breadth study 2: organising the home front Flashcards

(56 cards)

1
Q

what formed at home during the threat of invasion by the French?

A

militia units

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2
Q

what was the role of militia units in the French wars?

A

they were part time and not eligible for foreign service
they performed useful duties at home and served as a base for recruitment
their main role was to control civilian unrest so regular army units could stay abroad

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3
Q

what were the 2 cavalry militia unit types in the French wars?

A

fencibles
yeomanry

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4
Q

explain fencible units

A

they were temporary and couldn’t be sent abroad
they were popular in 1790s but most dispersed after the peace of Amiens in 1802

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5
Q

who undertook the role of militia duties from 1803?

A

yeomanry
part time soldiers

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6
Q

what was garrison duty?

A

infantry militia units given duty away from home area in order to avoid conflict of loyalty when pressing civilians

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7
Q

what were volunteer units in French wars?

A

part time soldiers like the yeomanry
who trained for a few areas and were meant to defend the local area from the threat of invasion

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8
Q

give an example of a yeomanry unit and an event they were used in

A

south Notts Yeomanry Cavalry
raised in 1794 and operated independently from each other
involved in suppressing the Nottingham bread riots in 1795

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9
Q

how were militia units funded in the 1790s?

A

privately, by wealth individuals
by popular subscription

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10
Q

give an example of a militia unit funded by popular subscription

A

shropshire yeomanry
the MP for Shropshire, Sir William Pulteney contributed £5’000

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11
Q

what was available to militia units after 1803?

A

government money under the conditions of a few days of training ever year

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12
Q

how many men were serving in the reserves in 1803/how many were cavalry?

A

380’000 men
34’000 cavalry

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13
Q

what happened to local units after Waterloo?

A

they were disbanded
some did continue and provide policing when necessary

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14
Q

peterloo massacre

A

1819
local yeomanry were called to disperse the crowd and 11 died
people began to question the relevance of reservists

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15
Q

when was a civilian police force introduced?

A

1829

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16
Q

what was the cause of the militia act?

A

fear of French invasion and that the military authorities were not prepared for that

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17
Q

when was the militia act?

A

1852

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18
Q

what did the militia act do

A

provided a militia force of 80’000 men by volunteer of ballot
protects home territory in times of war but also the ability to do so in peacetime

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19
Q

what also grew as well as militia in the 1860s and why?

A

volunteer movement
many saw it as patriotic and enjoyable
volunteer units were free from the discipline of militia

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20
Q

what had the British government passed, wishing 4 days of war breaking out in 1914?

A

Defence of the Realm Act

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21
Q

what did the defence of the realm act, and similar legislation, give the government the authority for?

A

to influence every aspect of everyday life

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22
Q

why was the defence of the realm act so significant?

A

it changed the relationship between government and society. people largely left alone in the 19th century-laissez-faire government

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23
Q

what was the defence of the realm act?

A

DORA
was passed in order to control communications, the nations ports, and subject civilians to the rules of military courts

24
Q

what were some of the things that become illegal during the First World War and why?

A

the government was concerned about spying
offence to fly a kite, light a bonfire or buy binoculars
prohibited to talk about military affairs in public

25
what measures were there of DORA regarding the economy?
there was concern for absenteeism due to drunkenness pub opening times were restricted and land lords told to reduce alcohol contents introduction of British summer time to provide more daylight for agricultural work in evenings
26
what became clear in early 1915?
that more supplies were needed for frontline troops this was indicated by a rumour of shell shortage that caused outrage at home
27
what did concern for supply of frontline troops result in
the Munitions of War Act 1915
28
munitions of war act
direct government control over the munitions industry with strict riles of what workers could and couldn't do trade unions agreed to abide by the conditions of the act for the duration of the war
29
explain the main area of the munitions of war act- conduct of workers?
strikes prohibited,wotkers couldn't leave employment in war industry without written consent of employer no worker could refuse a new job or overtime skilled jobs were broken down sp they could be done by unskilled workers- dilution the government could also direct workers to specific industries in specific areas of the country
30
what did workers get in return under the munitions of war act?
protected wages, and pay rises offered only with the agreement of the government
31
how were workplace disputes solved under the munitions act?
compulsory arbitration and workers found contravening the munitions act would be tired by special munitions tribunals
32
give a specific example of an industry that came under government control in ww1?
coal industry the profits of coal mines were fixed to 1913 levels for the duration of the war, with surplus going to the treasury coal mines remained in private ownership but the appointment of a coal controller in feb 1917 suggested full nationalisation would occur if they didn't comply
33
did the government control the transport industries?
they fixed profits to 1913 levels- same as coal mines but companies left to run themselves however merchant shipping came under increasing government control
34
what were the workforce issues in the first world war?
young men who were skilled workers, had left roles and joined the army. by 1915, recruiting sergeants were told not to recruit from reserved occupations because they were needed at home resulted in the mass mobilisation of women
35
by how much did the number of women working in munitions increase?
82'859 in July 1914 947'000 in Nov 19918
36
how many women became civil servants during WW1?
over 200'000
37
how many women were in the transport industry by the end of the war?
117'000
38
by how much did female employment rise during WW1?
by 22.5%
39
how much of British food was imported in 1914?
60%
40
what impact did the war have on food supply?
strain of merchant shipping was caused by U boat warfare by the end of 1916, there were shortages and long queues at home food prices had also risen dramatically
41
how did the government tackle food shortages
massive shipbuilding to ensure imports continued second was setting up a food agency and rationing
42
what did the food agency do?
Supervised food production, livestock farmers encouraged to turn to food crops the government guaranteed prices so farmers would switich every farm came under control of board of agriculture wages of male landowners set at national minimum so they wouldn't join army
43
what was created in 1917 to support food production at home?
women's land army
44
how effective was the women's land army?
only 16'000 joined in the end
45
when was compulsory rationing introduced
January 1918
46
what food was not rationed?
bread price of loaf was subsidised by the government
47
by how much did the war affect civilian diets?
number of calories in the average diet dropped by 3%
48
how did the government control alcohol ?
the Intoxicating Liquor (temporary restriction) Act passed on 31st august in 1914
49
what did the intoxicating liquor act do?
gave authorities the right to limit the opening times of pump advised land lords to water down beer and stopped customers buying rounds of drinks opening hours very restricted in ports of factory areas
50
how successful was the government policy on drinking?
very successful beer consumption halved by 1918
51
how did convictions for drunkenness reduce?
1914; 3'388 per week 1918:449
52
the government used DORA to control military matters spoken about in public and by newspapers. when were correspondents allowed on the frontline?
1916 they were still carefully controlled
53
explain how the civilian servants ensured that the press did not reveal any sensitive information
in 1916, 38'00 articles, 25'000 photos and 300'000 private telegrams were examined by government censors any newspaper that gave balanced or antiwar perspective could be shut down
54
how many posters were printed in WW1
50 milloin government saw propaganda an important part of war effort
55
name a propaganda film?
the battle of the somme shown in over 2000 cinemas by October 1916
56
how did the scale of war change over time
by WW1 more armies fighting over a larger area, so more troops were needed this affects the civilian population far more as did the massive killings brought by new technology that were greater than ever seen before