Changes in the Role of the People Flashcards
(84 cards)
1
Q
What kind of wars were the First World War and what was this?
A
- Total war
- Involves the whole population in war effort
2
Q
What was the Bank of England responsible for and how was this advantageous when compared to other countries?
A
- Issuing government bonds
- They could pay with a promissory note when they commissioned work whereas other governments had to pay for everything in cash
3
Q
What is a promissory note?
A
- A piece of paper promising that debt will be settled on demand
4
Q
Why were government bonds a good way to make money, despite the fact that it was not quick?
A
- The government was rarely short of willing investors in a new bond issue
5
Q
What other things were issued in addition to standard bonds and how did they differ from normal bonds?
A
- Consols
- They did not have a fixed period in which they had to be repaid
6
Q
State 2 wars where consols were issued when they were in desperate need for money.
A
- The Crimean War
- 1920s after WW1
7
Q
What were 2 benefits of consuls for investors?
A
- Every quarter they would receive an interest payment
- Consols become highly tradable on stock market when rate of inflation was very low
8
Q
When were the first consols issued and at what interest rate?
A
- 1750s
- 3.5%
9
Q
In general, did consols form a large part of government debt?
A
- No
10
Q
What were 5 other ways that the French Wars were financed, alongside the methods mentioned before?
A
- Indirect tax reforms
- New tax on inheritance
- Suspension of gold payments by Bank of England
- Reduction in import duties
- Introduction of income tax (Income Tax Act)
11
Q
Between 1783 and 1792, how much had gov revenue been increased by, as a result of the indirect tax reforms?
A
- £12.7 million to £18.6 million
12
Q
When was income tax introduced and what was the rate?
A
- 1798
- 2 old pence on incomes above £60 per year and 2 shillings on incomes above £200 per year
13
Q
Who did the tax affect and how much money did the tax bring about in the first year?
A
- Wealthy businessmen and landowners
- An extra 6 million
14
Q
When was income tax suspended, why, and when was it reinstated?
A
- 1802, as peace was signed
- 1803, as war broke out again
15
Q
From 1815 to 1914, what were 2 ways that Britain’s small wars were paid for?
A
- Taxation
- Small increases in the national debt
16
Q
What were 3 reasons why colonial wars throughout the 19th century did not need much finance?
A
- The enemy was often small in number, so a large number of British troops were not needed
- The enemy was often poorly equipped
- The British were able to conscript local troops to fight for them
17
Q
Which 2 wars required heavy government borrowing?
A
- The Crimean War
- The Second Boer War
18
Q
What 8 sources were used to finance the First World War?
A
- Government bonds
- Direct loans
- War bonds offered to public
- War Savings Certificate Accounts
- Increased tax revenue
- The Bank of England kept gold as emergency reserve
- The Bank of England issued more banknotes
19
Q
Give a stat to show the heavy amount of government borrowing during WW1.
A
- Between 1914 and 1918, the national debt increased from £625 million to £7,800 million
20
Q
Where was money borrowed from through the form of government bonds and direct loans?
A
- Government bonds: British and international institutions (many from the USA)
- Direct loans: other governments (notably the US)
21
Q
What are war bonds?
A
- Investment bonds bought by individuals on the understanding that after the war, the government would pay them back plus interest
22
Q
How much interest was the first issue of war bonds and how did this change?
A
- 5%
- 3.5%
23
Q
Were war bonds expensive? Why?
A
- They could be priced as low as £5 so that ordinary people could afford to invest
24
Q
What were War Savings Accounts?
A
- People bought stamps for 15 shillings and sixpence on the understanding that they would receive £1 back in 5 yrs
25
In what 3 ways was the revenue from taxation increased during WW1?
- A tax on business profits was introduced which gradually increased to 80% by 1918
- The income tax exemption level was lowered from £160 to £130
- The income tax rate was increased from 3.75% in 1914 to 30% in 1918
26
What was different about the financing of WW1?
- It was the first time that people were asked to personally help finance war effort
27
Who were camp followers?
- Civilians who did not have an official role in army but, for various reasons, chose to follow them on their campaign
28
During the Peninsular War, how many wives were allowed per company for the lower ranks and how was selection usually done?
- 6 wives
- By ballot
29
In general, were wives allowed to accompany their husbands on campaign and what restrictions did they face?
- Yes, they were listed on the official company strength
- Army rules and regulations
30
Give 2 examples of unofficial camp followers.
- Wives and children who had not been selected in the ballot
- Local women who had become attached to a soldier
31
Give 3 features that show what life was like for camp-followers.
- They had to march long distances
- Official women were given rations/tent to sleep in
- Unofficial ones had to fend for themselves
32
What were 4 reasons why wives resorted to camp-following?
- If work was difficult to get, the other alternative was the workhouse
- It was difficult for soldiers to send money home, such as because of the irregular delivery of it during the French wars
- They did not trust that their husbands would not dispose of surplus wages on alcohol and prostitutes
- The law discriminated against them greatly so it was hard for them to live without a man
33
Which other unofficial group would commonly follow armies around, and what were 2 reasons why?
- Groups of prostitutes
- They were forced into this to survive
- Men with surplus wages and time would be more willing to engage in the services of a prostitute
34
Give one figure to show the extent of engagement in prostitution in the army.
- During 1850s, 1 in 5 servicemen had succumbed to a venereal disease
35
As a result of the higher numbers of men with venereal disease, what act was passed and what did this enforce?
- Contagious Diseases Act (1864)
- Women could be examined and detained for up to 3 months if they were found to be infected with a venereal disease
36
When was the Contagious DIseases Act repealed and why?
- 1869
- Social reformer Josephine Butler formed an association against the sexist act
37
Give one example of how obtaining work was challenging for a single woman.
- They were barred from certain professions such as law and medicine
38
What were 3 positives of being a camp-follower, as a woman?
- They had the camaraderie of other women
- There was the possibility of making a living, as there were always jobs that needed doing which soldiers were willing to pay for
- Security of remarriage with other men if their husband died
39
What 4 kind of private enterprises were available to make money?
- Prostitution
- Selling alcohol to gunsmiths
- Cobblers
- Cutlers (person who sells cutlery)
40
Which war saw the beginning of professional military medical care and who was the most famous non-official medical practitioner?
- The Crimean War
- Mary Seacole
41
Prior to the Crimean War, in what 2 ways was medical care carried out?
- Medical care was given by bandsmen who acted as stretcher bearers and a surgeon who was attached to each battalion
- Nursing would be done by camp-followers
42
Out of the three groups responsible for medical care prior to the Crimean War, who did soldiers prefer to be treated by, and why?
- The camp follower wives, as they had been taught practical folk remedies from a young age
- Not the surgeon, as often the ones in the army were the worst
- Not the bandsmen, as they had joined the army to play music
43
What did army rations consist of, and who was expected to cook? Who cooked in reality?
- A hard biscuit, bread, meat and alcohol
- Soldiers would cook for themselves
- Soldiers who had partners with them got the partners to cook
44
Who kept army uniforms and equipment serviceable by running repairs?
- Camp followers
45
During which war were there no longer any camp followers?
- WW1
46
Why were militia units first formed?
- Due to the threat of an invasion from France
47
What did militia units do? Give 2 aspects of their role.
- Useful duties and served as a base to recruit regulars
- They were only on duty on a part-time basis
- They were not eligible for foreign service
48
What were cavalry militia units divided into and what were each of those?
- Fencibles: temporary units that couldn't be sent abroad
- Yeomanry: part-time soldiers whose main role was to act against civil unrest
49
When were fencibles disbanded?
- 1803 after the Peace of Amiens
50
Who were infantry units raised by?
- Counties
51
What did militia units and volunteer units do?
- Military unit: given garrison duty away from home to avoid conflict of loyalty when policing civil unrest
- Volunteer units: defended local area against invasion
52
Give one example of a yeomanry unit. When were they raised? Give an example of their work.
- South Notts Yeomanry Cavalry
- Raised in 1794 as 4 troops who operated independently from each other
- Involved in suppressing Nottingham bread riots in 1795
53
In 1790s, who were militia units financed by? Give an example to show this.
- Wealthy individuals or by popular subscription
- Shropshire Yeomanry was financed by popular subscription, where MP William Pulteney contributed £5,000
54
After 1803, how did the financing of militia units change?
- Government money was now available to units, but only if they agreed to complete a set number of training days each year
55
When did the reservists become a structured part of nation's defence and why was this done?
- When Parliament passed Militia Act (1852)
- In response to fear of French invasion and lack of planning for this
56
What did the 1852 Militia Act say?
- Provided for militia force of 80,000 men to be enlisted by ballot/voluntarily (not conscription as there were ways around it and there were usually enough volunteers)
57
Give 2 features of volunteer units.
- They were patriotic and enjoyable for volunteers
- They were free from the discipline of the militia
58
When did volunteer units start becoming popular, and in what way did army leaders think they would be useful?
- 1860s
- Army leaders thought they would be useful as irregular troops whose rifle skills would make them useful skirmishers
59
When was the Defence of the Realm Act passed and what was it?
- August 1914
- It gave the government unprecedented powers to influence almost every aspect of everyday life
60
Give 4 actions that had become an offence in order to prevent spying because of DORA.
- Flying a kite
- Lighting a bonfire
- Buying binoculars
- Talking about military affairs in public
61
Give 4 examples of things that had been done because of DORA to maintain the economy.
- The 1914 Intoxicating Liquor Act was passed to reduce absenteeism due to drunkenness and:
- restricted pub opening times
- landlords told to water down beers
- drinkers could not buy beers in rounds
- To increase the number of daylight hours for agricultural workers, British Summer Time was introduced
62
Which act was introduced in 1915 to manage the war economy, and what did it do?
- The 1915 Munitions of War Act
- It introduced direct government control of munitions industry with strict rules about what workers could and could not do
63
What 6 things were included in the Munitions of War Act that regulated the conduct of workers?
- Strikes were prohibited
- Workers couldn't leave employment in a war industry without the written consent of the employer
- No worker could refuse to take on a new job, even if it had low wages
- No worker could refuse to do overtime, even if it was unpaid
- The government could direct skilled workers to work in specific industries in specific areas of the country
- Dilution: skilled jobs could be broken down into smaller components and done by unskilled workers
64
In return for the limits placed on workers as a result of the Munitions of War Act, what 3 benefits were they given?
- Wages would be protected and pay rises could be offered, but only with agreement of the government
- Workplace disputes would be solved by compulsory arbitrations
- There was scope for shareholders to enjoy a return on their investments
65
Which two key industries were under some form of government control?
- Coal
- Transport
66
In what 2 ways was the coal industry under government control during the war?
- Profits were fixed to 1913 levels for the duration of the war, with any surplus profit going directly to the Treasury
- In February 1917 a coal controller appointed, showing that although coal mines were under private ownership, they could be nationalised if the mines did not comply with government guidelines
67
In what 3 ways did the government control the transport industry during the war?
- Profits were fixed to 1913 levels for the duration of the war, with any surplus going directly to the Treasury
- It continued to be privately owned
- However, by 1918, most merchant ships had been requisitioned by the Ministry of Shipping
68
What issue was there with recruitment during the first months of WW1?
- Young men, many of whom were skilled workers, flocked to join armed forces
69
As a result of the need to expand the armed forces while maintaining the requirements of industry and agriculture at home, what 2 things were recruiting sergeants instructed to do?
- They could not recruit men from reserved occupations, such as miners, shipbuilders, farmers and drivers
- Some men who had already signed up were recalled
70
However, as the war went on, what happened to those in reserved occupations and what allowed this to happen?
- Called into the army as more people died
- Due to deployment of women in industry
71
However, despite the change in the nature of women's work, what 2 things did not change?
- The number of women doing waged work
- Most British women were still housewives by the end of the war
72
How did the deployment of women in industry allowed those in reserved occupations to fight in the army? Give stats to show this.
- They took over their jobs
- Over 200,000 women became civil servants during the war
- Women working in munitions industry increased from 82,860 in July 1914 to 947,000 in November 1918
73
What were 2 reasons why food was an issue in Britain during the war?
- In 1914, 60% of Britain's food was imported, which meant merchant shipping was very important
- As a result, any drop in domestic food production could have a major effect on food supply
74
Why was there a strain on merchant shipping and what 2 problems did this create?
- Because of unrestricted U-boat warfare
- By end of 1916 there were shortages in shops and long queues
- The price of food, when it was available, had risen drastically
75
In order to tackle the issues caused by the strain on merchant shipping, what 3 measures did the government take?
- A massive shipbuilding programme was introduced to make good the losses to the merchant fleet and to ensure imports would still flow into country
- Setting up a food agency
- Rationing was introduced
76
What 5 changes were made under the creation of the food agency?
- The food agency was given powers to supervise food production
- Livestock farmers encouraged to turn to food crops such as wheat and barley (kept prices of these artificially high to ensure they switched)
- Every farm came under the control of the Board of Agriculture, which made sure farmers were making the best use of land
- The wage of male landowners was set at national minimum to keep workers on farms
- The Women's Land Army was created to provide female labourers to take the place of the men when they went to fight
77
How successful was the Women's Land Army? Give a figure.
- Not very
- Only 16,000 women joined in the end
78
When was compulsory rationing introduced and how was it managed?
- January 1918
- Staples like meat, butter were rationed to a certain amount each week
- Bread was not rationed and prices were subsidised to ensure people wouldn't go hungry
79
Give a stat to show the success of rationing.
- Although it wasn't possible to have a varied and rich diet, the number of calories in the average diet only dropped by 3%
80
Give 2 figures to show the success of the restrictions on alcohol consumption (1914 Intoxicating Liquor Act).
- By 1918:
- Beer consumption had halved
- Consumption of spirits was less than half the 1914 level
81
Following the restriction on information as a result of DORA, when was the first time correspondents were allowed access to frontlines and how was this limited?
- 1916
- Given carefully written statements by Army Press Bureau
82
Give 2 stats to show the extent of censorship during WW1.
- 38,000 articles were examined by government censors
- The 'Tribunal' newspaper shut down due to its support for conscientious objectors
83
How many posters were printed during WW1 and what 2 other parts of culture/ the media were used as propaganda?
- Over 50 million
- Films
- Rallies were organised
84
Give one example of propaganda during WW1.
- Real incidents like Zeppelin raids on civilian targets were added to exaggerated claims about babies being bayonetted
