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Interwar Crisis
1929-1939 - Coggle Diagram
Social
Social and regional division:
- south and midlands faster industrial
recovery and rising living standards
- north and wales ongoing high unemployment,
poverty, declining communities
- class divisions remained pronounced;
WC communities in industrial heartlands suffered.
- MC benefitted from improved housing, jobs and
consumer goods
- migration patterns saw movement from depressed
areas to southern urban centres but limited by
skills and opportunities
Literary response:
- literature reflected social tensions, inequality
and political awareness
- prominent authors included; George Orwell The Road
to Wigan Pier.
- themes of unemployment, industrial decline, regional
poverty and disillusionment with traditional politics
National government social policies:
- unemployment assistance helped needy,
but often means-tested and limited.
- public works program, infrastructure provided
some unemployment temporary relief
- housing continued low-cost housing schemes
- social welfare limitations, policies were conservative
and cautious prioritising budgetary stability
over extensive support
Radio and Cinema:
- BBC expanded nationally providing news,
entertainment, education
- shaped national culture, giving all social classes
access to shared experiences
- cinema became major leisure activity, escapism
- films focused on modernity, humour, glamour,
reflecting urban aspirations
Responses to international crisis:
- economic instability and rising unemployment
made Britain more aware of global tensions;
including Great Depression and political unrest
in Europe
- British media and literature reflected concern and
debate about govt role internationally
- cultural production encouraged patriotism
Political
National government:
policies:
- public spending cuts to unemployment
benefits
- protective tariffs under Import Duties Act
1932
- Economic stabilisation focused on maintaining
the gold standard's credibility, before
abandoning it in 1931
Leadership roles:
- Macdonald
leader of labour until 1931 when he became head
of the national government
seen by many labour supporters are a traitor
prioritised national economic stability over party
loyalty
- Baldwin
conservative leader and later PM during national
government
promoted moderation, stability, consensus politics
oversaw economic and social policies aiming to
reduce industrial unrest
- Neville Chamberlain
held ministerial positions in the national govt
focused on housing and social policy
advocated for balanced budgets and cautious
economic planning
Response to economic problems:
- faced early stages of depression
- global economic downturn reduced
demand for british goods
- unemployment reached 2m by 1930
Options considered:
- cut public spending
- increase taxes
- devalue the pound
-
Economic
Depression and Financial crisis:
- WSC triggered economic worldwide downturn
key problems facing Britain:
- falling exports
- rising unemployment 2.5m 1932
- budget deficit
- financial crisis
loss of confidence in the pound
Changes to economic policy:
- abandoning of the Gold standard 1931
consequences were currency devalued which
made exports cheaper
helped stimulate some recovery in manufactoring
- protectionism
Import Duties Tariff Act 1932 aimed to protect
British industry and stimulate domestic production
- government spending
cuts to unemployment benefits reduced budget deficit
public works and housing programmes gradually
increased to support unemployment
Industry:
- traditional industries:
- eg. coal, steel, textiles
- suffered from overproduction, foreign competition
and obsolete technology
- new industries
- electrical engineering, automobiles, chemicals
- growth was concentrated in southern and
midland areas creating great regional disparities
- industrial policy
- national govt encouraged modernisation and
rationalisation
- supported included loans, subsidies, reorganisation
- limited success in reviving staple industries
Trade and Agriculture:
- global protectionism reduced oversea markets
- tariffs helped domestic industry but did not
fully solve export problems
- british farmers faced low prices and declining
incomes
- agricultural depression lasted through 1930s
- mechanisation and modern farming methods
expensive and slow to spread
Impact and recovery:
positive developments
- leaving gold standard helped exports recover
- tariffs encouraged some domestic production
- new industries began to provide employment
limitation developments
- recovery uneven between south and midlands
with the north and wales
- traditional industrial areas remained economically
depressed
- unemployment remained a major social and political
issue
challenges
rise of
extremism:
Communist Party of Great Britain
- inspired by Russian revolution in 1917
- advocated WC revolution and opposition
to capitalism
- membership was small but active in TUs
BUF - British Union Fascists
- led by Oswald Mosely
- fascism modeled on Mussolini's Italy
- strong nationalists and anti-communist
- authoritarian leadership
- membership peaked around 50,000 in mid
1930s
- support base included some unemployed WC
and middle-class nationalists
The Abdication Crisis:
- King Edward VIII wanted to marry
Wallace Simpson
- desire to marry created a constitutional
crisis as he was head of the CofE
- Macdonald had resigned by 1935 so
Baldwin was now PM of national government
- Edward VIII abdicated december 1936
- his brother George VI became king
Threat of extremism in the 1930s:
- public opposition grew after violent outbursts
eg. Battle of Cable Street 1936
- government passed laws to limit political
violence and extremist propaganda eg. Public
Order Act 1936
- support never became widespread nationally
- CPGB was involved in Trade Union activism
- viewed as a threat by govt and Middle classes
- never threatened stability of parliamentary
democracy