Effects Of WW2

Question 0

How did WW2 affect education? (3 points)

Answer 0

• Most urban schools closed down as most of the children were expected to be evacuated
• However only 50% were ever evacuated
• Those who were evacuated continued education, not necessarily in school (village halls, parish halls & scout huts)

Question 1

How did attitudes towards women workers change? (4 points)

Answer 1

• More opportunities in a wider range of industries
• Many skilled jobs ‘broken down’ in sever simpler jobs for women
• Although 40% of women workers during the war worked in munition factories - which weren’t need after the war
• Recruitment posters emphasised glamour and being feminine

Question 2

How did life change for children during the war? (4 points)

Answer 2

• Children suffered emotionally (loss of friends & family)
• Disease
• Accidents (unpaid work?)
• Some were treated badly at their evacuation home

Question 3

Why did children’s health generally benefit from evacuation? (2 points)

Answer 3

• Ate better food

* Lived in a healthier environment

Question 4

Impact of American GI’s arriving in Britain? (3 points)

Answer 4

• From 1942 onwards 3 million arrived in Britain
• Initially popular and mixed with several classes as they were not used to our class system
• Also popular amongst British girls - 80,000 GI brides emigrated after the war

Question 5

Problems arising from arrival of American GI’s (2 points)

Answer 5

• British men were angry they were taking the women away from them (jealousy arose over American uniforms & ability to take girls to clubs)
• Tensions rose over difference of social attitudes, pamphlets handed out on: how to behave and not to criticise the King or Queen,

Question 6

Experiences of African American GI’s moving to Britain (3 points)

Answer 6

• A large majority were black - 13,000 service men & women
• Many had positive experiences as they were used to racial discrimination in America
• Some said “[it was] their first experience of being treated as normal human beings and friends by white people”

Question 7

What other groups arrived in Britain during or after the war? (3 points)

Answer 7

• Commonwealth troops - Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders & Indians who served in the British army
• Prisoners of War - Italian & German men treated well with access to food rations and medical care paid wages. 25,000 POWs adopted Britain as their new home
• Poles - 120,000 chose to settle in Britain and they were generally popular. Churchill insisted that houses, training, and work should be provided