Key Question 2- depression

Created by

Megan Paul

Cards (42)

Dole and Means Test 
Unemployment Insurance Act 1920- financial support for those who became unemployed for up to 39 weeks (dole)
Dole and Means Test 
Eventually, dole was cut by 10% and the means test was introduced for the unemployed for 6 months
Dole and means test
people‘s homes were inspected for possessions and savings to check for dole eligibility
Dole and Means test
Families would be forced to sell their possessions in order to receive dole payments
Dole and means test 
The means test was hated by many people- many people would protest against it
Dole and means test
1932- 2 people died in clashes with the police in Rochdale and Belfast
Dole and Means test
1934- the dole and means test were introduced and managed by unemployment assistance boards
Hunger Marches  
Areas of Great Depression felt as though the government were doing very little to help with the situation
Hunger Marches 
In order for issues such as unemployment poverty and hunger to be seen, hunger marches were organised in protest
Hunger Marches 
1932- 375 hunger marches set off from the Rhonda to London
Hunger Marches  
People wanted to abolish the means test, cuts to social services and the 10% reduction of dole payments
Hunger Marches  
1936- 200 men, along with MP Ellen Wilkinson, walked 300 miles from Jarrow to London in protest for new jobs
Hunger Marches  
The protest for new jobs took 8 months to complete, yet no action was taken
‘Making ends meet’  
Women were often seen to suffer the most
‘Making ends meet’ 
Women would go without food so their families could eat instead
‘Making ends meet’ 
Women would neglect their health/ their health would be neglected
‘Making ends meet’  
They would buy cheaper foods- potatoes, bread and margarine- this would lead to poor health (unvaried diet)
‘Making ends meet’  
Women would look for work- i.e. repairing clothes
‘Making ends meet’  
Women looking/partaking in employment would have their dole payments reduced
‘Making ends meet’  
Often, people would come together in times of need
Emigration from Wales 
Thousands of unemployed people/families moved from Wales to areas that were less effected by the depression- to the midlands/England
Emigration from Wales  
New jobs were found in industries - building cars in Maris factory in Oxford
Emigration from Wales 
The Welsh were not welcomed into new communities as they were willing to work for less
Emigration from Wales  
30,000 left Wales in the 1920’s-1930’s
Popular Entertainment  
Radio and cinema were used as an escape from daily life and helped to boost morale
Popular Entertainment  
Mass production ensured affordability of radios
Popular Entertainment  
Cinemas were popular as admission costs were low. Cinemas also provided people with comfort
Popular Entertainment  
By the end of the decade- 4,780 cinemas were established in Britain
Popular Entertainment  
Rugby and boxing were popular sports of the time
Popular Entertainment  
Working class people saw boxing and other sports as a means of escaping reality
Popular Entertainment  
Tommy Farr- became a sporting hero after defeating American Joe Lewis in 1938
Special Areas Act 
1934- Government officials had to oversee special areas- England, Clydeside and South Wales
Special Areas Act 
Grants of £2 million were given to companies who would relocate and create new jobs for people
Special Areas Act 
1936- the act offered rent, rate and tax reductions
Special Areas Act  
Treforest industrial estate opened in 1936
Special Areas Act 
1939- only 2,500 people were employed
Special Areas Act 
1938- over £8 million had been spent but only 14,900 new jobs had been created
Special Areas Act 
1938- new steel works opened in Ebbw Vale
Light Industries  
New industries developed such as cars, aviation, chemical industries and electrical goods
Light industries  
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