Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
Poverty, public health and the state in Britain, c1780–1939 - 5 Depression…
Full specification wording
Paper 3, Option 34.2: Poverty, public health and the state in Britain, c1780–1939 - 5 Depression and the dole: poverty in the inter-war years, 1920–39: Government measures in the 1930s, including the impact of the Means Test and the ‘Dole’, the Special Areas Act 1934 and the Unemployment Act 1934.
In the 1930s governments tried to manage mass unemployment while limiting spending.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 3 of 3
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
In the 1930s governments tried to manage mass unemployment while limiting spending. The Means Test, applied from 1931 to extended unemployment benefit, assessed household income and savings, so families with other earners could lose benefit; it was widely resented and caused hardship. The 'dole' meant unemployment benefit or transitional payments, often inadequate and subject to conditions. The Special Areas Act 1934 gave limited aid and commissioners to depressed regions such as South Wales and Tyneside, but funding was small. The Unemployment Act 1934 reorganised provision through the Unemployment Assistance Board, separating insurance-based benefit from means-tested assistance. Assess each measure by its aims, operation and effects on poverty.
What earns the marks
- Explains the operation of the Means Test from 1931, including assessment of household income and its effects on extended benefit and transitional payments.
- Explains what the 'dole' meant in practice, including unemployment benefit and transitional payments, and why it was often inadequate.
- Explains the aims and limited impact of the Special Areas Act 1934, including commissioners and aid to depressed regions.
- Explains the Unemployment Act 1934, including the creation of the Unemployment Assistance Board and the separation of insurance and assistance.
- Assesses the impact of these measures on poverty, hardship and public attitudes in the 1930s.
- Evaluates how far government measures addressed the causes and consequences of inter-war unemployment.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confusing the Means Test with the 'dole'.
Put it right by explaining that the Means Test assessed household resources for extended or transitional payments, while the 'dole' was the colloquial term for unemployment benefit or payments.
Assuming the Special Areas Act 1934 solved regional depression.
Put it right by explaining that its funding and powers were limited and its impact was modest.
Treating the Unemployment Act 1934 as simply abolishing the Poor Law.
Put it right by explaining that it reorganised unemployment assistance through the Unemployment Assistance Board and separated insurance from means-tested assistance.
Exam tips
- Organise answers by measure, then assess impact on poverty and on government policy, using specific dates and terms accurately.
- Use the distinction between insurance-based benefit and means-tested assistance to explain why the 1930s measures were controversial.
- Support judgements with examples of regional hardship and the limited scale of Special Areas aid.
Try the lesson
The start of the Paper 3, Option 34.2: Poverty, public health and the state in Britain, c1780–1939 - 5 Depression and the dole: poverty in the inter-war years, 1920–39: Government measures in the 1930s, including the impact of the Means Test and the ‘Dole’, the Special Areas Act 1934 and the Unemployment Act 1934. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
What was the main purpose of the Special Areas Act passed by the National Government in 1934?
Listen
In the 1930s governments tried to manage mass unemployment while limiting spending. The Means Test, applied from 1931 to extended unemployment benefit, assessed household income and savings, so families with other earners could lose benefit; it was widely resented and caused hardship. The 'dole' meant unemployment benefit or transitional payments, often inadequate and subject to conditions. The Special Areas Act 1934 gave limited aid and commissioners to depressed regions such as South Wales and Tyneside, but funding was small. The Unemployment Act 1934 reorganised provision through the Unemployment Assistance Board, separating insurance-based benefit from means-tested assistance. Assess each measure by its aims, operation and effects on poverty. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains the operation of the Means Test from 1931, including assessment of household income and its effects on extended benefit and transitional payments. Explains what the 'dole' meant in practice, including unemployment benefit and transitional payments, and why it was often inadequate. Explains the aims and limited impact of the Special Areas Act 1934, including commissioners and aid to depressed regions. Explains the Unemployment Act 1934, including the creation of the Unemployment Assistance Board and the separation of insurance and assistance. A common slip: Confusing the Means Test with the 'dole'. Instead, explaining that the Means Test assessed household resources for extended or transitional payments, while the 'dole' was the colloquial term for unemployment benefit or payments. Exam tip: Organise answers by measure, then assess impact on poverty and on government policy, using specific dates and terms accurately.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Means testing and poverty
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Unemployment insurance and assistance
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Regional depression and special areas
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Government welfare policy in the 1930s
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Means testing and poverty
- A test applied from 1931 to extended unemployment benefit that assessed household income and savings, so families with other earners could lose benefit.
- Unemployment insurance and assistance
- Provision reorganised by the Unemployment Act 1934 through the Unemployment Assistance Board, separating insurance-based benefit from means-tested assistance.
- Regional depression and special areas
- Depressed regions such as South Wales and Tyneside, to which the Special Areas Act 1934 gave limited aid and commissioners, though funding was small.
- Government welfare policy in the 1930s
- Attempts to manage mass unemployment while limiting spending, assessed by their aims, operation and effects on poverty.
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