c4 mr graham

Impact of boom, crisis and recovery 1918-39: 

Government wanted a consumer boom to help the economy after World War I, as they assumed that due to the shortages and rationing during the war people might spend more after the war

Boom was short and failed to help problems such as unemployment, all of this caused an economic decline in living standards which was repeated from the Great Depression. 

Not everyone experienced the same level of hard time economic levels as some were really bad and some weren’t e.g. deprived areas vs urban areas.

Boom-1918-20:

Lloyd promised a “land due for hero’s to live in” 

During peacetime prices continued to rise and government did less to regulate this 

Demobbed soldiers returned to work meaning living standards would rise as families would spent more 

Economic crisis 1920&30’s: 

The boom was short as it ended in 1920 and after this unemployment started to rise to 1million, new industries were emerging and unemployment was not as severe in these areas

By 1930, 70% those in ship building industries were unemployed 

However, women started to gain jobs aswell such as teachers or nurses which they were attacked for as people believed women were the reason why men were unemployed 

Regional differences: 

Decline if heavy industries for example ship building, coal, iron and cotton had impacted living standards in the areas they were being made as some were doing better but some slumped 

The gap between the poor and rich had widened 

During the depression Britain faced unemployment at the level of up to 40% 

Hunger: 

·      Mainly in deprived areas 

·      1933 survey showed that unemployment benefits were insufficient due provide a diet which was recommended by the ministry of health 

·      Deprived areas ate vegetables as they couldn’t afford meat 

·      On average more working class women went hungry compared to working class men as there was insufficient food for the whole family so mothers had to endure their children age first and men were the breadwinners so they were the main people, this all meant that women’s health was worse the most 

·      Most meals involved bread, margarine and tea 

·      The working-class families were able to get a tick from the local greengrocers to borrow money 

·      After 1933 the light industries such as production of household appliance grew and experienced a consumer boom 

·      Improvements in living standards: 

·      Recovery of the depression happened quickly but some areas were still depressed 

The consumer boom: 

Household appliances for example labour saving devices- washing machines, vacuum appliances and cookers, these were often brought with credit mainly by middle class pupils but others were able to access it aswell as electricity was improving. 

Popular culture and entertainment:

⁃                End of World War I there was already a widespread of mass popular culture in Britain e.g. cinema and sports such as football were popular with the working class,…