Life during the depression

• What was the Unemployment Insurance Act 1920?

  Government payment scheme where unemployed families would receive 39 weeks of benefits
• What was another term given when referring to benefits?

  Dole
• What were public attitudes around the Unemployment Insurance Act?

  People thought that it was too expensive for the government because fewer people were paying taxes
• Who decided to cut government spending?

  Ramsey MacDonald. He cut unemployment benefits by 10%
• Why did some people disagree with MacDonald?

  They thought that more money should be spent on creating jobs for the unemployed
• What happened after unemployment benefits were cut?

  Prime minister, Ramsey MacDonald resigned
• How was dole cut?

  The means test was introduced
• When was the means test created?

  1931.
• How was the means test orchestrated?

  By PAC's (Public, assistance, committees)
• When would families be means tested?

  After 6 months on unemployment benefits
• What would happen during a means test?

  A household would be evaluated based on the occupants (if they received a pension or had a part time job), their possessions and savings to determine how much dole they would get
• What was common for households to do as a result of means test?

  Kick out elderly relatives as their pensions meant that the household's dole would be cut even further
• The amount of dole people would get from the government depended on the area
• What was the typical wage for a working man in 1936?

  £3 a week
• What was the maximum amount of dole a family of 2 adults and 3 children could get?


  £1.80 a week
• Why was the means test unpopular?

  Humiliated people, forced to sell possessions and kick out family members, wasn't consistent, intrusive
• What happened to people as a result of the means test?

  Became malnourished, infant mortality rate increased, poor quality clothing, increase in disease and mental health issues
• What were some diseases which were increasing?

  Tuberculosis and scarlet fever
• What did long-term unemployment lead to?

  Depression and suicidal thoughts
• How did people react to the government actions?

  Protesting. They thought it would pressure the government into taking responsibility for their people
• What is the name of a group which would organise hunger marches?

  National Unemployed Workers Movement
• When did hunger marches begin?

  1931
• There had been 30 hunger marches by the end of 1931
• What does crusade mean?

  Holy war
• When did the Jarrow Crusade take place?

  1936
• Why did the Jarrow Crusade happen?

  Palmer's shipyard was scrapped which occupied 80% of unemployment in Jarrow
• The Jarrow Crusade began in the north-east of England and travelled to London
• Who led the Jarrow Crusade?

  Local MP Ellen Wilkinson and other town councillors
• How many people marched in the Jarrow Crusade?

  200 men
• How long did it take the marches in the Jarrow Crusade to get to London?

  8 months in 22 stages
• What did the marchers in the Jarrow Crusade do in London?

  Presented a presentation to Parliament
• The march generated public sympathy
• How were the marchers of the Jarrow Crusade treated?

  Given free meals and shoe repairs by the community. Police praised their disciplined manner and newspapers published accounts of the marchers progress
• The men dressed in their best clothes and were peaceful and disciplined
• What did the Trade Union Congress and the Labour party do because of the Crusade?

  Distanced themselves. They thought it bought bad publicity for the unemployed
• Why were the government reluctant to support hunger marches?

  They thought that it linked to communism and there was a previous reputation that marches were acts of violence
• How many mining communities were there in Rhondda?

  16
• What did King Edward VIII say about Rhondda on a visit in 1936?

  "Something must be done"
• When did the Rhondda march happen?

  October 1932
• How many people from Rhondda joined a nationwide march?

  375