Chapter 7: Britain at War 1914-1918

Question 1

Why was there a hostility against germany at the start of ww1?

Answer 1

News of atrocities in Belgium made the British feel they had a duty to help
Long-term tensions over economic rivalry

Question 2

Why was there a sense of unity in Britain at the start of ww1?

Answer 2

The entire national came together, despite huge internal conflict pre-war.
Ireland united
Strikes stopped
Suffragettes helped the war effort

Question 3

What were the main reasons for people joining up in WW1?

Answer 3

Expectation of a quick war - thought it’d be over by christmas
People went for glory at the start
Later on - willingness to sacrifice yourself for the cause; had to finish what was started
Social Pressures - Expectation from all that young men should ‘do their bit’.
Pals battallions - people kept with their friends if they joined together

Question 4

Who opposed the war?

Answer 4

Socialists - wanted workers to unite across nations
Quakers - objected on principle, pacifists
Groups of intellectuals - believed germany was a cultural heart, not a military threat

Question 5

Why was there general reluctance to voice opposition to the war?

Answer 5

Conscientious objection viewed as treason & cowardice
Voicing opposition undermined war effort
Pacifist politicians were removed - Ramsay Macdonald

Question 6

How many conscientious objectors were in WW1?

Answer 6

16,000 objectors, as well as 1,500 absolutists, who would not take any part in the war at all. (Objectors would still work and build shells)

Question 7

When was DORA passed?

Answer 7

August 1914

Question 8

What was DORA 1914?

Answer 8

Defence of the Realm Act

Question 9

What were the effects of DORA 1914?

Answer 9

Blackouts were introduced
Ministry of Munitions set up
Regulated land to ensure none was left unused
Pro-war propaganda was distributed
Government took control over mines, mills, etc.

Question 10

How many volunteers were recruited by the end of 1914?

Answer 10

Over 1 million

Question 11

What was the Military Service Act 1916?

Answer 11

Introduced conscription - men aged 18-41 obliged to serve in the armed forces.
Later extended to 51 in April 1918

Question 12

What were some positive impacts of WW1 on living standards?

Answer 12

Fall in death rates for the poorest in society - better off died disproportionately in the trenches due to very poorest being too unwell to enlist
Working Class who weren’t fighting could afford more food, as wages rose faster than prices & there were often less mouths to feed.
Factory canteens provided cheap food for workers

Question 13

What was some state help to alleviate poverty during WW1?

Answer 13

Separation payments (23s for a wife & 1 child)
Widow’s pensions started at 13s
School meals extended to needy children all year round
Nurseries for munitions workers - 28 by 1917
Care of Mothers & Young Children Act 1915 - more midwives, health visitors, etc.

Question 14

What were some negative impacts of ww1 on living standards?

Answer 14

Food shortages & hunger by 1917 - rationing in 1918
Many families lost income - no male breadwinner
Some towns bombed by Zeppelin attacks
Flu epidemic in 1918 - worse due to malnourishment
Longer hours in factories
Bad housing due to stock not being replaced fast enough

Question 15

What were some voluntary organisations that saw expansion during the war?

Answer 15

Belgian Refugee organisation set up
Scout movement expanded
Volunteer Corps set up to defend the home front
Prince of Wales National Relief fund - helped families suffering as a result of war

Question 16

Why was the first coalition government set up in 1915?

Answer 16

Liberal Principles went against the idea of ‘total war’ - laissez faire economics wouldn’t work
MIlitary defeats in Gallipoli & Ypres
Asquith had little reactionary capability as a leader
The Shell Shortage caused a wave of criticism from opposing parties

Question 17

Who was in the first wartime coalition cabinet?

Answer 17

PM - Asquith (Lib)
Minister for War - Kitchener
Chancellor - Reginald McKenna (Liberal)
Foreign Secretary - Edward Grey (Lib)
Minister for Munitions - DLG (Lib)
First Lord of the Admiralty - Balfour (Cons)
Colonial Sec - Andrew Bonar-Law (Cons)
President of the Board of Education - Arthur Henderson (Lab)

Question 18

What political problems existed for the Liberals during WW1?

Answer 18

They were divided on how to manage the war
They had to share power
They were breaking away from their traditional values

Question 19

What political problems existed for the Conservatives during WW1?

Answer 19

No majority in Parliament
Could only take a role in coalition

Question 20

What political problems did the Labour party face during ww1?

Answer 20

Maintaining TU support
Maintaining workers living standards
Ideas of international socialism
Split over pacifism - Ramsay Macdonald

Question 21

What were some problems faced in 1916?

Answer 21

Gallipoli campaign abandoned
Disastrous effect of the Somme - 60,000 casualties in 1 day
Easter Uprising in Ireland
Defeat in Messopotamia against the Turks

Question 22

Why did David-Lloyd George become Prime Minister in 1916?

Answer 22

He pushed for a 3-man war cabinet to ensure everything was run smoothly. Asquith said no, so DLG resigned to force his hand. Asquith also resigned, leaving DLG the only possible option to run the country.

Question 23

What were some reasons why DLG was better suited to be PM than Asquith?

Answer 23

49 Liberal MPs wanted to be rid of Asquith, and a further 80 were willing to support a Lloyd-George government
Edward Carson led a group of Conservatives to overthrow Asquith
DLG was far more dynamic as a leader & had popular support of the people
However, Asquith had cabinet support.

Question 24

Why did the Liberal Party split in 1916?

Answer 24

Those who supported Asquith vs. those who supported Lloyd-George were split down the middle
Maurice Debate 1918 was the final nail in the coffin

Question 25

What was the Maurice debate 1918?

Answer 25

Asquith forced a vote against the government to investigate into a claim that the government had lied about numbers of troops on the frontlines. Only vote against the government in WW1, lost by Asquith.

Question 26

What was the impact of the Liberal Party split?

Answer 26

DLG was a leader with no party - led a Conservative coalition government
Liberals never held office again after DLG in 1922
Labour got to form a government in 1924 after liberals self-destructed

Question 27

What was the immediate impact of ww1 on the Labour Party?

Answer 27

ILP & Macdonald opposed the war - resigned
Henderson joined the coalition against the will of the parliamentary party - backing of the national executive
Henderson supported DLG in 1916.
Disapproved of conscription, but didn’t actively oppose it.

Question 28

What was the Union of Democratic Control?

Answer 28

An organisation formed in 1914 by Liberals & Labour MPs concerned about the war.
Led by figures such as Ramsay Macdonald and Charles Trevalyn, a Liberal.
Opposed censorship & conscription
Opposed the war against Russian communism
Wanted more clear & democratic wartime govt.

Question 29

What was a further split in Labour later in the war?

Answer 29

Arthur Henderson was sent to Russia and wanted Britain to exit the war similarly - he was forced to resign

Question 30

What were the changes made to the Labour constitution due to ww1?

Answer 30

Set out a new policy document - Labour & the New Social Order: promised nationalisation, heavy taxation of the rich, social welfare, and the idea of a ‘national minimum’.
Party membership no longer limited to approved socialist societies or trade unions

Question 31

What were the 1918 General Election results for Labour?

Answer 31

Henderson decided to fight the 1918 GE seperately from the coalition
Won 57 seats in parliament - both Henderson & Macdonald lost their seats
Mostly TU MPs elected

Question 32

What was the effect of WW1 on women in work?

Answer 32

947,000 women in munitions factories by 1918
45,000 women nurses by 1917
Worked in other male-dominated industries such as coal & shipbuilding
Tram conductresses introduced
100,000 served in WAAC, WRNS, WRAF (army/navy/RAF)

Question 33

What was the social effect of WW1 on women?

Answer 33

Challenged the victorian view that they were weak
Independence - earned money on their own
Changes in fashion - shorter hair, skirts
However, still strong emphasis on traditional roles & had to return from work to make space for the men post-war

Question 34

What was the effect of WW1 on women’s suffrage?

Answer 34

Debate kept alive by the need to increase men’s suffrage - many soldiers who fought & died weren’t enfranchised
1918 Representation of the People Act gave them the vote at 30 if they met property qualifications

Question 35

What are some arguments for the war being the main reason for women getting the vote?

Answer 35

Militancy of suffragettes had done more harm than good
High profile of women in WW1 changed the minds of key individuals
Extension of the male franchise
1918 was a completely different world than pre-war - change was to be expected

Question 36

What are some arguments for the war not being the main reason for women getting the vote?

Answer 36

Agitation & violence before WW1 meant DLG was not willing to risk a repeat post-war
Bills before 1914 had gotten support - just delayed due to war
Women had made progress pre-war
Younger women still no vote until 1928