Studied by 27 people
4 main reasons for the coming of the depression
Competition from abroad
Obsolete methods
New markets
Impact of Wall Street crash
Competition from abroad (5)
Foreign competitors were much larger than Britain, so could produce more goods and at a cheaper price.
The USA and Japan undercut British prices in iron and steel industries.
Japan and USA were able to make ships cheaper and quicker, meaning a decrease in shipbuilding (furthered by disarmament following the war).
India produced cheaper cotton than Lancashire
Germany made some of the reparation payments in coal meaning Britain lost European markets.
Obsolete methods (4)
Mass production in the USA had been pioneered and was copied across industries.
Britain was slow to adapt to the quicker and cheaper methods.
Britain did not move to the new industries, such as chemicals and rayon.
Rayon replaced wool and cotton as they were easier to wash.
New markets (2)
Britain followed a policy of free trade in the 1920s, which allowed foreign goods to come in for free.
However, British companies had to pay import duties to foreign governments.
Impact of Wall Street crash (5)
In the USA, share prices crashed causing a collapse of the US stock market.
Many banks collapsed as loans went unpaid and businesses had to lay off workers, leading to high unemployment.
The UK had a lot of loans from USA, which they were asked to payback.
International trade declined and exports from Britain fell by a half between 1929 and 1931.
Britain had to import more, meaning their balance of trade was affected.
Unemployment reached 2 million by 1930 and 3 million by 1932.
Life during the depression - 4 key areas
Unemployment, dole and means test
Hunger marches - Jarrow and Rhondda
Impact on women and childern
Emigration from Wales
Define ‘making ends meet’
Trying to make a small amount of money last as long as possible.
Define ‘standard of living’
The degree of wealth and material comfort available to a person.
Unemployment (1)
In 1921, National Unemployed Workers' Movement was set up to organise pressure on the government.
Dole (3)
Unemployment Insurance Act introduced in 1920, providing unemployed workers with financial support during job searches.
These payments became known as the dole.
It was suggested to cut the dole by 10% to stop people staying on it, a choice that split the Labour government.
Means test (5)
Introduced in 1931 to reduce amount of dole paid to the unemployed.
Public Assistance Committee inspectors visited, checked possessions and savings.
Average for a 5-person family was £1.46 per week, short of the £3 average wage.
It was unpopular as inspectors went through personal belongings and found it humiliating.
Some local authorities were harsh with the test, whilst other refused to carry it out.
Many people thought the government cared more about money saving than helping the unemployed.
Hunger marches - general (3)
Characterised by large lines of unemployed men marching to spread awareness of their struggle.
Generally, when marchers got to London, politicians would refuse to see them.
Politicians suspected marchers of being linked to communism.
Hunger marches - Rhondda (4)
In South Wales, made up of 16 mining communities, which had been struggling economically prior to the Depression.
Began on 14th October 1932, with 2,500 people nationwide and later joined by 375 Rhondda civilians.
They called for an end to the means test and 10% dole cut.
While on a tour of Wales in 1936, the King said something must be done about living conditions of unemployed miners and families.
Hunger marches - Jarrow (6)
Located in the northeast of England, it was the home of Palmers shipyard which had thrived during war and had employed the majority of people in Jarrow.
Unemployment in Jarrow reached 80%.
The Labour Party and Trade Union Congress did not support the hunger march.
The march began on 5th October 1936, with 200 men led by MP Ellen Wilkinson; it took 8 months.
Their petition was largely ignored, but they received widespread recognition from the public.
Marchers were praised for their discipline and returned as heroes.
Impact of depression on women (4)
Employed women tended to be the first to be let go from jobs.
Increase in number of women in domestic service.
National insurance only covered the worker, so women were not covered by doctors, treatments or medicine.
Women in community develop credit schemes to borrow money, buy food and pay rent.
Impact of depression on children (3)
Poor diet led to increased infant mortality rates.
In southeast England 1935, infant mortality was 42 deaths in 1,000 births; in Durham it was 76/1,000.
Poor children were 10x more likely to catch bronchitis.
Emigration from Wales during the depression (5)
440,000 people left Wales between 1921 and 1938, the majority from South Wales valleys.
Large numbers of Welsh and British left for USA, whilst some went to New Zealand, Australia or Canada.
Welsh working families encouraged to move to new industry areas like Coventry or Slough.
Rhondda population fell by 18% in 1930s.
Biggest impact was the reduction of Welsh language and culture.
4 areas that helped life during the depression
‘Self-Help’
Radio
Cinema
Sport
Industry during the depression - 3 key areas
Divisons in industries
Special Areas Act, 1934 + Trefforest Industrial Estate
New consumer items
Diet during the depression (6)
People bought cheaper food to make money go further, but this often led to malnutrition.
1936 survey showed 4.5million people had an inadequate diet.
5million suffered from some form of deficiency.
20% of all children were seriously undernourished.
Unemployed families ate a lot of bread, potatoes, sugar and tea, but very little fruit and vegetables.
Poor diet led to high infant mortality
‘Self-Help’ (3)
The idea that the government could not be relied upon for help, so communities banded together to help.
Clubs set up to help unemployed, often held in church halls.
More educational programmes introduced following the British Institute of Adult Education.
Radio during Depression (4)
1926, BBC set up to run national service and broadcast school programmes, news and music.
9 million registered radios across Britain 1939, providing escape.
Hire purchase scheme run to pay small amount per week until it was paid off.
75% of families owned one by 1939.
Cinema (6)
Films made with sound by 1927.
1934 Cardiff had 20 cinemas and across Wales there were 320.
In 1936, one billion ticket sold in Britain.
In 1937, 40% of population went weekly.
Film stars included Greta Garbo, Errol Flynn and Clark Gable.
1936, BBC began television broadcasting.
Special Areas Act, 1934 (6)
'Special Ares' were the most affected by Depression, including South Wales, North England and Northern Ireland.
Act passed in 1934, pledging grants of £2 million to companies willing to relocate to these areas.
30,000 unemployed men enrolled onto training courses for new skills.
Around 44,000 workers were encouraged to move to other towns.
Further act in 1936 offered rent and tax cuts for businesses.
However, only 14,900 jobs were created and its argued these were taken by skilled workers who moved to the areas.
Trefforest Industrial Estate (3)
Set up in June 1936 to offer alternative employment types.
Non-profit company where in 1939, only 2,500 workers were employed there
Employed grew to 16,000 due to government investment between 1939-1945.
Sport (3)
Most popular sports in industrialised areas were rugby, football and boxing.
Boxing was the sport of working classes.
Tommy Farr - Welsh boxer who nearly beat world champ from USA.
New consumer items in the depression (5)
By 1938, the motor car industry had efficiently applied mass production to the industry, with the number of cars sold rising to 2 million.
The production line needed electricity, which in turn replaced coal as a main fuel supply.
By 1938, 9million used electricity to power homes.
Government encouraged these industries with grants and allowing land to be made into industrial estates.
These new light industries' employed fewer people.
Division in industries during the depression (2)
Idea of ‘Old Britain’ and ‘New Britain’
Old Britain was built on coal and shipbuilding industries, whereas New Britain was motor vehicles, electrical goods and man-made fibres.
The coming of the war - 7 key areas
Treaty of Versailles
Nazi ideas
Britain and Appeasement - Arguments for and against
Hitlers actions for and against war
Czechoslovakia crisis
Outbreak of war
Preparations for war from government
Treaty of Versailles (4)
The treaty had set out harsh punishments for Germany, that many believed would deter others from starting another war.
It ruled that the German army had no more than 100,000 soldiers and very little military equipment.
Germany was also forced to pay reparations.
An area called the Rhineland was demilitarised.
Nazi ideas (2)
Nazis believed all German speaking people should unite under Nazi rule.
They wanted more living space for their people and to restore Germany's power.
Britain and appeasement - General (2)
British foreign policy between 1935 and 1939, with the intention to avoid war by negotiation and discussion.
Many believed that the League of Nations would ensure peaceful negotiations.
Arguments for appeasement (5)
Majority of public wanted to avoid war.
Strong pacifist sympathy amongst British.
Britain could not afford to rearm and raise the army.
People were more concerned for communism and the USSR.
Sympathy for Germany following the ToV.
Arguments against appeasement (3)
Some believed Hitler was a fascist dictator, that was taking advantage.
Winston Churchill criticised it.
Fears that the policy made Britain look weak.
Hitler’s actions ‘against’ war (2)
Hitler signed a non-aggression pact with Poland in 1934, supposed to last 10 years.
In 1935, Hitler signed the Anglo-German Naval Agreement to limit Germany's navy to 35% of the British navy.
Hitler’s actions for war (4)
In 1933, Germany withdrew from a disarmament conference and left League of Nations.
By 1935, Hitler had started re-armament, by increasing the army to 550,000.
In March 1936, Hitler remilitarised the Rhineland.
On 12th March 1938, battalions of the German army entered Austria.
Czechoslovakia Crisis (3)
Hitler ordered the self-determination of German speakers living in Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia.
Agreement signed with Hitler, France, Britain and Italy in Munich that Hitler could only take Sudetenland.
In March 1939, Hitler invaded rest of Czechoslovakia.
Outbreak of War (3)
The USSR feared it could not rely on Britain or France, and so signed a deal with Germany to not interfere against each other in the event of war and that Poland would be divided between them.
Britain had guaranteed Poland with defence should it be attacked, hence when German troops entered Poland on the 1st Sept, Britain issued an ultimatum.
Britain declared war on the 3rd
Preparations for war from government (5
By 1939, 20% government expenditure spent on rearmament.
Conscription introduced, with 1.5million men conscription;
1.1 million went to the British Army.
Royal Air Force was well trained, with best aircraft, but small.
Emergency Powers Act 1939 gave government power to defend the nation and maintain public order.
Ordered construction of air-raid shelters.
Preparations for war - 7 key areas
Conscription
Reserved occupations
Wardens
Barrage balloons
Anti-aircraft guns
RADAR
Shelters
Conscription (2)
Military Training Act made it compulsory for single men aged 20-22 to join armed forces.
National Services Act made it compulsory for men 18-41 to join armed forces.
Reserved occupations (4)
Britain needed to ensure supply of skilled workers to maintain war industries.
1938 Schedule of Reserved Occupations exempt certain key workers from conscription.
It listed nearly 5million, including railwaymen, dockworkers, miners and farmers.
Partly controversial as some were seen to be hiding from the fighting.
Wardens (5)
By September 1939, 1.5million joined the Air Raid Precautions, later known as Civil Defence.
One in six of these were women.
Wardens carried out first aid, registered people in their sector, enforced 'blackouts' and sounded sirens during air attacks.
They were unpaid in most areas.
They were given steel helmets and armbands in order to identify.
Barrage balloons (4)
Filled with gas lighter than air and attached to a steel cable.
Lifted and secured over London to deter German bombers from coming in too low.
It affected the accuracy of German bombers.
By 1940, there were 2,368 over major strategic sites.
Anti-aircraft guns (2)
Backed by powerful searchlights.
They could fire 120 rounds per minute.
RADAR (3)
An object-detection system that used radio waves to determine range, altitude, direction and speed of objects.
Used to detect aircraft, by a radar dish.
It did not stop German bombers but allowed RAF attacks to be more effective.
Shelters (4)
Anderson shelters were designed to protect from falling brickwork if houses were hit, which were not popular as people had to sleep outside.
Morrison shelters were given in 1941, using steel cages to fit two adults and two children under the dining table.
Underground stations, whilst not technically legal as shelter, were preferred by the public as they could socialise.
Some families moved to cellars during air raids.
Life during wartime - 5 key areas
Bombing of British cities - Swansea, Conventry, Liverpool, Belfast, Glasgow
Rationing
Evacuees and their host communities
Women in work
Women in the armed forces
Swansea bombings (7)
Swansea Council recognised itself as a target due to the docks and port.
The council prepared the city by providing anti-gas training to emergency services in 1937.
500 communal air raid shelters had been built, with a later 6,549 Anderson shelters distributed in March 1939.
On June 27th 1940, there were few casualties reported from a German Luftwaffe.
For 3 nights in Feb 1941, German aircraft dropped 1,320 high explosive bombs and 56,000 incendiaries (Three Nights Blitz).
Aim was to hit docks and industrial plants, but bombers hit city centre instead.
Between 1940 and 1943, Swansea was bombarded 44 times, accounting for 340 deaths.
Rationing (12)
Britain imported 40% of its food from abroad.
By the end of 1939, Germans had sunk 96 ships.
German U-boats sank British merchant ships, with 700,000 tons of British shipping sunk in April 1941.
Every household filled in a form to to state the number of people there, so they could each be handed a ration book and identity card.
Ministry of Food set up in 1940 to introduce rationing.
By 1942, water was rationed with a weekly bath of 13cm.
Ration books were issued and coupons exchanged for food such as sugar, eggs and butter.
Bread, vegetables and potatoes were not rationed.
By 1941, wasting food was a criminal offence.
Rationing of some food did not end until 1955.
British people were made healthier by rationing as it gave a balanced diet.
Children were given milk and orange juice, which made them fitter.
Bombing of British cities - general (4)
Hitler ordered bombing ofBritain's industry.
It also aimed to hurt British morale.
London was bombed every night from 7 Sept to 2 Nov 1940, killing 15,000 people.
The blitz lasted from September 1940 to May 1941, during which
45,000 civilians were killed.
Bombing of Coventry (2)
On 14 Nov 1940, Coventry was raided first time, with 554 people killed and 50,000 homes destroyed.
Much of the city was destroyed, including Coventry cathedral.
Bombing of Liverpool (2)
Bombed for 8 nights in May 1941, causing 2,000 deaths.
The docks were devastated.
Bombing of Belfast (3)
Devastated by 4 German bombing raid in April and May 1941.
Over 1,000 people were killed and 150,000 made homeless.
This event showed that not many had followed evacuation advice.
Bombing of Glasgow (2)
Clyde shipyards were hit hard in spring 1941.
528 people were killed and 35,000 made homeless.
Evacuees and host communities (7)
Known as Operation Pied Piper, it was encouraged to evacuate.
During the war, 110,000 children were evacuated to Wales.
In the first wave, 1.5million people moved around the country for safety.
Rhondda valley held 35,000 London evacuees.
Many city evacuees were not used to country living with some preferring the clean life compared to the city slums.
Issues with linguistics, with English children living in Welsh-speaking areas.
Many teachers went with schoolchildren to carry on teaching them.
Women in work (7)
In April 1941, all women were forced to register for work as the Ministry of Labour needed more workers.
They worked in factories, hospitals and on farms.
Bridgend munitions factory employed 7,000 women, 65% of the workforce.
Many women signed up to the Women's Land Army, 80,000 by 1944, increasing food production.
By 1943, women occupied 57% of the jobs.
By the end of the war, 6million women were in civilian war work.
Women were paid about 75% of a man's wage.
Women in the Armed Forces (5)
They joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service and
Women's Auxiliary Air Force.
In Dec 1941, conscription for war work was introduced for women aged 19-30.
Women's Voluntary Service had 1million members by 1943, although many were old.
Around 130,000 women volunteered for the Post Office, 280,000 in Civil Defence, and 47,000 in the fire service.
By the end of the war, 450,000 women were in the military.
Keeping up morale - 7 key areas
Radio during war
Cinema during war
Propaganda and censorship
Dig for Victory
Vegetable campaigns
Spitfire fund
Winston Churchill
Radio during war (6)
Told to concentrate on heroism stories and community spirit.
BBC broadcast patriotic shows across Britain and occupied countries.
Most popular show was Tommy Handley's
It's That Man Again.
Programmes broadcasted recipes using waste produce and non-rationed items.
9million license holders, meaning that broadcasted messages were held across the country.
Comedy programmes poked fun at Germany and Hitler.
Cinema during war (3)
Most popular films included The Day Will Dawn, Tomorrow We Live, and One Of Our Aircraft Is Missing.
In 1938, 980 million cinema tickets were sold.
By 1945, cinema tickets reached 1,500million.
Propaganda and Censorship (5)
Propaganda aimed to encourage support for the war, appeal to patriotism and educate the public.
Every form of media faced censorship, along with overseas mail, soldiers' letters, telephone calls and news items.
Ministry of Information managed rules on censorship and propaganda.
Ensured newspapers could not publish damaged houses of mutilated corpses.
Only one newspaper was banned, the Communist Daily Worker, banned in 1941.
Spitfire fund (5)
Launched by Lord Beaverbrook in 1940, the Minister of Aircraft Production.
Its estimated that the fund paid for 1,600 of the 30,000 spitfires.
Belfast Telegraph published headlines such as A
Spitfire A Day Keeps The Nazis Away.
If an individual raised 35,000, they could have a spitfire plane named after them.
The Gold Coast in Australia raised £25,000 to pay for 5 spitfires.
Winston Churchill in keeping up morale (7)
Appointed PM on 10th May 1940.
Raised morale by broadcasting radio speeches and touring damaged areas.
He had been put in charge of the Royal Navy during WWI and later served as Minister of Munitions.
As Chancellor in 1924, he dealt with the economic crisis where he reduced wages.
He was an outspoken critic of appeasement.
Churchill's Drive For Victory began in Oct 1942.
Churchill formed close relations with USA to ensure support during war.
Life after war - 4 key areas
Economy after 1945
Demobilisation
War damage
Reasons for Labour Victory
Economy after 1945 (5)
Britain's national debt was £3,500million.
It had lost 30% of its total wealth.
USA ended its lend lease agreement, where money and goods were supplied by USA to allies during WWII.
Rationing remained in place as Britain could not afford to buy food from abroad.
Income tax was raised to 50% to help the government pay for reconstruction.
Demobilisation (4)
A demobilisation plan was designed in September 1944, to release service men and women in an organised way.
People were released from the armed forces based on their age and if they had any vital skills.
Married women and men aged 50+ were released ahead of others.
The plan was put in place on 18th June 1945 and it took 18months for 4.3 million to be demobbed.
War damage (3)
60,595 civilians had died and there were 264,433 military deaths.
Along with this, there were long-lasting psychological impacts on civilians and service men.
A third of Britain's housing had been destroyed, along with half its factories and shops and two-thirds of its merchant ships.
Reasons for Labour Victory (10)
The 1945 general election was the first to be held since 1935 and Labour had not held office since 1931.
Labour and Conservatives presented very similar manifestos, but Labour provided methods to their policies.
Public interest in politics had increased.
Voting lasted for 2 weeks, allowing overseas soldiers to vote.
The result was a Labour landslide, with 61% of the seats.
Labour popularity had been rising prior to the war.
Trade unions also supported Labour.
Socialism was no longer seen as a threat as it had been in the 1920s.
Many people saw Churchill as a war leader, not a peacetime leader.
Many people blamed Conservatives for the 1930s depression.
Rebuilding after 1945 - 6 key areas
The Beverige Report - Want, Ignorance, Disease, Squalor, Idleness
NHS introduction and cost of NHS
Home for All
Education Act 1944
Nationalisation
Reactions
The Beveridge Report (6)
In 1941, the government set up a Royal Commission under Sir William Beveridge.
In 1942, he published their report and sold 635,000 copies.
9 out of 20 people wanted the proposals to be put in place.
If the proposals were to be put in place, it would be known as the Welfare State.
The Labour Party included his recommendations in their 1945 manifesto.
Beveridge identified '5 giants' to be dealt with: want (adequate income), disease (health care), ignorance (educational opportunity), squalor (housing) and idleness (employment).
Beveridge Report - Want (3)
1945 Family Allowances Act gave shillings per week per child.
1946 National Insurance Act organised unemployment, sickness and maternity benefits and gave Old Age Pensions to men over 65 and women over 60.
1948 National Assistance Act set up National Assistance Board for homeless, disabled and chronically ill.
Beveridge Report - Ignorance (1)
1944 Education Act created Local Education Authorities.
Beveridge Report - Disease (1)
1946 National Health Service Act provided comprehensive free advice, treatment and care.
Beveridge Report - Squalor (2)
1946 Housing Production Executive built 1million houses between 1945 and 1951.
1946 New Towns Act made 17 new towns in England and 5 in Wales.
Beveridge Report - Idleness (2)
Nationalisation of several industries showed that Labour wanted to manage employment.
Building schemes ensured high employment.
NHS introduction (4)
Leading figure in the development of the NHS.
The British Medical Association (doctor's professional body) opposed the introduction of the NHS as they thought they would lose money.
In January 1948, doctors voted against joining the NHS.
Bevan allowed consultants to work inside the health service alongside their private patients, following which the BMA recommended
Cost of NHS (4)
By July 1948, three quarters of the population had signed up to the new health scheme which caused funding issues.
In the first year, it cost £248 million to run the NHS, £140 million more than expected.
The Ministry of Health thought 140million free prescriptions would be dispensed annually, which increased each year, reaching 229million on 1951.
In 1951, the government introduced a change for some dental works.
Home for All (3)
Government built prefabricated bungalows, designed to last 10 years.
The aim was to build 500,000 but between 1945 and 1951, 156,623 were built.
Council House provision was shaped by New Towns Act 1946 and Town and Country Plannings Act 1947.
Nationalisation (6)
Some industries had not recovered from the 1930s
Depression, and the government had taken control of industrial production in the war.
Nationalisation meant the government would own industries.
Labour promised to compensate owners of industries and protect existing employees.
Nationalisation was justified on the grounds of industrial efficiency, creating jobs to maintain employment, and lower prices.
Coal industry was nationalised after the Coal Industry Act of 1946.
Electricity, gas, railways and road haulage were also nationalised.
Reactions
Labour lost the 1951 election, however the Conservatives left most changes in place until the 1970s.
The welfare state lowered unemployment, however some worried about the growing cost and thought people were becoming dependent on the state.
The NHS was highly regarded by the people but again was costly.
The Education Act made education fairer and available for all.
Some believed that the education divisions reinforced social classes and provided limited opportunities to lower groups.
Housing was slowly replaced with more modern options.
Those who could not afford new houses, could now rent them from local councils.
Nationalisation encouraged the spread of electricity around the country.
Coal production increased.
By 1951, one in ten were employed by newly nationalised industries, with the state owning 20% of the economy.
Some argued that nationalisation saved failing industries at the taxpayers' expense.
Note
Flashcard