The Effect of the 1926 Strike, Economic Depression and Rise of Fascism on the Society. Essay Example
The 1926 general strike in the United Kingdom was a general strike that lasted ten days, from 3 May 1926 to 13 May 1926. It was an unsuccessful attempt to force the British government to act to prevent wage reduction and worsening conditions for coal miners.
The biggest cause of the strike was the First World War, in which coal was heavily used for domestic purposes. Productivity of coal mines was comparatively low and wages were reduced in order to normalize profits. Miners were dissatisfied with the work conditions and low pays and the situation resulted in a ten day strike.
The background of Great Depression was also connected with the First World War. Economic depression began in 1929, when country was still recovering from the effects of the war. Economic recovery was also slowed down by Gold Standard. Winston Churchill restored the Pound Sterling to its prewar exchange rate. This made British export goods more expensive. The number of unemployed people rose to one million and kept rising further. From 1936 National Government followed a policy of mass rearmament and it stimulated the economy and led to the end of the depression.
The end of Great depression was followed by the rise of fascism in Europe and especially in Germany. In 1935 Hitler ignored the Versailles Treaty and re-armed Germany. Treaty limited German forces to 100,000 men with few arms. United Kingdom officially protested against these steps, but many British people felt, that Versailles Treaty was too harsh. They believed that Hitler wanted to eliminate the extremes of the treaty. Hitler was allowed to build a fleet one third the size of Royal Navy. Churchill even supported fascism claiming, that Mussolini had strong qualities.
All these three events greatly influenced British society. Strike and depression weakened Britain in economic sense. Welfare was very low; people lost their jobs and were disappointed in country and government. There was no confidence in tomorrow; it was the time
The biggest cause of the strike was the First World War, in which coal was heavily used for domestic purposes. Productivity of coal mines was comparatively low and wages were reduced in order to normalize profits. Miners were dissatisfied with the work conditions and low pays and the situation resulted in a ten day strike.
The background of Great Depression was also connected with the First World War. Economic depression began in 1929, when country was still recovering from the effects of the war. Economic recovery was also slowed down by Gold Standard. Winston Churchill restored the Pound Sterling to its prewar exchange rate. This made British export goods more expensive. The number of unemployed people rose to one million and kept rising further. From 1936 National Government followed a policy of mass rearmament and it stimulated the economy and led to the end of the depression.
The end of Great depression was followed by the rise of fascism in Europe and especially in Germany. In 1935 Hitler ignored the Versailles Treaty and re-armed Germany. Treaty limited German forces to 100,000 men with few arms. United Kingdom officially protested against these steps, but many British people felt, that Versailles Treaty was too harsh. They believed that Hitler wanted to eliminate the extremes of the treaty. Hitler was allowed to build a fleet one third the size of Royal Navy. Churchill even supported fascism claiming, that Mussolini had strong qualities.
All these three events greatly influenced British society. Strike and depression weakened Britain in economic sense. Welfare was very low; people lost their jobs and were disappointed in country and government. There was no confidence in tomorrow; it was the time