1930's Decade Overview

1930's Decade Overview

1. Interwar unemployment

   • Causes
     • increased trend in unemployment - aftermath of WW1
     • economic position was being eroded
       • particularly in staple industries
     • British exports dropped after the war
     • many other countries were persuing modernisation
       • opposed to outdated & old fashioned British practices
     • other countries didn't have as much demand to trade with Britain any more
     • Free trade was reverted to when other countries had tariffs
     • Gold Standard was rejoined in 1925
     • Wall Street Crash 1929
   • Nature of unemployment
     • happened in traditional industrial areas
       • Clydeside, North West & North East England, South Wales and Northern Ireland
     • South east & Midlands did not suffer
       • they were the main areas for the emergence of new industries
         • EG. Chemicals, Motor cars, light electrics and engineering
     • although many new jobs were in the wrong areas to absorb the high levels of unemployment
   • Steps taken & consequences
     • Tackling unemployment in 1930's
       • left gold standard
       • interest rates cuts
       • IMPORT DUTIES BILL 1932
       • income tax reduced 1934
     • SPECIAL AREAS ACT 1934
     • development of trading estates
     • government spending cutbacks
     • drive for greater efficiency
     • employment rose before it dropped
     • HOUSEHOLD MEANS TEST 1931 - means-testing in order to clain benefits - greatly resented by working-class

2. Why economic recovery in the 1930's?

   • spending cuts imposed by National Gov
   • consumer spending increased with growing prosperity
   • House-building & purchase aided economic recovery
   • "The British People spent their way out of the Depression" - A J P Taylor
   • withdrew from gold standard 1931
   • new industries generated employment
   • finally coming out of the the shadows of WW1 & Wall Street Crash

3. Key economic and social statistics of 1930's

   • 1907- the staple industries accounted for 25% of UK jobs
   • unemployment was never less than 10% in the inter-war years
   • Approx. 5 million homes were built in the 1930's

4. Lifestyle changes of 1930's

   • expansion of house-building
     • 5 million new homes built (1918-1939)
   • cheap petrol & growth in demand for motor cars
   • consumerism
     • more purchases of items such as cars, houses & radios
   • development of radio & cinema were new forms of entertainment& led to greater leisure time
   • retail boom
     • Woolworths', Sainsbury's & Marks and Spencers

5. Mass Media in 1930's

   • Press, Radio, Cinema
   • new technology
     • allowed printing & rail networks
   • attractive image to public
   • improving education
   • Greater leisure time