Case study 6 - The treatment of conscientious objectors in the First and Second World Wars Flashcards Preview

History - Crime and Punishment > Case study 6 - The treatment of conscientious objectors in the First and Second World Wars > Flashcards

Flashcards in Case study 6 - The treatment of conscientious objectors in the First and Second World Wars Deck (8)
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1
Q

What were the two types of CO?

A

ALTERNATIVISTS - willing to help the war effort

ABSOLUTISTS - wouldn’t contribute to the war effort at all

2
Q

How were pacifists treated?

A

ALTERNATIVISTS - work camps set up to give them jobs

ABSOLUTISTS - sent to prison or to France, or even threatened with execution. 10 died in prison and 63 shortly after, 31 had mental breakdown

3
Q

Why were COs treated so harshly by the government?

A

These wars were “total wars” - the government needed the whole of society to get involved

As a result, conscription was introduced in 1916 - abstaining from helping the war effort was therefore breaking the law

4
Q

How were COs treated in WW1 by the government?

A

Tribunals unfairly weighted against giving exemptions

Imprisoned

Denied the right to vote

5
Q

How were COs treated in WW1 by society?

A

Treated with hostility: given white feathers, sacked from jobs, faced assaults in the street

6
Q

How were COs treated in WW2 by the government?

A

Tribunals more fair

People allowed to continue campaigning against war

More jobs were found

7
Q

How were COs treated in WW2 by society?

A

Treated with hostility: sacked from jobs, faced assaults in the street

8
Q

How many COs and exemptions were there in WW1 and WW2? Why was there such a difference?

A

WW1:
16 000 COs
400 exemptions

WW2:
59 192 COs
46 990 exemptions

More COs, as people still remembered the horrors of WW1; more exemptions, as the government realised that abstinence from war wasn’t necessarily based on cowardice