Conscientious Objectors Flashcards

1
Q

Who were they?

A

people who gave religious, moral or political objections to war

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2
Q

Conscription-

A
  • law that states that everyone who is asked to, and who is fit and healthy, has to fight in the armed forces.
  • therefore anyone who refused to fight could be committing a crime
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3
Q

conscription laws were introduced twice in Britian during the

A

WW1, WW2

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4
Q

Attitudes to conscientous objectors

A

people thought they were making sacrifices so others should too

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5
Q

fist world war:

A
  • conscription for men: 1916
  • 16,000 men refused to fight
  • only 400 were given total exemption on grounds of conscience
  • ‘alternativists’ were given non combat roles
  • '’Absolutists’’ were imprisoned, given brutal treatment and harsh labour
  • 10 died in prison, 31 had breakdowns, 63 died after release
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6
Q

second world war:

A

from April 1939 for men
December 1941 for women

  • 59,000 men and women refused
  • all except 12,204 were given complete exemption
  • smaller % of exempted ones were sent to prison and others weren’t treated as harshly
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7
Q

public thoughts, second world war

A

CO’s were treated as cowards and traitors

  • they were physically abused
  • press was less harsh in ww2
  • many found it hard to get jobs
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8
Q

The Order of the White Feather:

A

-encouraged women to hand out feathers,symbolising cowardice, to young men not in military uniforms

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