Industry and Economy Flashcards
(10 cards)
War had an immediate impact on Clydeside shipyards.
To explain, The Clyde was where the majority of Scotland’s shipbuilding capacity was concentrated, and the bulk of British naval and merchant shipping was built.
Shipbuilders William Beardmore’s at Dalmuir, John Brown’s at Clydebank and Fairfield at Govan came under Admiralty control.
To explain , Naval control put the yards on a war footing. Scottish shipyards on the Clyde were already experienced in building warships and armaments for the Royal Navy.
Wartime meant wealth for Clyde shipbuilders and workers.
To explain, Admiralty orders brought in over £16 million alone for the leading three shipbuilders on the Clyde. Clydeside yards built a total of 481 warships between 1914 and 1918. Numerous merchant ships were also built.
War also stimulated production in the Scottish steel industry.
To explain, demand for munitions as well as steel plate armour for shipping meant that Scottish steel production doubled during the war.
Demand for rubber increased during the war benefitting the North
British Rubber Company based in Edinburgh.
To explain, demand for tyres for vehicles, anti-gas apparatus, waterproofs,
wellington boots and rubber sheets increased hugely during the war.
The mud of the trenches provided a ready market for rubber goods.
War led to increased munitions production in Scotland, for example,
the works in Gretna and Cardonald.
To explain, Demand for munitions increased due to the nature of the Great War and Scotland was an ideal place to meet this demand due to engineering
skills as well as being remote from possible German attack.
The Jute industry in Dundee prospered as demand for the fabric rose.
Firms such as Baxter Brothers, and Cox Brothers benefited.
To explain, Jute production increased as demand for sandbags, horses feed bags, packing and supply bags soared.
The 1920s was one of the times when many Scots decided to emigrate abroad.
To explain, The economic downturn of the 1920s saw Scots emigrate in search of
work in unprecedented numbers. Scotland in the interwar period had
the highest rate of emigration of any European country. Scots were attractive emigrants owing to their education and skills.
Hill farming of sheep benefitted during the war. The British government bought the entire Scottish wool clip in 1916.
To explain, demand for wool, for uniforms, and meat pushed up prices and provided
good employment as shepherd’s wages doubled from 20 shillings to 40
shillings a week.
Due to food shortages, there were attempts to increase the amount
of food grown in Scotland which was not successful.
To explain, most of Scotland’s farming is hill farming so the available acreage to expand arable farming into was limited. Also, there was manpower shortages among farmers as so many farmworkers volunteered had an
impact.
