3. Economy

• Heavy industries boomed during the the war because:

  • 481 ships were built on the Clyde, during 1914-1918
  • In 1918, Glasgow produced 90% of all the UK's steel
  • 24,000 men were employed during the war
  • Beardmores in Glasgow employed 20,000 people to make tanks, shells, and aircraft
• Heavy industries declined after the war because:

  • Less need for munitions
  • Less need for ships - shipbuilding from 1921-1923, reduced from 510,000 tonnes, to 171,000 tonnes
  • Less need for coal, as it was harder to get, and oil was replacing it as a fuel source
• Farming boomed during the war because:

  • A greater need for wool for soldier's uniforms and blankets, meant there was a sudden need for shepherds
  • This sudden demand caused shepherds' wages doubled
  • A great need for food for the soldiers meant farming wages went up 150%
• Farming declined after the war because:

  • Men thought they would be given land after the war, they were not
  • Ex-servicemen invaded wealthy people's land
  • The Land Settlement Act was meant to deal with this problem, ex-servicemen were offered land the government bought by compulsory purchase
  • Not all men got land as funds ran out quickly
• Fishing declined during the war because:

  • The Navy took control of all vessels, including fishing boats, to patrol the waters
  • Fishing was now limited to around the coastline
  • Scotland lost her exports to Eastern Europe (Russia, Germany & Poland)
  • Haddock caught before 1914: 1.5 million tonnes
  • Haddock caught in 1917: 0.5 tonnes
• Fishing declined after the war because:

  • As vessels were returned, they were in a state of disrepair, and with few funds to compensate these men
  • As fuel costs went up after the war, many fishermen could not afford this
• The jute industry boomed during the war because:

  • Tents, rucksacks, and sandbags were needed for the war
  • At one point, 6 million sandbags were made a month
• The jute industry declined after the war because:

  • Less need for this material
  • Cheaper to make this material abroad, ie. Japan and India