Britain 1900-1950

Before WW1, Britain was a manufacturing workshop, and hub of international finance, confident in the economic doctrine of laissez faire (free from state intervention). However, between 1900 and 1950 Britain was weakened by two world wars, and beset by economic difficulties.
The old staples of coal, steel, shipbuilding and textiles were declining, and the inter-war decades were overshadowed by mass unemployment; periods of poverty; dole queues, and derelict towns.

7 pages, 1995 words. Including list of reference books, and extensive chronology