History 1.2

• The Depression was a traumatic period for many British families
• Some areas surprisingly prospered during the 1930s
• Unemployment rose to 2.5 million in 1933
• This was 25 per cent of the workforce
• Areas worst hit by unemployment

  • Northern Ireland
  • Scotland
  • Wales
  • North of England
• Industries worst hit by the Depression

  • Coal
  • Iron
  • Steel
  • Shipbuilding
• These industries were already struggling because they had not modernised after the war
• These industries had been badly affected by competition from other countries
• When the Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company closed down in Jarrow, the town’s unemployment rate rose to 68 percent
• It was said the town of Jarrow effectively 'died'
• The Rhondda Valleys suffered from a dramatic rise in unemployment
• The unemployment rate in the Rhondda Valleys was higher than 40 per cent
• The 2.5 million who were unemployed had no wages


  Could not buy things
• Unemployment led to a decrease in demand for goods produced in Britain


  More businesses went bankrupt
• More bankrupt businesses led to more unemployment

  Vicious circle of unemployment
• The unemployment benefit, the dole, was not enough to cover basic costs such as food and clothing
• The Depression was a traumatic period for many British families
• Some areas surprisingly prospered during the 1930s
• People who lost their jobs depended on unemployment benefit, otherwise known as the dole
• A person without work was entitled to benefit from the unemployment insurance scheme for the first six months
• The government introduced the Means Test in 1931 to cut costs
• Means Test process


  1. Officials visited families

  2. Assessed entitlement to help

  3. Found out family earnings or possessions
• Means Test


  A test to determine eligibility for unemployment benefits based on family income and assets
• Families with some savings or a small additional income found their dole was reduced
• The officials who carried out these tests were often seen as insensitive
• The Means Test created many problems for families
• If an older child had some work

  The Means Test could result in dole being refused
• If a mother had a part-time job

  The Means Test could result in dole being refused
• If a grandparent was living in the house without paying rent

  The Means Test could result in dole being refused
• Heirlooms and items such as pianos had to be sold, and savings spent before the dole was received
• The dole was cut by 10 per cent in 1931
• The Depression was a traumatic period for many British families
• Some areas surprisingly prospered during the 1930s
• The people of Jarrow organised a meeting with a Cabinet minister to seek help
• The Jarrow March took place

  1936
• Jarrow March


  1. Organised meeting

  2. March to London

  3. Gained publicity

  4. Ignored petition
• The Depression was a traumatic period for many British families
• Key fact about the Jarrow March

  Gained publicity and sympathy but had little impact on the government
• Some areas surprisingly prospered during the 1930s
• The people of Jarrow organised a meeting with a Cabinet minister to seek help