There is Power in a Union

AS Historians

The next big topic that we will be examining is the 1926 General Strike, a nine day strike in the May of that year by workers from a range of industries in support of the miners. The miners had gone on strike in April over the decision by colliery owners to    cut pay and extend working hours. 

It is really important to get to grips with what happened and why both in the lead up to the Strike, during it and the aftermath.

Have a look at the following links to help and think about the following questions - why did the General Strike fail? What were the consequences of the Strike for the Conservative Government, the trade unions, the Labour Party and the economy as a whole.


Be prepared to discuss and debate these issues on Monday 10th December.

Spartacus
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/TUgeneral.htm

BBC Bitesize
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/mwh/britain/generalstrikerev1.shtml
The TUC's and Miners Union resources on the Strike
http://www.unionhistory.info/generalstrike/index.php
http://num.org.uk/History-NumHistory-the-general-strike.html

Useful resource from the National Archives
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/cabinetpapers/alevelstudies/the-general-strike.htm
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/cabinetpapers/themes/general-strike-cover-papers.htm

A great photo archive
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/explorefurther/images/generalstrike/

Some great digitized newspapers published at the time of the General Strike
http://contentdm.warwick.ac.uk/cdm/search/collection/tav/searchterm/Newspapers%20printed%20during%20the%20General%20Strike/field/collec/mode/all/conn/and/order/alt


You can post any initial thoughts and comments here.

Good luck!