Britain 10- Economic issues

Question 1

During the general strike 1926 which industries ceased production?

Answer 1

Coal, iron, steel, chemical and newspaper

Question 2

What services stopped during 1926 general strike?

Answer 2

Railway trains, London Underground, many bus services and loading/unloading of boats

Question 3

What were some positive developments in the economy in the 1920s?

Answer 3

‘New’ industries were growing at a fast pace. Motor car production in 1920 was 3 times what it was in 1913, setting up of central electricity generating board in 1926, between 1923 and 1929 overall economic growth faster than before 1914

Question 4

What were the ‘new’ industries?

Answer 4

Chemicals, motors vehicles, electrical hood and canned foods

Question 5

How did Labour attempt to decrease unemployment 1923-4

Answer 5

launched a public works programme, aiming to create jobs by public spending on roads, council houses, etc

Question 6

what is protectionism?

Answer 6

policy of protecting domestic industries against foreign competition through tariffs, import quotas and subsidies, or other restrictions placed on the imports of foreign competitors.

Question 7

who did Baldwin’s govt break off relations with in 1924 that had a substantial impact on the economy?

Answer 7

Soviet Russia, stopping the revival of Anglo-Russian trade

Question 8

what did Britain return to in 1925 in hopes of returning to pre-war economy?

Answer 8

gold standard

Question 9

compared to pre-war where Britain dominated the economy, who dominated post war?

Answer 9

the dollar was the dominant currency and New York the centre of international banking

Question 10

what year did Britain return to the Gold Standard?

Answer 10

1925

Question 11

what did the pound increase in value from and to during the return of the gold standard 1925?

Answer 11

$3.46 to $4.86

Question 12

what issues did the increased value of the pound cause during the reintroduction of the gold standard?

Answer 12

British exports were uncompetitive in staple industries such as coal which cause more unemployment in these industries

Question 13

what were the problems of the coal mining industry during the 1920s?

Answer 13

poor conditions and low pay
very dangerous: 1922-24 3603 miners killed and 597,158 injured
industry in decline which was made worse by economic impacts of war

Question 14

what were the events of the 1926 general strike?

Answer 14

1) mine owners demand wage cuts and longer hours
2) miners call for support of railway men and dockers (threat of a general strike)
3) govt offers to subsidise miners’ wages
4) samuel commission set up
5)negotiations between unions and mine owners
6) mine owners final terms rejected by miners
7) owners declare a lock-out of the miners
8)govt proclaims state of emergency
9) last minute talks between TUC and Baldwin’s cabinet and unofficial strike by Daily Mail workers
10)General strike begins
11) end of general strike after TUC calls off support for the miners

Question 15

how much loss occurred in the first 6 months of 1925 due to the introduction of the gold standard and what did this lead to mine owners calling for?

Answer 15

loss of £2.1 million so mine owners called for further wage cuts and longer working hours

Question 16

what was the Samuel Commission?

Answer 16

set up to investigate and report on the problems of the coal industry

Question 17

why was the Samuel commission a failure?

Answer 17

rejected nationalism, argued that wage cuts were essential to save jobs. each side accepted the parts of the report they liked and rejected the rest.

Question 18

what slogan did the miners adopt?

Answer 18

‘Not a penny off the pay, not a second off the day’

Question 19

why did Baldwin fail to prevent the strike?

Answer 19

he could have exerted more pressure on the owners to reach a compromise or shown greater willingness to talk with the TUC. instead he gave the impression that the govt wanted a fight with the unions by invoking the 1920 Emergency powers act to declare a state of emergency on 1 May

Question 20

how did Baldwin continue to move essential supplies to supplement the armed forces during the general strike 1926/

Answer 20

set up the organisation for the Maintenance of supplies, which organised 100,000 volunteer workers

Question 21

how did Baldwin win public sympathy?

Answer 21

through speeches and newspaper articles Baldwin argues that the General strike was a threat to British constitution turning the issue away from the miners’ grievances and to the question of who ruled the country: the elected govt or the TUC