Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
Germany, 1871–1990: united, divided and reunited - 2 Economic change in…
Full specification wording
Paper 3, Option 37.2: Germany, 1871–1990: united, divided and reunited - 2 Economic change in Germany and West Germany: Strength in manufacturing and agriculture's slow decline, 1871–1990; the reasons for nineteenth-century industrial growth; change in the twentieth century (key developments: the slump in agricultural prices in the 1920s, mass unemployment from 1930 to 32, the post-war 'economic miracle’).
Study German economic change from 1871 to 1990, focusing on manufacturing strength and agriculture's slow decline.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 1 of 2
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Study German economic change from 1871 to 1990, focusing on manufacturing strength and agriculture's slow decline. Nineteenth-century industrial growth rested on coal, iron and steel, railways, banking, a growing workforce and state support after unification. In the twentieth century, the slump in agricultural prices in the 1920s hurt farmers, while mass unemployment from 1930 to 32 exposed the fragility of the economy. The post-war 'economic miracle' restored manufacturing strength and raised living standards, though agriculture continued to shrink. Assess reasons for growth, the impact of crises and the balance between industry and agriculture across the period.
What earns the marks
- Explains nineteenth-century industrial growth through coal, iron and steel, railway expansion, banking, a growing workforce and state support after unification.
- Analyses agriculture's slow decline, including competition, mechanisation and rural-to-urban migration across the period.
- Explains the slump in agricultural prices in the 1920s and its effects on farmers and rural communities.
- Assesses mass unemployment from 1930 to 32 as evidence of economic fragility and its social and political consequences.
- Evaluates the post-war 'economic miracle' as a revival of manufacturing strength and rising living standards, while noting agriculture's continued relative decline.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Treating industrial growth as automatic after 1871.
Put it right: Identify specific factors such as coal, railways, banking and state policy that enabled it.
Confusing the 1920s agricultural price slump with the later mass unemployment of 1930 to 32.
Put it right: Separate the two crises in time and cause.
Assuming the post-war 'economic miracle' benefited all sectors equally.
Put it right: Recognise that agriculture continued to decline relative to manufacturing and services.
Exam tips
- Link each economic development to a named period or event from the specification to show chronological control.
- Use quantitative or sectoral evidence carefully, for example employment shares or output trends, without inventing precise figures.
- Compare manufacturing strength with agriculture's decline to address both parts of the statement.
Try the lesson
The start of the Paper 3, Option 37.2: Germany, 1871–1990: united, divided and reunited - 2 Economic change in Germany and West Germany: Strength in manufacturing and agriculture's slow decline, 1871–1990; the reasons for nineteenth-century industrial growth; change in the twentieth century (key developments: the slump in agricultural prices in the 1920s, mass unemployment from 1930 to 32, the post-war 'economic miracle’). lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which development contributed most to German industrial growth in the late nineteenth century?
Listen
Study German economic change from 1871 to 1990, focusing on manufacturing strength and agriculture's slow decline. Nineteenth-century industrial growth rested on coal, iron and steel, railways, banking, a growing workforce and state support after unification. In the twentieth century, the slump in agricultural prices in the 1920s hurt farmers, while mass unemployment from 1930 to 32 exposed the fragility of the economy. The post-war 'economic miracle' restored manufacturing strength and raised living standards, though agriculture continued to shrink. Assess reasons for growth, the impact of crises and the balance between industry and agriculture across the period. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains nineteenth-century industrial growth through coal, iron and steel, railway expansion, banking, a growing workforce and state support after unification. Analyses agriculture's slow decline, including competition, mechanisation and rural-to-urban migration across the period. Explains the slump in agricultural prices in the 1920s and its effects on farmers and rural communities. Assesses mass unemployment from 1930 to 32 as evidence of economic fragility and its social and political consequences. A common slip: Treating industrial growth as automatic after 1871. Instead, identify specific factors such as coal, railways, banking and state policy that enabled it. Exam tip: Link each economic development to a named period or event from the specification to show chronological control.
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Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Industrial growth and manufacturing strength
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Agricultural decline and rural change
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Economic crisis and unemployment
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Post-war recovery and the 'economic miracle'
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See every definition
- Industrial growth and manufacturing strength
- Resting on coal, iron and steel, railways, banking, a growing workforce and state support after unification in the nineteenth century.
- Agricultural decline and rural change
- A slow decline across the period, including competition, mechanisation and rural-to-urban migration.
- Economic crisis and unemployment
- The slump in agricultural prices in the 1920s hurt farmers, while mass unemployment from 1930 to 32 exposed the fragility of the economy.
- Post-war recovery and the 'economic miracle'
- A revival of manufacturing strength that raised living standards, though agriculture continued to shrink.
Label the diagram
Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.
1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3
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Test your understanding of Paper 3, Option 37.2: Germany, 1871–1990: united, divided and reunited - 2 Economic change in Germany and West Germany: Strength in manufacturing and agriculture's slow decline, 1871–1990; the reasons for nineteenth-century industrial growth; change in the twentieth century (key developments: the slump in agricultural prices in the 1920s, mass unemployment from 1930 to 32, the post-war 'economic miracle’).
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