Why there was a General Strike in 1926

Economic Depression - decline in staple industries

• The govt. had returned to the gold standard - reduced exports - especially coal

Trade Union militancy

• Period of industrial unrest.
• 1913 - miners, railwaymen and transport workers formed the 
  Triple Alliance
• Promised to support each other if there was a strike

Fear of Communism

• Middle class feared communism
• 1924 - Daily Mail published supposed letter from a Russian communist leader
  urging British communist to start a revolution
• Letter was forged - but scared British…