Britain 19- The social and cultural impacts of total war Flashcards
(44 cards)
what ideas emerged within society following the war?
war affected everyone and created a strong sense of community and a need for reform from all classes once the war had finished. making a fairer society and ensuring no return to the dark days the 1930s
what were the conscription policies during the war?
1939- men aged 20-22
1940- men aged 18-41
1942- men aged 18-51
what duties did older men undertake during the war?
they were conscripted into the ‘national service’ as special constables, firewatchers or workers in the civil defence or the home guard
how did the size of the armed forces change during the war?
by 1944, armed forces risen by 4.5 mill and 1/2 mill in women’s services
what were the positives of the increase the in the need for men in the army and labour at home?
nutrition standards in many W-C families improved, unemployment fell by 1/2 between 1939-42, full employment available even in previously worst off areas, TU membership increased from 6.3 to 8.9 mill, average earnings raised
what were the negatives of the increase the in the need for men in the army and labour at home?
war work often 11-12 hour days + night working, middle and upper class hit with high taxation, death duties and limits on profits which could be made from factories or land
what was conscription like for women?
unmarried women between 19 and 30 could be conscripted but were given a choice between service in the women’s auxiliary forces or war work in industry
what % of the factory workforce were women by 1943?
50
how did the lives of married women change?
before war, married women compelled to stop work but by end of 1943, 80% of married women were working.
impact of war work on the lives of women?
gave them more more money, greater status and independence. for many this change was lasting but for other, their lives returned quickly to normal after the war was over as they were forced to give up their jobs for men did not give equal pay with female workers receiving 60-70% of a man’s wage
how many children were evacuated in 1939 and which month?
September 1939- 1 mill children moved out of main cities and sent to villages and small towns
why were the experiences of evacuees varied?
some were lucky and found welcoming homes and were better fed and clothed than home as well as benefiting from clean, fresh air
others were neglected + mistreated
how did civil liberties change after the outbreak of war?
the emergency powers act 1939 meant hundreds of regulations issued during war
-censorship imposed on overseas mail
-telephone lines taped and newspapers subject to censorship
-stricter rationing needed compared to WWI
how did Lord Woolton attempt to cut down on food waste?
launched campaigns against it and people were prosecuted for it
also encouraged the development of new recipes to help housewives turn their rations into appetising dishes e.g. Woolton pies described as the steak and kidney pies- without the steak and kidney
give 3 examples of slogans used in war-time propaganda
- ‘careless talk costs lives’
- ‘dig for victory’
- ‘five pounds of coal saved by 1,500,000 homes will provide enough fuel to build a destroyer’
what cartoon character was used in propaganda and to encourage what?
‘The squander bug’ tempted the public to spend money rather than buy war bonds and he was to be resisted
how did radio change during the war?
at first, BBC cancelled most programmes but learned its lesson and by 1945, there were 10 mill private radio sets + BBC not only provided news etc but also comedy shows, music and light entertainment
how did cinema change during the war?
cinema had a golden age with attendances of around 30 mill per week. film industry cooperated with war effort by making films to keep people happy but also carry the right messages
when and what was the blitz?
first phase 1940-42 and second 1944-45. German bombing campaign
what was the main target during the blitz?
London, with 300 attacks by aircraft and almost half of all rocket attacks
give an example of a place affected by the Blitz?
Coventry endured one of the worst attacks in 1940 where thousands of buildings were damaged, over 500 killed and 1200 injured
what was the name of the blitz raids in 1942 which targeted specific places and what did they target?
‘Baedeker raids’ targeting historic towns like York and Norwich
how did people survive the blitz raids?
most went underground to places like the London tube, Anderson shelters or LA shelters. some preferred to stay in their homes in iron cages called Morrison shelters or under the stairs. some left the cities (‘trekkers’)
when was the Beveridge report and what did it propose would need to happen to tackle the five giants?
1942
-NHS for adequate health care
-family allowances to all parents
-full employment
