How were civilians affected by World War 1?

Aim: How did people feel about World War One?Did these attitudes change?

Connection• When World War One was

declared, there was an outburst of joy in Parliament Square.

• By 1916, these attitudes towards War were beginning to change.

Recruitment• Women’s

organisations tried to boost recruitment

• White feathers were given to men as a sign of their “cowardice”

• The Mother’s Union urged its members to get their sons to join up

Recruitment• Initial recruitment

used posters, leaflets, etc. to build an army quickly

• What is the message of this poster?

• How would this poster encourage men to join the army?

Recruitment• Initial recruitment

used posters, leaflets, etc. to build an army quickly

• What is the message of this poster?

• How would this poster encourage men to join the army?

Recruitment• Initial recruitment

used posters, leaflets, etc. to build an army quickly

• What is the message of this poster?

• How would this poster encourage men to join the army?

Recruitment – What is this telling you?

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Recr

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Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov DecMonth

Recruitment of volunteers to the army, 1914-15

19141915

Conscription• Voluntary recruitment was

decreasing, but the demand for troops was increasing

• Voluntary recruitment didn’t share the burden between all parts of society

• Conscription introduced in 1916• All men aged 18-40 had to

register• They could be called up to fight

at any time

Conscription• Conscientious objectors

opposed the war for political or religious reasons

• They refused to fight, and were imprisoned – or executed – for doing so

• Others helped the war effort, but not through military action– Field hospitals– Stretched bearers

Propaganda and Censorship• All news was tightly

controlled (censorship)• Reports aimed to:

– Maintain morale– Encourage civilians to

support the war effort– Create hatred and suspicion

of the enemy• Newspapers, radio

broadcasts, films and even board games were used

Propaganda and Censorship• The film, The Battle of the

Somme, was filmed in 1916• The Battle was a disaster for

the British Army– Failed objectives– Enormous causalities

• What can the film tell an historian about the use of propaganda in WW1?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52J5_Es8O60

Propaganda and Censorship• The film, The Battle of the

Somme, is seen by historians as a propaganda triumph

• People at home felt they could see how their efforts were helping the troops

• Although it showed some casualties, it also showed advancing troops, helping morale

Propaganda and Censorship• The film, Britain’s Effort,

was created in 1917• What was its purpose?• http://www.britishpathe.c

om/record.php?id=70735

Propaganda and Censorship• It is hard to measure how

effective propaganda was• BUT

– Support for the war was reasonably constant

• Only really changed with the enormous causalities at the Battle of the Somme in 1916

– People read lots of newspapers, and watched the films, so they were being exposed to it

The Brown Family’s Four War Christmas• What is happening in

each frame?• Explain why these things

are happening, based on what you know about life on the Home Front