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- The impact of Depression and war, 1928 to 45
The impact of Depression and war, 1928 to 45
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The Depression and the Second World War tested British society, bringing unemployment, extremism, and new contributions from ethnic minorities and disabled people.
Depression and extremism
Unemployment hit the industrial north and Wales hard. In the Jarrow Crusade (1936) about 200 men marched to London to ask for jobs.
Eugenics (the idea of 'improving' the population by controlling who had children) had supporters.
The British Union of Fascists (BUF), led by Oswald Mosley, stirred up hostility to Jewish people; it was confronted at the Battle of Cable Street (1936).
Eugenics (the idea of 'improving' the population by controlling who had children) had supporters.
The British Union of Fascists (BUF), led by Oswald Mosley, stirred up hostility to Jewish people; it was confronted at the Battle of Cable Street (1936).
Immigration and the colour bar
Refugees from Nazi persecution came to Britain, and some 'enemy aliens' were interned in 1940.
The colour bar (refusing service to Black people) existed in hotels and other places.
In 1943 West Indian cricketer Learie Constantine was refused a room at the Imperial Hotel in London; he sued and won (1944), highlighting racial discrimination.
The colour bar (refusing service to Black people) existed in hotels and other places.
In 1943 West Indian cricketer Learie Constantine was refused a room at the Imperial Hotel in London; he sued and won (1944), highlighting racial discrimination.
War and disability
Men and women from across the Empire served; women were conscripted for war work from 1941 (national service).
The Disabled Persons (Employment) Act (1944) required larger employers to employ a quota of disabled workers.
The Disabled Persons (Employment) Act (1944) required larger employers to employ a quota of disabled workers.
Why was the Learie Constantine case important?
- A famous cricketer was refused a hotel room because of his colour.
- He took the hotel to court and won.
- It showed the colour bar existed and drew public attention to racism.
Answer: It exposed racial discrimination in Britain and won public sympathy.
Depression: unemployment and the Jarrow Crusade (1936); eugenics; the BUF under Mosley. Refugees and interned aliens; the colour bar exposed by Learie Constantine's case (1943 to 44). National service in the war; the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act (1944).
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