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history > 1929-31: the Labour Government > Flashcards

1929-31: the Labour Government Flashcards

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1
Q

why did the second labour government start out with high hopes in 1929

A

the liberals had become marginalised and labour now clearly a major player in britains 2 party system

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2
Q

what did MacDonald believe labour now had the chance to do

A

remove any doubts in the minds of voters as to the credibility of labour as a respectable party of gov

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3
Q

what was MacDonalds optimism boosted by

A

the dip in unemployment figures

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4
Q

who did MacDonald invite as Britains first female cabinet minister

A

Margaret Bondfield

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5
Q

Domestic policies: when was the housing act introduced

A

1930

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6
Q

Domestic policies: who was the housing act introduced by

A

Arthur Greenwood

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7
Q

Domestic policies: what did housing act increase/introduce

A

increased subsidies for house building

introduced new slum clearance schemes

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8
Q

Domestic policies: when was coal mines act introduced

A

1930

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9
Q

Domestic policies: what did coal mines act attempt to reduce

A

bitterness caused by General Strike

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10
Q

Domestic policies: how did coal mines act aim to reduce bitterness caused by general strike

A

by reducing miners working hours from 8-7.5 hour shifts

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11
Q

Domestic policies: when was the land utilisation and agricultural marketing act introduced

A

1931

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12
Q

Domestic policies: what did the land utilisation and agricultural marketing act establish

A

a series of marketing boards to help producers

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13
Q

Domestic policies: what did marketing boards (land utilisation and agricultural marketing act) have power to do

A

fix prices and arrange supplies more efficiently

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14
Q

Domestic policies: when was London transport bill introduced

A

1931 but didn’t become law until 1933

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15
Q

Domestic policies: who was London transport bill introduced by

A

Herbert Morrison

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16
Q

Domestic policies: what did London transport bill create

A

a public corporation responsible for providing cheap and efficient public transport for london

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17
Q

Domestic policies: what benefits were increased

A

unemployment benefits

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18
Q

Domestic policies: why did several attempts at reform fail

A

through lack of liberal support

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19
Q

Domestic policies: which attempts at reform failed through lack of liberal support

A
  • education bill that aimed at raising school leaving age to 15
  • bill to create a maximum working week of 48h
  • plans to repeal 1927 TU act
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20
Q

Domestic policies: how was Britain affected by wall street crash

A

loss of American markets and reduction in European trade as other nations suffered

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21
Q

Domestic policies: how much did the value of british exports fall by between end of 1929-1931

A

half

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22
Q

Domestic policies: unemployment rate 1931 and 1932

A

1931- 2.5 million

1932- 3 million

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23
Q

Response to economic crisis: what was MacDonalds economic expertise like

A

he was no economist and had little idea of how to tackle unemployment

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24
Q

Response to economic crisis: what did MacDonald set up in 1930

A

Economic Advisory Council

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25
Q

Response to economic crisis: why did macdonald set up economic advisory council in 1930

A

consisted of economists and industrialists to provide advice but remained wary of new ideas

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26
Q

Response to economic crisis: why did unemployment put a strain on gov finances

A

more unemployment meant more unemployment benefits

27
Q

Response to economic crisis: what did allowing huge sums of money to disappear in benefits undermine MacDonalds belief in

A

a balanced budget and appeared irresponsible at a time when party wanted to be viewed as capable and trustworthy, despite welfare of working man being integral to party’s belief’s

28
Q

Response to economic crisis: what did Philip snowden accept were fundamental principles

A

a balanced budget and maintaining the gold standard

29
Q

Response to economic crisis: who was phillip snowden

A

chancellor of exchequer

30
Q

Response to economic crisis: what would balancing budget involve and what did this mean

A

would involve retrenchment which would mean reducing expenditure on welfare

31
Q

Response to economic crisis: what did mosley call for

A

an expansionary government spending policy, financing public works schemes and social reforms

32
Q

Response to economic crisis: how did MacDonald react to Moseleys ideas

A

he wasn’t convinced theyd work and fearful that such radical measures would undermine confidence in british gov overseas and create more unemployment

33
Q

Response to economic crisis: why did Mosley resign in may 1930

A

when his mosley memorandum was rejected

34
Q

Response to economic crisis: what could even the cabinet not agree on after mosley resigned

A

the size of the cuts needed to balance the budget

35
Q

Response to economic crisis: why was it essential for labour to win over the opposition party leaders

A

their support was essential for any measure to pass through the commons

36
Q

Response to economic crisis: why did the liberals propose a committee in may 1931

A

in response to baking crisis

to consider how gov might curb its expenditure and restore confidence

37
Q

Response to economic crisis: who was the may committee chaired by

A

sir George may

38
Q

Response to economic crisis: when was the may committees report published

A

31 july 1931

39
Q

Response to economic crisis: what did the may report predict

A

a massive budget deficit of £120 million by 1932 unless severe cuts were made in gov spending

40
Q

Response to economic crisis: what did the may report recommend cuts amounting to

A

£96.5 million with pay cuts for public sector employees and a 20% cut in unemployment benefit and heavier taxation

41
Q

Response to economic crisis: did the two labour members of the may committee agree with the may reports proposals

A

no, they produced their own minority report, but were ignored

42
Q

Response to economic crisis: what did the may report deepen

A

the financial crisis still further by drawing attenting to britains alleged problems

43
Q

Response to economic crisis: who did the may recommendations cause an outcry from

A

many labour party members and trade unionists

44
Q

Response to economic crisis: what did dissenting labour party members and trade unionists want the government to do

A

tax the rich more heavily rather than cutting gov spending at the expense of the unemployed

45
Q

Response to economic crisis: why did some believe the economic crisis would be a good thing

A

if capitalism collapsed, the way would be clearer for socialism

46
Q

Response to economic crisis: what did macdonald personally favour

A

taxation increases, but felt compelled to follow may report because other parties wouldn’t agree to these

47
Q

Response to economic crisis: who met on the 12 august to consider what to do

A

the cabinet economy committee, including MacD, Henderson, Thomas and snowden

48
Q

Response to economic crisis: what did the cabinet economy committee agree ti cuts amounting to on the 19th august

A

£56 million

49
Q

Response to economic crisis: why did leaders of other parties reject cuts of £56 million

A

too small

50
Q

Response to economic crisis: what did tuc leaders reject at their meeting with macdonald and snowden

A

any cuts that would affect the unemployed

may committees proposals entirely

51
Q

Response to economic crisis: what vote did the cabinet come to on sunday 23 august

A

vote of approval to substantial cuts in unemployment benefits but only by 11-9 vots

52
Q

Response to economic crisis: why did MacD go to Buckingham palace on 24 august

A

to tender his govs resignation to king George v

53
Q

the reasons for the NG: why was it agreed macdonald would continue as pm despite his resignation

A

king spoke to Samuel (liberals) and Baldwin (conservatives) and it was agreed macondald would be head of new ng based on support from all main political parties

54
Q

the reasons for the NG: how was the NG viewed at the time

A

temporary measure

gov of persons not parties

55
Q

the reasons for the NG: what advantages did conservatives and liberals see in macdonald continuing as pm

A

drastic economic cuts and generally unpopular measures taken at time

56
Q

the reasons for the NG: which 3 members of labour cabinet chose to follow mcd into ng

A

Snowden, Thomas and lord sankey

57
Q

the reasons for the NG: what did many labour mps, party members and trade unionists accused MacDonald of after events of 1931

A

treachery in abandoning cause of working man and only thinking of own career ambitions in accepting leadership of ng and thus becoming ‘saviour’ of country

58
Q

the reasons for the NG: why did many argue that macdonald needlessly set up the may committee

A

could’ve relied on economic advisory council he set up himself

not brave enough to consider new ideas and ignored the imaginative schemes put forward by mosley

59
Q

the reasons for the NG: why was macdonald accused of being slow to respond to crisis

A

he allowed it to get worse

60
Q

the reasons for the NG: what did macdonald fail to appreciate

A

the depth of feeling within the labour party over the unemployment benefit cuts

too ready to ignore unions and advice of own cabinet ministers

61
Q

the reasons for the NG: what did macdonald fail to do when the party split became obvious

A

take honourable course and resign

instead aligned himself with conservatives- ultimate act of betrayal

62
Q

the reasons for the NG: what did macdonald call an election in 1931 despite

A

promised not to do so

timing of election caused electoral disaster for labour

63
Q

the reasons for the NG: what did later labour leader Attlee say about macdonalds action

A

‘greatest act of political betrayal of this country’

history (44 decks)

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