Depression

Explain the international and domestic factors that bought about the depression in the industrialised world during the 1930’s. Australia’s unemployment rate was second to Germany during the time of the depression. While the timing of the depression was linked with the collapse of the New York stock market in October 1929, internal factors were already in play. Australia owed overseas banks millions and when those banks called in their loans Australia was forced to sell off its gold reserves to pay its debt. 1. How did the Australian government respond to the crisis' Sir otto Niemeyer, a representative from the Bank of England, advised the governments that Australia was ‘living beyond its means’ and the only solution was a reduction in living standards. Factories could no longer produce goods and services for government projects and the unemployment grew. Both the state and federal governments agreed to balance their budgets, take out no more loans and service government debt only from revenue. 2. How did attitudes towards charity and relief temper the government response' Proposals to set up a national unemployment scheme in 1927 were squashed by employees and even workers who were concerned such a scheme would stifle independence and initiative for unemployed people to go out and find a job. Charity was believed, would stifle this initiative and discourage the unemployed from taking up work. 3. Describe the impact of the depression on the lives of Australians across the social spectrum. Provide two contrasting examples in your answer. Working women had long been the target of prejudice and had been blamed for everything from juvenile delinquency, the falling birth rate and marriage breakdowns. Many journalists and unemployed men targeted women saying that they were taking mens jobs as the majority of women worked in narrow famished occupations. The upper class took little notice of the depression and life went on normally for many of them. Many wealthier people benefiting greatly from the depression, as land was sold off for bargain prices and jewellery and furniture also. For most respectable working and middle class Australians though, the poor and unemployed were like that because they were lazy, drank to much, gambled and were not interested in finding a job. Once the depression ended the upper class became wealthier as they still had the land and furniture they had purchased. 4. Describe the different ways the unemployed responded to their condition. Many unemployed men and women responded differently to the depression. Many turning up for one job in the hope that they would be hired, whilst many others going on susso or sustenance scheme. With unemployment came humiliation. Families would seel all their possession, move in with family members and in some cases fathers would desert their families before they fronted up to the council depot to apply for charity. 5. How did unemployment strain relationships between marriages and relationships' Losing a job meant you lost not only wage but a sense of belonging. For men work helped define their sense of worth and identity. To feed and clothe your family and provide a roof over their head was the role of the male head of the household and to fail to do this was a source of shame and failure. Men went to extreme measure with many, deserting their families and running off into the country to live a different life and to hopefully find a job. 6. How did the government act to discourage the growth of radical politics among the unemployed during the depression' The government spoke out the unemployed and told them that is was not as bad as they are making it out to be and that they would be happy living in shanty towns. The federal government would also introduce police to break up riots and protest over the depression so things didn’t get out of hand. 7. Provide examples of unity and disunity in Australia society during the depression. Some survivors of the depression in interviews 30 years on recall the 1930’s as a hard time but one that bought people together or bought out the best in us. There is no doubt that family that were struggling found support from family, church and neighbourhood networks. Historian Janet McCalman suggests that in some cases people chose to remember a past they can live with, one where ugly behaviour and experiences are suppressed. 8. How was the position of women, in or out of employment different to that of working class men' How did the influence of women influence feminist campaigns in the future' Most historians have judged the union movement as being largely anti – women and anti-equal pay during the depression. The majority of working women were single and under thirty. Women’s wages had been set at half the male rate under the harvester judgement o 1907 and women who breadwinners were found it difficult to support their dependant’s on their wages. Industries that traditionally employed women – administration, textiles, food and light industry – were less hard hit than heavy industries of mining, building and construction and therefore women were more likely to keep their jobs. These days Men and Women have equal rights and equal pay. Everyone in the Australian society today has equal rights no matter who you are and has the right to vote. 9. Contrast two political solutions to the depression debated during the decade. Sir otto Niemeyer, a representative from the Bank of England was asked to visit Australia and try and help the government get out of their debt and how they could do it. He advised the government that Australia was living beyond its means and the only solution was a reduction in living standards. 10. Did any structural or political changes emerge from the experiences of the Depression' At federal level the economy was monitored and managed in part by government organisations and agencies such as commonwealth and later reserve banks, attitudes towards employment and also unemployment also changed, it was seen by society as the government’s role in part to avert such a national tragedy and assist and support those who feel on the hard times. Some of the working poor continued to live in, sharing toilets. Having no bathrooms, washing in open drains and having to boil hot water to was 11. Why does Historian Janet McCalman describe the depression as a ‘minefield for the unwary or historian’' She suggests that in some cases people chose to remember a past that they can live with, one where ugly behaviour and experiences are suppressed. There is documentary evidence from the period that suggests that the unemployed were under enormous pressure and did things they would not have done in ‘normal’ times.