How were civilians affected by World War 1?

1. How were civilians affected by World War 1? Aim: To revise key details about the British Home Front during the First World War A revision presentation from http://www.mrallsophistory.com/

2. Recruitment • Women’s organisations tried to boost recruitment • White feathers were given to men as a sign of their “cowardice” • The Mother’s Union urged its members to get their sons to join up

3. Recruitment • Initial recruitment used posters, leaflets, etc. to build an army quickly • What is the message of this poster? • How would this poster encourage men to join the army?

4. Recruitment • Initial recruitment used posters, leaflets, etc. to build an army quickly • What is the message of this poster? • How would this poster encourage men to join the army?

5. Recruitment • Initial recruitment used posters, leaflets, etc. to build an army quickly • What is the message of this poster? • How would this poster encourage men to join the army?

6. Recruitment

7. Conscription • Voluntary recruitment was decreasing, but the demand for troops was increasing • Voluntary recruitment didn’t share the burden between all parts of society • Conscription introduced in 1916 • All men aged 18-40 had to register • They could be called up to fight at any time

8. Conscription • Conscientious objectors opposed the war for political or religious reasons • They refused to fight, and were imprisoned – or executed – for doing so • Others helped the war effort, but not through military action • Field hospitals • Stretched bearers

9. DORA • The Defence of the Realm Act • Introduced in 1914 • Gave the government powers to control many aspects of people’s daily lives • The priority was to keep industrial production high, but other things were affected too

11. DORA • Licensing hours were introduced • Pubs could only open for 2 hours at lunchtime and 3 hours in the evening • This made sure the workforce was awake and sober for factory work

12. DORA • Newspapers and radio broadcasts were censored • The government could control what people heard about the war • This made sure the public continued to support the war effort by only hearing good things

13. DORA • Food was rationed • The government took over land and used it for farm production • This ensured there was enough food to feed the public and the army, despite German U-Boat attacks

14. DORA • Beer was diluted • The government allowed publicans to make beer weaker • This ensured the workforce didn’t drink so much as to make them drunk or hung-over while at work

15. DORA • British Summer Time was introduced • The government move the clocks forward by an hour in the summer • This ensured factories had maximum daylight, meaning they could operate later

16. DORA • Mines and railways were taken over by the government • The government had ultimate control over them • This meant production of coal, and the movement of trains, would be prioritised for the war effort

17. Rationing • In April 1917, German U-Boats were sinking one in every four British merchant ships • Britain was running out of food

18. Rationing • In 1917 voluntary rationing began, led by the royal family • In 1918 compulsory rationing began • Sugar • Butter • Meat • Beer

19. Propaganda and Censorship • All news was tightly controlled (censorship) • Reports aimed to: • Maintain morale • Encourage civilians to support the war effort • Create hatred and suspicion of the enemy • Newspapers, radio broadcasts, films and even board games were used

20. Propaganda and Censorship • The film, The Battle of the Somme, was filmed in 1916 • The Battle was a disaster for the British Army • Failed objectives • Enormous causalities • What can the film tell an historian about the use of propaganda in WW1? • Watch the clip (will take a couple of minutes to download)

21. Propaganda and Censorship • The film, The Battle of the Somme, is seen by historians as a propaganda triumph • People at home felt they could see how their efforts were helping the troops • Although it showed some casualties, it also showed advancing troops, helping morale

22. Propaganda and Censorship • The film, Britain’s Effort, was created in 1917 • What was its purpose? • Watch the clip (will take a couple of minutes to download)

23. Propaganda and Censorship • It is hard to measure how effective propaganda was • BUT • Support for the war was reasonably constant • Only really changed with the enormous causalities at the Battle of the Somme in 1916 • People read lots of newspapers, and watched the films, so they were being exposed to it

24. The Brown Family’s Four War Christmas • What is happening in each frame? • Explain why these things are happening, based on what you know about life on the Home Front