The Decline of Staple Industries After 1919 Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in The Decline of Staple Industries After 1919 Deck (18)
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1
Q

Describe the Political Setting in 1918

A
  • Election held a month after end of war
  • Liberal Coalition with the Conservatives was maintained
  • Labour left coalition
  • Known as coupon election - Lloyd George’s letter
  • All men (over 21) + women over 30 could vote
  • Coaliton gov. won - Lloyd George’s popularity
  • Lloyd George = prisoner of the conservatives
2
Q

Describe the Economic Setting in 1918

A
  • War left Britain in debt + exhausted
  • During war government participation in economy had increased
  • Key industries (e.g. coal + railways) had been completely taken over
  • Labourers had been controlled + directed to new levels
  • Taxation had increased
  • Government had controlled prices + wages - prevent inflation + discontent
  • Government wanted to return to per-war economic conditions
3
Q

What was the Post War Agitation?

A
  • Government promises about living standards - “homes fit for heroes”
  • War marked end of an age of innocence - reflected in growing militancy taking place in industry
  • Sudden period of inflation caused by removal of government wartime controls of prices/profits/guaranteed wages
  • Prices + profits rose but wages lagged
  • Trade unions wanted to protect member - 2000 strikes during 1919/20
  • Strikes were about wages, working conditions + disillusionment with post war Britain (e.g. difference in wealth)
  • Communist ideas were popular at this time - Red flag in Glasgow
4
Q

What were the Difficulties in Mining?

A
  • Miners wanted the mines nationalized because (during war) conditions improved + wages stabilised
  • Government wanted the mines to be privitiesed soon after the war
  • Miners’ Federation threatened national strike if demands were not met (6 hour days/30% wage increase/natioanlisation of the mines)
  • Lloyd George was concerned about effects of national strike so compromised by offering 7 hour days + continued government control with the establishment of a Royal Commission under Lord Sankey to investigate problems - miners accepted
5
Q

Why was there a Short Term Boom Followed by a Slump at the end of the War?

A

-

6
Q

Why was the National Insurance Act Extended in 1920?

A
  • All workers earning less than £259 a year with some exceptions (e.g. domestic servants)
7
Q

Why was Extending the National Insurance Act Negative?

A
  • At point of boom conditions were applied + mass unemployment not expected
  • Slump caused the system not to cope - payments to unemployed outweighed the contributions
  • Government extended scheme further to 2 16 week periods in any year with a gap in between
  • Did not deal with cause only effect
8
Q

Describe the Effects of the Sankey Commission (1921)

A
  • Mines returned to private ownership

- Lloyd George announced mines + railways would be returning to previous owners on 1st April 1921

9
Q

What was Black Friday?

A
  • Mine Owners cut wages because of slump
  • Requested that Triple Alliance (railway + transport workers) supported them in national strike
  • Allies abandoned idea - miners viewed as betrayal
  • Miners continues to Strike for 3 months
  • Had to return to pits after being forced to accept reduction in wages
10
Q

Describe Geddes Axe

A
  • Government rescued spending by £64 mil
  • Cuts introduced in the poorest sections of society (armed forces/council houses/education)
  • Labour wasn’t happy as it targeted poorest sections
11
Q

Describe the Addison Housing Act 1919

A
  • Provided local authorities with money to build houses for the working class
  • 213000 houses were built
12
Q

What Events Led to the Fall of Lloyd George.

A
  • LG became dependent upon conservatives
  • Splitting Ireland - many conservatives wanted to keep the whole of Ireland
  • Threatening War on Turkey when they breached the treaty of Versailles
13
Q

What was the Carlton Club?

A
  • Conservative meeting to decide whether to continue with the coalition
  • 85 in favour + 185 against
  • LG resigned + replaced with Andrew Bonarn Law
14
Q

Explain the Link Between Baldwin and Tariff

A
  • Baldwin (conservative) prime minister end of 1922
  • Issue of tariffs over imports from outside Empire divided Britain
  • Liberal + Labour supporters believed in free trade + argued foreign imports kept the prices low for ordinary people
  • Con=258 Lab=191 Lib=159 - Results was a clear defeat for protectionism
15
Q

Describe the First Labour Government.

A
  • MacDonald was prime minister

- Gave Labour oppoertunity to establish its self/gain repetablility/give leaders experience of being in office

16
Q

Was the First Labour Government a Success?

A
SUCCESS
- Wheatley's Housing Act
- Funded some public work schemes 
FAILURE
- In office for less than a year 
- Did little to tackle unemployment 
- Threatened to use emergency powers against strikers (own supporters)
17
Q

What was the Wheatley’s Housing Act?

A
  • Allocated state subsidies to local authorities to build houses for rent
  • Extension of Addison Housing Act
18
Q

Describe the Downfall of the First Labour Government.

A
  • MacDonald attempted to negotiate a treaty with the Soviet Union - seen as being pro-communist by Libs+Cons
  • Government accused of being manipulated by far left elements
  • Cons+Libs united to defeat Government in Commons
  • Zinoviev’s Letter 4 days before election - forgery
  • Labour lost 40 seats