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: The impact of the Jarrow March and hunger marches; the role of Ellen Wilkinson.
Inter-war unemployment produced organised protest.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 2 of 3
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Inter-war unemployment produced organised protest. Hunger marches, notably the National Unemployed Workers' Movement marches of 1922, 1930 and 1932, and the Jarrow Crusade of October 1936, publicised distress in depressed areas. Jarrow's 200 marchers carried a petition to Westminster; the town's shipyard closure had caused mass unemployment. The march was orderly and gained sympathy, but the government refused to receive the petition, so immediate policy impact was limited. Ellen Wilkinson, Labour MP for Jarrow, helped organise and publicise the Crusade, linking local hardship to national debate. Assess impact by distinguishing publicity and public opinion from legislative change, and by comparing hunger marches with Jarrow's disciplined, non-partisan approach.
What earns the marks
- Explains the causes and organisation of hunger marches, including the role of the National Unemployed Workers' Movement and the context of mass unemployment in depressed areas.
- Explains the origins, route and purpose of the Jarrow Crusade of October 1936, including the petition and the closure of Palmer's shipyard.
- Assesses the impact of the Jarrow March, distinguishing short-term publicity and public sympathy from limited immediate government response.
- Explains Ellen Wilkinson's role as Labour MP for Jarrow, including her involvement in organising, publicising and defending the marchers.
- Compares the Jarrow March with earlier hunger marches in terms of discipline, political affiliation and public reception.
- Evaluates how far protest changed government policy, linking to the Means Test, the dole and Special Areas legislation.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Treating the Jarrow March as a hunger march organised by the National Unemployed Workers' Movement.
Put it right by explaining that Jarrow was a town-backed crusade with a petition and a more disciplined, less confrontational approach.
Claiming the march achieved immediate legislative change.
Put it right by arguing that its main impact was publicity and public sympathy, while the government declined to receive the petition.
Reducing Ellen Wilkinson to a symbolic figure.
Put it right by explaining her practical role in organising, publicising and representing the marchers' case.
Exam tips
- Plan around the two clauses: impact of the marches and role of Wilkinson, then link them to the wider question of poverty and the dole.
- Use precise evidence such as the 1936 date, the 200 marchers, the petition and the shipyard closure to support judgements about impact.
- Distinguish clearly between publicity, public opinion and government policy when judging how far the marches mattered.
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: The impact of the Jarrow March and hunger marches; the role of Ellen Wilkinson. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which Labour MP served as the chief organiser and parliamentary spokesperson for the Jarrow Crusade of 1936?
Listen
Inter-war unemployment produced organised protest. Hunger marches, notably the National Unemployed Workers' Movement marches of 1922, 1930 and 1932, and the Jarrow Crusade of October 1936, publicised distress in depressed areas. Jarrow's 200 marchers carried a petition to Westminster; the town's shipyard closure had caused mass unemployment. The march was orderly and gained sympathy, but the government refused to receive the petition, so immediate policy impact was limited. Ellen Wilkinson, Labour MP for Jarrow, helped organise and publicise the Crusade, linking local hardship to national debate. Assess impact by distinguishing publicity and public opinion from legislative change, and by comparing hunger marches with Jarrow's disciplined, non-partisan approach. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains the causes and organisation of hunger marches, including the role of the National Unemployed Workers' Movement and the context of mass unemployment in depressed areas. Explains the origins, route and purpose of the Jarrow Crusade of October 1936, including the petition and the closure of Palmer's shipyard. Assesses the impact of the Jarrow March, distinguishing short-term publicity and public sympathy from limited immediate government response. Explains Ellen Wilkinson's role as Labour MP for Jarrow, including her involvement in organising, publicising and defending the marchers. A common slip: Treating the Jarrow March as a hunger march organised by the National Unemployed Workers' Movement. Instead, explaining that Jarrow was a town-backed crusade with a petition and a more disciplined, less confrontational approach. Exam tip: Plan around the two clauses: impact of the marches and role of Wilkinson, then link them to the wider question of poverty and the dole.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Jarrow Crusade
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Hunger marches
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Ellen Wilkinson
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Publicity and public opinion
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See every definition
- Jarrow Crusade
- An orderly, town-backed march of 200 marchers in October 1936 carrying a petition to Westminster after the town's shipyard closure caused mass unemployment.
- Hunger marches
- Organised protests by the National Unemployed Workers' Movement, notably in 1922, 1930 and 1932, which publicised distress in depressed areas.
- Ellen Wilkinson
- Labour MP for Jarrow who helped organise and publicise the Crusade, linking local hardship to national debate.
- Publicity and public opinion
- Short-term public sympathy gained by the march, which must be distinguished from legislative change when assessing impact.
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