Era of WW1 Flashcards
What is significant about 1918 for technology?
It wasn’t long after the invention of the tank
What did tanks help with?
Enemy machine guns
How were tanks not useful?
Early tanks were unreliable and slow moving
What was the women’s job during the war?
Women took over jobs vacated by men
They carried out vital work in munitions industry
They kept transport going
They had to take on greater responsibility in home
Women worked on farms
They had to cope with food shortages
They had to join armed services
What were the economic difficulties faced by Scotland after 1918?
Lack of investment and foreign competition resulted in decline of coal industry
Demand for ships declined
Shipyards were hit with labour disputes
Other countries increased steel making
Jute prices collapsed after war
Collapse of foreign markets for having greatly affected the industry
Why the actions of the Suffragettes harmed the campaign for the votes of women
Militancy gained a lot of negative publicity
Many campaigners felt that militant action undermined their efforts
Gov determined not to give into acts of vandalism/force
Attacks on MPs alienated support and turned many people against the cause who had previously supported them
Violent actions annoyed the public eg smashing of Windows
Upset suffragists
Why scots volunteered for ww1
Gov organised poster campaign
Appeal to patriotism
Desire to escape boring/difficult jobs
Peer pressure - “white feather.”
Proud tradition of soldiering in Scotland
What was the treatment for conscientious objectors
Subject to verbal abuse
Newspaper campaign against them eg articles or cartoons attacking conscientious objectors
Many physically assaulted
Objectors were forced to appear before military tribunals
Some accepted non combatant jobs
Imprisonment of absolutists
What was the effect of war on the Scottish economy
Unemployment was higher in Scotland than elsewhere in the UK
Unemployment was long term
Skilled workers left without work
Heavy industries laid off many workers
New opportunities for women
What was the contribution of suffragettes
Millicent fawcett was involved in campaign for suffragettes
1912 - time of suffragette militancy
Suffragettes were successful in drawing attention to cause
Many campaigners for vote viewed suffragettes methods with disgust
What was the impact of war on women
Women took on new jobs previously though to be “male occupations”
They had to cope with food shortages
Had to cope with rationing
Had to keep family going without male support
Had to deal with loss of a loved one
Who was Colonel Swinton?
He was involved with the development of new technology
What are the costs of new technology
Machine gunners deeply hated by infantry. More likely to be killed when captured than any other soldiers
Machine guns were pretty heavy (>20kg)
Artillery was the biggest killer of WW1
Artillery was the cause of 75% of enemy deaths
Gas was made illegal so countries couldn’t use got anymore to ensure success
Gas could blow back onto own troops
Aircraft didn’t play a decisive role in war
Tanks were terribly uncomfortable. They had a top speed of 6km/hr
The noise the tanks made communication impossible. 38 to 50 degrees. Breaks down every 8-16 km
What are the benefits of new technology
Machine guns can fire 400-600 rounds per minute
Massive quantities of shells for artillery could be transported to the front lines
Gas could kill many men which ensured success
Aircraft could carry heavy bombs. They could also be used in dogfights and in the reconnaissance.
Tanks are affected little by artillery and they have a firing range of 30km
What was the Scottish industry/economy like during the war
Agric/farming - wages doubled for farm workers
Fishing - there was a decline as the North Sea was effectively closed. There was a rationing impact due to this
Shipbuilding - boom in production for war
Engineering - there was a boom in munitions, airplanes, tanks and rail to move supplies
Textiles - rubber and jute demand
Coal - boom in fuel industry
What was the Scottish industry and economy like post war
Agriculture/farming - decline - subsides ended. Farmers had to look to new products to survive.
Fishing - recovery - removal of u boat threat and lifting of restrictions
Shipbuilding - decline - due to decreased demand for shipyards. Impact on jobs
Engineering - decline - rail engine production dropped by 2/3
Textiles - decline due to decreased demand and increase in comp from India
Coal - dropped by 2/3 between 1913-26. Other fuels started to dominate
Steel/iron - decline in result in attempting to modernise
What happened to the liberal party before the war?
They were a united party. They were in power since 1906
What were the changes the liberal party made during the war?
They formed a coalition government in 1915 to deal with war time demands.
Liberal split in 1916. Asquith resigned as PM. He was replaced with David Lloyd George.
What happened to the liberal party after the war?
There was a 1918 General Election held. The coalition Liberals had won 127 seats (DLG). The liberals had won 36 seats (Asquith).
Due to the immense decline in 1920s because of the Labour Party replacing them as the Conservs rival, many people voted for DLG
Why did the Liberal party change throughout the period of WWI?
Government seen as ineffective very early on in war.
The lib party split over PERFORMANCE and CONCEPT OF WAR
Voters were angry at the ‘homes fit for heroes’ lie.
What happened to the conservatives before the war?
They were NOT in power before 1906
What happened to the Conservatives during the war?
They joined the wartime coalition government.
They have voter experience and more government expertise - this would grab the voters attention.
What happened to the Conservatives after the war?
They became stronger.
At the 1918 General election they won 332 seats (led by Andrew Bonar Law)
They had the coalition government with liberals (DLG)
Why did the Conservative party change during the war?
They appealed to middle class women voters, as they were traditional and they had good security.
They also appealed to those who associated labour with communism.
Women and communism is why the Conservs succeeded.
They were associated with wealthy supporters
What happened to the Labour Party before the war?
They were the only political party not in power since 1905.m
They had no experience of being a government.
They had no National Party (community association) organisation
What happened to the Labour Party during the war?
They joined the wartime coalition in 1915 fighting the common enemy.
What happened to the Labour Party after the war?
They grew as a political force - United party once more
1918 general election - 361 candidates and more than 2.25 million votes. They won 57 seats (Led by WM Adanson)
This was not too bad considering they only became a party in 1905
Why did the Labour Party change during the war?
They got the experience of being a government during the war, due to the public acceptance of them.
The National Party Organisation developed.
Trade union saw the Labour Party grow.
Why women gained the vote?
Posters and petitions plastered everywhere. These were used to get the vote. People would see them and vote for women’s vote
1909 - women forced themselves into politics
Cat and mouse act
100 000 members
By 1900 women could vote in elections for school boards
Why was there decline in heavy industry
Post war - difficulties in increasing production due to limited money government had
Increases foreign competition eg India
Decrease in amount of coal due to fuels increasing
Shipbuilding declined as there was not enough money to fund postwar
There was high unemployment in Scotland compared to elsewhere in UK
What is DORA
Defence Of the Realm Act
What comes under the Defence Of the Realm Act
Military laws, alcohol, land use, censorship, alien registration, propaganda
What is military laws
Docks and railways come under this act
All non military vehicles were to be put out of action if Britain was invaded
Women who were single were sent to munitions factories at Gretna
Gov introduced this so that people and transportation were protected
What is land use
DORA allowed land owners to access more land to grow food
Helped many people survive
What is alcohol
Government worried about drunkeness of people
Gov took control of some pubs restricting opening and closing hours
Tax on alcohol increased
Convictions of drunkeness in Scotland fell by 70% by end of war
Gov introduced this to prevent loss of production of weaponry
What was censorship
To stop businesses from printing useful info for enemy
What was propaganda
Gov started a campaign to persuade citizens to support them.
Campaign was successful
Anti German feeling grew strong
What is alien registration
Required all foreign citizens to register as aliens at local police station
Suspicious activity was to be notified to police
When was rationing introduced
December 1917
