the government cared more about saving money than helping them.

Why was the Means Test hated?

People hated an inspector coming into their homes and making relatives leave

Why was the Means Test hated?

Officials could stop the dole. Some councils were very harsh.

What were the hunger marches?

Protests against the government and Means Test.

What nickname was given to Jarrow?

The town that died

Why were the government suspicious of the marches?

Links to the communist party

What was the outcome of the Jarrow Crusade?

The marchers gained public support but it did not stir the government into action.

What was the name of the famous Welsh hunger march?

The Rhondda march

What does 'Making ends meet' mean?

To make a small amount go as far as possible

How did diets change during the depression?

Buying cheaper food led to malnutrition

Why did women suffer during the depression?

Women often sacrificed themselves and put their families wellbeing first. National insurance usually only covered the worker, which was usually the man. Usually the first to be laid off

How did children suffer during the depression

High infant death rates and high rates of disease.

How did communities use-self help during the depression?

Many women borrowed food, clothes and money from each other. Neighbours supported each other. Communities were harsh on those who broke the rules.

Between 1921-38 how many people emigrated from Wales looking for work?

Just under 1/2 Million

Where did Welsh people migrate to during the depression?

Wealthy areas of the UK like the Midlands and South East. Also wealthy countries like Canada and the US.

How did the government help migration during the depression?

They created schemes and encouraged people to move to wealthier areas.

How did cinema and radio help during the depression?

Helped people escape the harsh reality of life. Medical support and advice was played over the radio.

What was the Special Areas Act?

A government policy to give companies money to more to poor areas

Why was the Special Areas Act unsuccessful?

Companies were reluctant to move to the poorer areas of the UK

Why did the Midlands and the south-east have a different experience of the depression?

New jobs, housing and infrastructure greatly helped the area

Why was Hitler seen as a threat?

He wanted to unite all German speaking people, gain living space, and restore Germany's power.

Why did people think Hitler wanted peace?

He signed a non-aggression pact with Poland, and a navy agreement with Britain.

Why did people think Hitler wanted war?

He withdraw from the disarmament conference and started to rearm Germany

Why did Britain follow the policy of Appeasement?

The horrors of WWI and the Depression were still fresh in public minds.

Why did people dislike Appeasement?

It made Britain look like a weak world leader.

What was the Czechoslovkia Crisis?

Hitler demanded the Sudetenland, where 3.5 million Germans lived, be given independence.

What was agreed at Munich?

The Sudetenland was to be made a part of Germany, but the rest of Czechoslovakia was safe.

What was the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

An agreement not to interfere with the other during war, and to divide Poland between them.

How did the Munich agreement allow Britain to prepare for war?

It gave time to build armaments and educate the people.

What were air raid wardens?

Their role was to support their community and prepare for bombings. 1.5 million were recruited. 1 in 6 were women.

Where did people shelter from air raids?

Anderson, Morrison shelters were used, and the subways in cities.

How did radar, barrage balloons, and anti aircraft guns help defend Britain?

Radar allowed Britain to see German planes, balloons help stop bombs reaching cities, and anti aircraft guns shot down planes.

What was conscription?

Compulsory enlistment to the armed forces.

What was meant by 'reserved occupations'?

These were jobs where people had exemption from conscription. Ususally highly skilled jobs.

What was the Blitz?

The bombing of British cities between 1939-40

What was the The Nights Blizts?

The heavy bombing of industrial Swansea in 1940.

How did the evacuation work?

Millions of children and vulnerable people were evacuation from the cities to the countryside.

Why was rationing needed?

Rationing was needed as Britain relied heavily on imported food.

How did women contribute to the war effort?

Hundreds of thousands of women joined the different armed forces groups.

How did women contribute to the war effort?

By 1939 57% of factory jobs were held by women.

How did women contribute to the war effort?

By joining the 'Land Girls' and helping feed Britain.

How did cinema and radio help during the war?

Millions had radios and went to the cinema. It was a way to learn about the war.

How did propaganda and censorhip help during the war?

Censorship was to ensure information was not given away, or morale lowered. Propaganda was designed to help boost the morale of the public during the war. Propaganda was designed to help boost the morale of the public during the war. Censorship was to ensure information was not given away, or morale lowered.

What was the Dig for Victory campaign?

A propaganda campaign to encourage Britain's to plant food and eat efficiently. Many used their own gardens to grow food.

What was the Spitfire Fund?

A government scheme to fundraise for the Spiffire plane.

Why was Churchill an important leader?

He had been correct about Hitler and Appeasement. He helped lift morale with powerful speeches. He ran an effective coalition government during the war.

Why was Britain in a difficult economic position at the end of WWII?

Huge debts, lost 30% of the country's wealth, factories destroys, ships sunk, thousands dead and high taxes.

How did demobilisation work?

People were released from the army based on their age. Married women and skill workers were allowed to leave earlier.

What was the extent of war damage to Britain?

By 1945 the Blitz and V1 & V2 rockets had destroyed many industrial areas and millions of homes damaged or destroyed.

Why did Labour win the 1945 election?

Growing popularity, trade unions supported labour, many blamed the Conservative government for the 1930s.

Why did Labour win the 1945 election?

People did not see Churchill as a peacetime leader. People wanted a health service and an improved life after the war.

What were the Five Giants?

Want, Squalor, Idleness, Ignorance, and disease.

How did the NHS help Britain?

Helped tackle the giant of Disease. People were looked after from the cradle to the grave. It was a free service.

How did education change after 1944?

The Education Act of 1944 created three school systems; technical schools, secondary modern, and grammar schools. The school leaving age was raised to 15.

What was the 'Homes for All' policy?

To rebuild after the war. 1.2 million homes were built between 1945-51. 156,000 were prefab houses. New towns and council estates were also built.

What was Nationalised?

The Coal Industry, Electricity Industry, Railways, and Road Haulage.

How did people react to the NHS?

The NHS was highly regarded by the population. Some saw it as unrealistic and expensive.

How did people react to the education changes?

Many saw it as an improvement and a fair system. Some felt it limited social movement.

How did people react to the Homes for All policy?

The new homes were more modern, but building was slow. Those who could not afford a home could now rent one from the council.

How did people react to Nationalisation?

In 1951 1 in 10 were employed in a nationalised industry. Critics felt it just saved inefficient industries and cost too much.

Why did labour lose the 1951 election?

People felt labour had not lived up to all their promises. Some features like the NHS were loved. But high taxes and continued rationing were not.

What were the V1 & V2 bombs.

Hitler's revenge weapon. The first modern missles.

How did people react to the welfare state?

Unemployment was lower then in 1946, the Education Act and NHS were well regarded. But people were worried about growing costs.

How to deal with WANT

An adequate income for all

How to deal with IDLENESS

The need for gainful employment

How to deal with DISEASE

Access to free healthcare

How to deal with Squalor

The need for improved housing

How to deal with IGNORANCE

Better access to education