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Unit 1.4 (1.4.2 (Impacts of WW2 on living standards (Makes society more…
Unit 1.4
1.4.2
Impacts of WW2 on living standards
Makes society more 'equal' - Introduced rationing which applied to everyone. Full employment was basically achieved.
Housing - Majority of houses were destroyed through German bombing creating government obligation to create new housing.There was an increase in the number of flats and council estates made after the war. Overall this improved quality of housing.
Rationing and austerity - The ministry of food was set up so that Britain never actually ran out of food so not only did this promote healthy eating over the radio it also generated jobs.
Impact of the great depression on living standard
Impact of the medical advances on living standard
Impact of the growth of a consumer culture on living standard
1.4.1
Key words:
Nominal wages - This refers to how much someone actually gets paid.
Real wages - This reflects purchasing power so how much someone can buy.
Factors
Incomes and purchasing power
Improved
Real wages increased by 18% 1925-35
Rise in purchasing power
Fall in prices
Decreased number in family size meant an increase in purchasing power for families. 1920s the average family size was 2.6 compared to 4.6 in 1880s.
Introduction of the Unemployment Act 1934 meaning that the long term unemployed got benefits
Did not improve
Fall in nominal wages
Unemployment rate in 1933 was at 23%.
70% of shipbuilders were unemployed by 1932
Unemployment was mainly concentrated in the north of England where traditional industries were in decline.
To claim benefits people had to pass a means test
Benefits were cut by 10% in 1931 due to the National Economy Act
Diets and physical well being
Did not improve
Working class diets were still inferior to that of the upper and middle class.
Called the 'hungry thirties' for a reason
Many women suffered severe malnourishment because they would rather feed there husbands and children.
Although there was progress made in the healthcare sector very few working class people could actually afford it still it was only if they were covered under the National Insurance Scheme, friendly societies or with a charity that they would receive any form of healthcare. Alongside this there were very few state run hospitals.
Many relied on going to a workhouse to get free healthcare.
Improved
Fall in alcohol consumption due to the Defense of the Realm Act 1914 resulting in the watering down of beer and the closing pubs early. This continued after WW1.
Rationing during and after WW2 lead to an improvement in many Britons diets. More nourishing diets.
Improved healthcare. For example 21% fall in cases of tuberculosis (1922-1932). This was due to the Tuberculosis Act 1921 which forced local authorities to establish sanatoriums.
Housing and living conditions
Did not improve
Large amount of working class still lived in slums as it was mainly the middle class that were new to affording their own accommodation.
Britain did not have the funding to tackle slum clearances due to the Geddes Axe in the 1920s.
Improved
3 Million homes were built as a part of the 1923 Housing Act before 1940 as a part of 'metro land'. This was along the outskirts of cities allowing people to have less cramped accommodation that the inner cities and give them the accessibility to work in cities without the same living costs.
Home ownership increased by 22% over the period 1914-1938
Slum clearances were attempted during the 30s under the Housing Act 1930. By 1939 245,000 people had been rehoused under these schemes.
By 1926 9 million people had access to electricity
The number of vacuum cleaners and domestic products in homes doubled in the period 1930-38
1.4.3
1.4.4
1.4.5
1.4.6
1.4.7
1.4.8
1.4.9