In the late twenties a event occurred that would effect the whole world for the best part of the next decade.
This event was the wall street crash. It effected not only the USA but also the rest of the capitalist world. I will also be looking at things like how places like Jarrow were effected by the depression and what the government did to ease the pressure. The great depression effected Britain for a number of reasons.One problem was that US traders stopped importing from abroad, this affected trade in Britain badly because it's not only effected trade in Britain badly because it is not only effected the companies exporting but also the shipbuilding industry in Britain.
This was an importing trade in Britain in the 1920's and 1930's. It was effected so badly because if nobody was exporting then there was no need for any more ships. People not spending money effected trade worldwide meaning that certain industry was failing putting many people out of work and causing many companies to go bust.Britain also priced itself out of the market.
British produce was often very expensive. Foreign governments were not willing to pay the premium prices when they could get products cheaper elsewhere. The areas effected especially badly by the depression were small villages in areas such as North Scotland and South Wales. These villages were often based around old industries which were often the central point of these towns and were failing leaving many of these villages crippled, with many of their occupants out of work.Many hardships were faced by the peoples of Britain during the depression.
One issue that people faced was that after becoming unemployed the dole that the government paid lasted only twenty six weeks and was not nearly enough to sustain a reasonable standard of living. It was also difficult for those who were still employed and for small business. Small businesses were struggling as well, not nearly getting as much business as they were used to . Another serious issue brought about by the depression was the malnutrition in the poorer families.The primary cause of this malnutrition was that these families were forced to purchase cheaper foods which lacked nutrition. This meant that poorer children were ten times more likely to catch bronchitis, eight times more likely to catch pneumonia and five times more likely to catch rickets.
During the depression many places, in the cities predominantly, barely even noticed the effects of the depression. One of the main reasons for this happening, is that these cities were based around or expanding into the "New Industries".In some places employment and wages shockingly even rose through the 1930's. the old industries that were often located in small villages were failing whereas industries in the south and in major cities were thriving.
Workers in these areas had more security because they were paid by salary rather as opposed to by the hour which was unstable because there is not always work. Also prices dropped by as much as 40% from 1924-1936 so most people were far better off than they were before the depression.
