Britain, c1851–1964 – The Great War and its impact, 1914–1939 (A-level…

The idea

WWI forced unprecedented state economic intervention, such as the Ministry of Munitions directing production. Post-war, staple industries like coal and textiles faced structural decline due to lost export markets. This triggered intense conflict, culminating in the 1926 General Strike after miners resisted wage cuts. Government finances worsened these issues; returning to the Gold Standard in 1925 made exports uncompetitive. The 1929 Wall Street Crash plunged Britain into the Depression, causing mass unemployment. Yet, the 1930s saw economic realignment: new consumer industries like motor vehicles thrived in the Midlands, aided by cheap money policies and protectionism.

What earns the marks

• Assess the extent of state control during WWI, noting the Defence of the Realm Act (DORA) and the creation of the Ministry of Munitions.
• Evaluate the structural weaknesses of staple industries (coal, iron, textiles) facing foreign competition and underinvestment.
• Analyse the causes and failure of the 1926 General Strike, focusing on the Samuel Commission and the Trades Disputes Act 1927.
• Explain the impact of Churchill's 1925 return to the Gold Standard on export prices and the subsequent 1931 departure.
• Contrast the devastating impact of the Depression on traditional industrial areas with the economic realignment driven by new industries in the South.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Claiming the General Strike was a revolutionary attempt to overthrow the government.

  Put it right: Explain that the TUC called the strike purely as an industrial dispute to support the miners against wage cuts and longer hours.

• Assuming the entire country suffered equally during the Great Depression.

  Put it right: Highlight the stark regional contrasts, with severe unemployment in the North and Wales, but relative prosperity and growth in the Midlands and South East.

• Stating that Britain remained on the Gold Standard throughout the 1930s.

  Put it right: Note that the National Government was forced off the Gold Standard in September 1931, which actually helped stimulate economic recovery.

Exam tips

• When discussing the staple industries, always link their decline to long-term structural issues rather than just the short-term impact of the Wall Street Crash.
• Use specific examples of 'new industries' (e.g., Austin Motors, Hoover) to demonstrate your understanding of economic realignment in the 1930s.
• Evaluate government policies by contrasting the restrictive effects of the Gold Standard with the stimulatory effects of the 1932 Import Duties Act and cheap money.