Britain During the Depression
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- Created by: Phoebe
- Created on: 02-06-13 13:33
Why did traditional industries decline?
- First World War
- Lack of investment on modernising machinery meant Welsh coal was expensive, Many countries turnd to Poland anad USA
- USA and Poland had modernised their iron and steel industries and produce was cheaper so cou ntries turned to them
- Industrial disputes- General Strike 1926
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What was the impact of the 1929 crisis?
- Slump in world trade
- US industries closed down and millions became unemployed
- Worst hit areas of depression were Wales, Northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland- traditional industries
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Was the depression caused by USA?
Yes
- Countries turned to USA for cheaper coal
- produce was cheaper
- modernised industries
- collapse of US stock market
- Wall Street Crash 1929
- Called in loans
- British businesses couldn't sell in US anymore
No
lack of investment in modernising industries- expensive produce
- general strike 1926
- debt from ww1
- lost oversea markets
- traditional industries in decline
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What was mass unemployment?
- Many Welsh coal and steelworks shut down-Abertillery and Dowlais
- South Wales was one of the hardest hit named a "depressed area"
- Rhondda Valleys named a "black spot"
- 1936 King Edward VII visited and said "something must be done"
- Skilled miners and steelworkers were reduced to claiming unemplyment benefit
- Conservative government trying to reduce spending and found it hard to help the worst affected areas
- Unemployed Assistance Board managed "the dole" from 1934
- means test managed how much benefits the family got
- Benefits only lasted 6 months and payments were low
- increase in diseases like TB and scarlet fever
- Increase in infant mortality
- pepople became depressed, apathetic and suicidal
- Communities grew vegetables on allotments
- Miners went on coal tips for small coal
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Contrast to mass unemployment
- greater variety of work in coastal areas and Cardiff
- Uplands in Swansea and Roath in Cardiff prospered
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Why did the government introduce the means test?
- reduce public spending
- unemployment was high, so government were getting less taxes which means less money and couldn't afford to help everyone so helped the worst off only
- look after the rich due to conservative government
- encourage people to get jobs
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Why did many people hate the means test?
- humiliating and degrading
- benefits lasted 6 months
- malnourished
- poor clothing
- no shoes
- increase in diseases - TB
- people come look at your home
- not much money
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Impact on women
- In most deprived areas women suffered the most
- mothers go without food to feed their families or have smallest portions
- make ends meet
- meals with cheap ingredients- rabbit instead of pork
- neglected own health and well-being
- deaths in childbirth and women illnesses generally were higher in Wales
- women repaired and patched clothing
- pawned valuables
- cut families hair
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How did people protest
- National Unemplyed Workers Movement organised protests against mass unemployment
- "hunger marches" where people marched for jobs
- The Jarrow Crusade- from Tyneside to London 196
- local protests against the dole and the mean test
- When government threatened to cut benefits February 1935 large-scale marches held in Rhondda, Aberdare and Pontypool
- UAB in Merthyr attacked and ransacked by women
- SOuth Wakles Miner Federation organised stay down strikes in protest against low wages and poor conditions
- Communists gained support in South Wales as they protested and rioted. Several were arrested
- Some protests generated public sympathy
- government didnt change their policies
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How successful were protests in 1930's
Success
- publicity
- gained support in South Wales
- UAB attacked by large group of women
- generated smpathy- people in rich areas realised the situation
- help raise self esteem
Failure
some were arrested- threatened to cut benefits
- didnt change policies
- jarrow crusade- lost benefits
- the fed changed nothing
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How successful were protests in 1930's
Success
- publicity
- gained support in South Wales
- UAB attacked by large group of women
- generated smpathy- people in rich areas realised the situation
- help raise self esteem
Failure
some were arrested- threatened to cut benefits
- didnt change policies
- jarrow crusade- lost benefits
- the fed changed nothing
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What was the nature of popular culture and enterta
- helped people cope with hardships
- fewer people spent money supporting professional football
- ameateur sport e.g. rugby union did better - most welsh town had own rugby team
- Glamorgan cricket team had a number of succesful seasons
- Tommy Farr's unsuccesful fight for world heavyweight became successful
- 1930's radios came of age
- BBC Welsh Region 1937 gave radio a boost
- 1936 first tv programmes broadcasted from London-50,000 viewers by 1939
- most popular form of entertainment was cinema because of talkies
- tickets affordable for luxurty cinemas
- Proud Valley had Welsh background 1939
- Children collect pop bottles in return for cinema tickets
- Minets institutes built before ww1- snooker tabes, libraries and dance halls
- Communities organised carnivals and eisteddfods
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Why was popular entertainment important
- cope with hardships
- more jobs
- amateur sport
- more money
- jazz bands
- role models
- communitites together
- boosted morale
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What was the importance of new industry?
- some areas industrial expansion took place- Midlands, South-east England and Slough
- new housing and good transport links in these areas
- Mass production from usa ford motor company used for cars, aircraft and electrical goods
- new technology led to production of Rayon and bakelite
- flourishing businesses- cadbury's in birmingham
- new "light" industries produced by electricty
- 1933 national grid, supplying electrical power to all regions
- some peoples living standards improved
- The Special Areas Act 1934 appointed commissioner to oversee four distressed areas- south east Wales
- £1 million provided to encourage employers to set up new factories- Treforest trading estate
- Some employers reluctant to move to Treforest
- New Steelworks Ebbw Vale 1938
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Did new industry help solve problems of the depres
yes
- new housing estates
- transport links
- mass production
- steelworks
- new technology
- electricity
- living standards improved for some people
- products more affordable
- Special Areas Act 1934- £1 million to encourage new industry
No
Special Areas Act, employers were reluctant to move- only solved problems in certain areastraditional industries provided jobs- steelworks Ebbw Vale 1938
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Importance of population movement
- thousands emigrated from Wales to USA, Australia and New Zealand
- 1929 emigration abroad ceased and unemployed workers from Wales were moving to more prosperous areas of England
- Some too advantage of Government scheme to help them find a job in England
- Sometimes not welcomed by communities
- willing to work for lowest pays
- 430,000 people left Wales
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Why did some people move from Wales to England
- more jobs- London/Birmingham
- better living standards
- government scheme
- Wales was a depressed area with few jobs
- emmigration abroad ceased
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Did Welsh people find a better life in England
Yes
people moved from distressed areas with no jobs- find jobs in New Industries in England- Birmingham
- Government helped to find jobs so easy
No
- Welsh unwelcomed by new communities sometimes
- blamed for taking jobs as they would work for lowest pay
- old people didn't wamt to move
- some people couldn't find jobs
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How did Wales recover from depression
- Special Areas Act 1934- £1 million for new industry
- New industries set up in North Wales and Ebbw Vale
- Government had job creation schemesrepairing Roman wall in Caerwent
- New armament factories built in Bridgend
- advent of ww2 bpught to end of depression
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Why did some people move from Wales to England
- more jobs- London/Birmingham
- better living standards
- government scheme
- Wales was a depressed area with few jobs
- emmigration abroad ceased
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Why did some people move from Wales to England
- more jobs- London/Birmingham
- better living standards
- government scheme
- Wales was a depressed area with few jobs
- emmigration abroad ceased
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