The Great Depression (1930s)

The Great Depression (1930s)

1. ECONOMY

   • (1929), the Wall Street Crash plunged the USA into economic depression.
   • Americans were alarmed, so they called in their loans to other countries and put up customs barriers to stop imports of foreign goods.
   • (1930s) for most people with a job, living standards rose significantly.
   • Prices continued to fall during the 1930s.

2. EMPLOYMENT

   • Employment profits plunged.
   • Lots of people were unemployed and many more had only part-time jobs.
   • Many families depended entirely on payments from local government: the dole.
   • (1928 and 1930) Pensions and unemployment benefit were made more generous in.

3. INDUSTRY

   • Britain's world trade and industry fell
   • New industries such as car and aircraft making and electronics prospered in the Midlands and the South of England where unemployment was relatively low.
   • The situations were only really solved by the Second World War, which started industry booming again.

4. POLITICS

   • Politically the Conservative Party dominated the era.
   • The people of Jarrow organised a march to London - a crusade to seek help from the government, but they were told to go home and work out their own salvation'.

5. EMIGRATION

   • 3 million Britons emigrated in search of a better life abroad.
   • (1939) Many children from cities were evacuated to the countryside to be safe from bombing.