2M Wars and Welfare: Britain in Transition, 1906–1957 – only) The 'Hungry Thirties', 1929–1939 (A-level only) — AQA A-Level History
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2M Wars and Welfare: Britain in Transition, 1906–1957 – only) The 'Hungry Thirties', 1929–1939 (A-level only) explained
The 1929–1931 Labour government faced severe economic challenges following the Wall Street Crash.
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Their domestic policies, including the 1930 Housing Act, were overshadowed by rising unemployment and the May Committee's demand for spending cuts, which split the cabinet. This crisis led to the formation of the National Government in 1931, initially a temporary coalition to balance the budget, but which won a massive mandate in the 1931 election. Its policies focused on economic recovery and rearmament. The era was defined by three Prime Ministers: Ramsay MacDonald's controversial decision to lead the coalition, Stanley Baldwin's steadying influence during the Abdication Crisis, and Neville Chamberlain's focus on social reform and appeasement.
Economic issues: the Depression and financial crisis; changes to economic policy, including moving from the Gold Standard; tariff reform and imperial preference; effect on industry, agriculture and trade
The Great Depression triggered a severe financial crisis in Britain, characterised by collapsing exports and soaring unemployment. In response, economic policy shifted dramatically. The National Government abandoned the Gold Standard in 1931, depreciating the pound to make British exports more competitive and allowing interest rates to fall, stimulating a housing boom. Furthermore, the 1932 Import Duties Act introduced tariff reform, ending free trade, while the Ottawa Conference established imperial preference to boost trade within the British Empire. These policies had mixed effects: new industries like motor manufacturing thrived in the Midlands, whereas traditional heavy industries and agriculture in the North and Wales continued to stagnate.
Social and cultural impact of the Depression: changes in working opportunities and living standards; National Government policies; social and regional division; literary responses; radio and cinema; social and cultural responses to international crises
The Great Depression created profound social and regional divisions in 1930s Britain. While traditional industrial areas like Jarrow suffered mass unemployment and declining living standards, the Midlands and South East saw rising working opportunities in new consumer industries. National Government policies, such as the Special Areas Act 1934, offered limited relief to depressed regions. Culturally, the era saw a boom in escapism through radio and cinema, alongside stark literary responses like George Orwell's 'The Road to Wigan Pier' highlighting poverty. Furthermore, social and cultural responses to international crises, such as the Spanish Civil War and the rise of fascism, deeply polarised British society, inspiring activism.
Challenges to stability: the abdication crisis; radical political groups: the BUF; Communism
In the 1930s, British political stability faced significant challenges from constitutional crises and radical political groups. The 1936 abdication crisis, triggered by Edward VIII's desire to marry Wallis Simpson, tested the monarchy and the establishment, though Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin successfully navigated it to preserve constitutional integrity. Concurrently, economic hardship fuelled political extremism. Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists (BUF) attracted support through anti-Semitism and nationalism, culminating in clashes like the Battle of Cable Street. Similarly, Communism gained traction among intellectuals and the working class. However, both radical movements ultimately failed to destabilise the democratic system.
Your focus
- Explain the domestic policies and economic responses of the 1929–1931 Labour government.
- Analyse the reasons for the formation and the subsequent policies of the National Government.
- Evaluate the leadership and domestic achievements of MacDonald, Baldwin, and Chamberlain.
Show all 12 objectives
- Describe the causes and features of the financial crisis and the Great Depression in Britain.
- Explain the shift in economic policy, including the departure from the Gold Standard and the introduction of tariffs.
- Assess the differential impacts of these economic changes on industry, agriculture, and international trade.
- Compare changes in working opportunities and living standards across different regions of Britain.
- Analyse the cultural significance of radio, cinema, and literature in 1930s society.
- Evaluate the social and cultural responses to both domestic government policies and international crises.
- Explain the causes and constitutional implications of the 1936 abdication crisis.
- Evaluate the rise, activities, and decline of the British Union of Fascists.
- Assess the extent to which Communism and fascism posed a genuine challenge to British political stability in the 1930s.
2M Wars and Welfare: Britain in Transition, 1906–1957 – only) The 'Hungry Thirties', 1929–1939 (A-level only) exam tips
Marking Points
- Assess the impact of the May Report and the proposed unemployment benefit cuts on the collapse of the second Labour government.
- Evaluate the reasons for the formation of the National Government, distinguishing between economic necessity and political manoeuvring.
- Analyse the domestic policies of the National Government, such as the Special Areas Act 1934, in addressing unemployment.
- Compare the leadership styles and effectiveness of MacDonald, Baldwin, and Chamberlain in managing domestic crises and party unity.
- Explain the causes and immediate impact of the 1931 financial crisis on the British economy and international trade.
- Analyse the consequences of leaving the Gold Standard, particularly the impact of 'cheap money' on the private housing market.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of tariff reform and imperial preference in protecting British trade and agriculture from foreign competition.
- Contrast the economic fortunes of traditional heavy industries with the growth of new consumer industries during the 1930s.
- Evaluate the contrast in living standards and working opportunities between the depressed North and Wales and the prosperous South and Midlands.
- Assess the effectiveness of National Government policies, such as the Special Areas Act 1934, in addressing regional unemployment.
- Analyse the role of radio and cinema in providing cultural escapism and shaping national identity during the 1930s.
- Examine literary responses to the Depression, using authors like George Orwell to illustrate contemporary social commentary.
- Discuss how international crises, such as the Spanish Civil War, provoked distinct social and cultural responses, including pacifism and radicalisation.
- Analyse the constitutional threat posed by the 1936 abdication crisis and how Stanley Baldwin's government managed the situation to maintain stability.
- Evaluate the appeal and ultimate failure of the British Union of Fascists (BUF) under Oswald Mosley.
- Assess the influence of Communism in 1930s Britain, including its appeal to the working class and left-wing intellectuals.
- Compare the methods and impact of radical political groups, such as the BUF and the Communist Party of Great Britain, on domestic stability.
- Examine the significance of events like the Battle of Cable Street in demonstrating public resistance to radical political groups.
Examiner Tips
- 💡When evaluating MacDonald's leadership, balance the accusations of betrayal from the Labour Party against his own belief that he was acting in the national interest.
- 💡Use specific domestic policies, such as the 1930 Coal Mines Act or the 1938 Holidays with Pay Act, to support arguments about government effectiveness.
- 💡Link political developments directly to the economic context, demonstrating how the pressures of the Depression dictated government actions and coalition formations.
- 💡Use the concept of 'cheap money' (low interest rates) to explain the uneven economic recovery and the boom in private house building.
- 💡When discussing imperial preference, explicitly mention the 1932 Ottawa Conference as the key event where these trade agreements were negotiated.
- 💡Provide specific examples of 'old' industries (coal, shipbuilding) versus 'new' industries (chemicals, automobiles) to illustrate regional economic disparities.
- 💡Use specific regional examples, such as the Jarrow Crusade, to illustrate the stark social and regional divisions of the 1930s.
- 💡Contrast the escapist nature of cinema with the gritty realism of literary responses to demonstrate the varied cultural landscape.
- 💡Link social and cultural responses to international crises directly to domestic anxieties about the Depression and the threat of another war.
- 💡Use the Public Order Act 1936 as concrete evidence of how the government successfully neutralised the threat of radical political groups like the BUF.
- 💡When discussing the abdication crisis, focus on Baldwin's political manoeuvring and the role of the Dominions in forcing Edward VIII's decision.
- 💡Contrast the perceived threat of Communism and the BUF with the enduring electoral dominance of the moderate National Government.
Common Mistakes
- Assuming the National Government was purely a Conservative administration; it was a coalition, though it became increasingly Conservative-dominated over time.
- Claiming MacDonald was expelled from the Labour Party before forming the National Government; he formed the coalition first, which subsequently led to his expulsion.
- Viewing Chamberlain solely through the lens of foreign policy; his domestic reforms, such as the 1937 Factories Act, must also be evaluated to understand his leadership.
- Stating that leaving the Gold Standard was a deliberate, planned policy; it was actually forced upon the government by a severe run on the pound.
- Assuming the Depression affected the whole country equally; there was a stark regional divide between the relatively prosperous South and the depressed North.
- Confusing tariff reform with free trade; tariff reform meant introducing protectionist duties, explicitly ending Britain's long-standing commitment to free trade.
- Assuming the Depression caused universal poverty; correction: acknowledge the rising living standards and new working opportunities in the South and Midlands.
- Overstating the impact of National Government policies; correction: recognise that measures like the Special Areas Act were heavily criticised for being underfunded and limited in scope.
- Treating cultural responses as purely political; correction: highlight that mainstream culture, particularly radio and cinema, was largely characterised by escapism rather than political radicalism.
- Exaggerating the threat of the BUF and Communism; correction: emphasise that despite their noise, neither radical group achieved significant electoral success or genuinely threatened the state.
- Viewing the abdication crisis solely as a romantic scandal; correction: analyse it as a severe constitutional crisis that tested the relationship between the monarch, the Church, and Parliament.
- Confusing the supporters of the BUF and Communism; correction: distinguish between the BUF's appeal to some middle-class and disillusioned working-class individuals versus Communism's appeal to specific industrial workers and intellectuals.