The General Strike of 1926
Keith Laybourn(Author)
Manchester University Press
Published on 11. November 1993
Book
Paperback/Softback
161 pages
978-0-7190-3865-5 (ISBN)
Description
The General Strike of 1926 in support of the miners was the most important dispute in British industrial history. It is the only occasion on which the vast majority of the working class have given their industrial, financial and moral support to a group of workers for more than one day. This book examines the reasons for the dispute, the events and their significance for British society. It focuses on the unfolding of such events as "Black Friday", "Red Friday" and the action of the rank and file as well as the reaction of the Conservative Government and the constitutional issues raised. The author argues that the General Strike was almost inevitable, given the contending and conflicting demands of the TUC and the Government. He also asserts that it was not the unmitigated disaster that it is often presented as being. Together with an original and accessible analysis of the General Strike, the book also provides a lucid survey of existing historiography on the dispute and a useful section of key documents. The study offers an ideal update on a topic which has not produced a major textbook in 17 years.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Manchester
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (UK-trade)
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 138 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-7190-3865-5 (9780719038655)
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Schweitzer Classification
Content
Debates; not "out of a clear blue sky" - the long-term causes of the general strike; the 1925 coal crisis and the nine-month respite; "the wonderful response and the organisation we had" - the nine days; the settlement; the return to work and the problem of the coal lock-out; the consequences of the General Strike - a watershed in industrial relations?.