Sample Document Based Question: The Jarrow March, October 1936

Edco. Exam Papers, Leaving Cert. History pg. xviii-xix

Doc. A: Report of the Jarrow March sent from the Ministry of Labour to the Home Office 26 Sept. 1936

March of the unemployed from Jarrow to London.

Commencing Monday 5.10.36

A march has been organised for the purpose of drawing the attention of the government to the unemployment position in the town, and in the hope by this means the position of Jarrow will obtain wide publicity and the sympathy of the general public resulting in the establishment of industry to provide for unemployed men. Miss Ellen Wilkinson MP for Jarrow and several members of the Council intend to accompany the men on the march.

Special meetings are being held at which it is expecting that those participating in the march will attend in order that the rules which have been agreed on by the committee can be explained to the men. Every effort is being made to ensure the men conduct themselves in an orderly manner.

Doc. B: A photograph of the Jarrow marchers accompanied by the local MP, Ellen Wilkinson

Mr Fitzgerald 1

1. (a) According to Document A why was the march organised? (b) From document A what action has been taken to ensure that the men behaved in an orderly manner?(c) From document B what are the men carrying at the front of the march?

2. (a) Would you agree with the view that document B supports the evidence about the march provided in document A? Refer to both documents in your answer.(b) Which of these two documents, A and B provide a historian with a better understanding of the March? Refer to both documents in your answer.

3. (a) Would you agree with the view that document A is an objective source?(b) What are the strengths and weaknesses of sources such as document B for historians?

4. What were the causes and consequences of the Jarrow March, October 1936?

Mr Fitzgerald 2