Not all industries were badly effected by the depression, there were four main industries that were devastated by it, the ‘staple industries’, these were the industries that created the foundations of Britain’s economy. These industries were: Shipbuilding, Steel & iron, Cotton and Coal mining. These industries were badly affected for a reason; no countries could afford to buy Britain’s goods as they were expensive and could be bought cheaper from countries such as Japan and Germany. Also many of Britain’s industries relied on each other to buy their goods, for example. Shipbuilding required coal and steel to build the ships, with less call for British ships, the shipbuilders needed less coal and steel which caused a decline in these economies. In addition coal was starting to be needed less, ships changed from coal to oil, motor cars ran on petrol and airplanes used aviation fuel. Overall the demand for British ships, coal and steel declined because it was being produced cheaper and faster abroad, Britain’s market was being claimed by foreign competition.
The depression caused rates of unemployment in Britain to rise dramatically, this huge amount of unemployment had a huge impact on the social health of British people. By the early 1930’s extreme poverty had become common, 12% of the country’s population was engulfed by it, this had adverse effects on standards of nutrition and millions of people were getting ill balanced diets, queuing at soup kitchens became a way of life for many as their unemployment benefits could barely cover the cost of their rent and heating let alone food or clothing. Millions were living in extreme poverty, a family of four would live in 2 small rooms which led to the easy spread of disease and other serious health problem e.g. Pneumonia was eight times more common and Bronchitis ten times more common among the poor than those who were better off. Also people saw the rates of infant mortality shoot up; in Jarrow alone in 1931 the infant mortality rate was 159 compared to the national average of 62.
Britain was hit in a peculiar way by the depression simply because it was hit regionally and not by class. Whilst the North of England and South Wales were suffering with the depression, the industries of the Midlands and South East England were flourishing. The new industries which were situated there were in great demand. These were car manufacturing, electronics and chemical & petrochemical industries. These industries were located in the South East & Midlands because the directors preferred the pleasant surroundings of these regions to the bleak, soot-blackened towns of the North. Furthermore as these industries did not use steam engines there was no longer any advantage of siting a factory on a coal field – electricity was available at the flick of a switch. Moreover the goods produced were directed directly at the consumer (as opposed to the traditional industries which sold ships and steel which were bought by big companies) so they needed to be close to the large centres of population to market their products, London and the South East were perfect for this.
In conclusion the depression on Britain in the early 1930’s had not only many negative effects but also a lot of positive effects, but these effects were separated by region. The traditional industries of the North and South Wales were severely badly affected which caused widespread poverty and poor health. Whereas there was an economic boom in the South East & the Midlands where new industries had flourished and the people were prosperous.
Andreas Chace
