explain the impact of the great war on scottish society and culture Flashcards
women took part in the rent strikes of 1915 to resist rising rent prices
the glasgow womens housing association was formed in febuary 1915 and in May 1915 the first rent strike began which saw around 25,000 tennants in glasgow took part with others starting in Aberdeen and Dundee. They resisted eviction by throwing flour ‘bombs’ at sheriffs and cramming into stair closes.
scottish women worked in the highly dangerous munitions factory’s despite the risks
they wanted to be seen to ‘do there bit’ and munitions work paid highly
in total 61 scots women died from chemical poisoning and 71 in explosions - many scots women also suffered long term health problems as a result of the exposure to toxic gas and acid
women in scotland were recruited to the womens land army , 1917
recruitment posters showed farm work as being easy and enjoyable which convinced many middle class city girls to join.
between 1914-1919 female employment in agriculture remained consistent at 22,000 which was an increase from the pre-war figure
the military service act introduced conscription in 1916
the first group to be conscripted in january 1916 were SINGLE men aged 19-40.
then in may 1916 conscription was extended to MARIED men aged 18-40 and in 1918 any man up to the age of 50 could be conscribed. Many scots, including socialists and members of the NCF were extremly unhappy about this
DORA introduced the censorship of private letters
this was to avoid communication with or about the enemy however it caused huge disruption. In december 1915 censorship began to seriously disrupt post - a letter being sent from Bo’Ness on a friday wouldn’t reach Inverness until wednesday
DORA introduced new or raised existing taxes to help raise money and pay for the war effort
the government for example increased taxes on alcohol in scotland
a bottle of whisky cost £1 in 1918 - 5 times what it cost prior to the outbreak of war
scottish women began to gradually recieve the vote after the war ended
the representation of the people act 1918 introduced the vote for some scots women but with clauses such as marriage or a university degree.
the act was criticised as many scots women who had been involved working in essential industry’s durring the war where younger then 30 and didn’t receive the vote until 1928
scots women took on the work/roles of men fighting on the western front
the were needed to fill in the gaps on the home front and so many women took up jobs previously occupied by a man to ensure war time production of essential goods remained high,
scots women took on roles previously unheard of for women such as conductors on trams and busses - many also became typists and secretary’s
