World War One

Question 0

How many men joined the army in GB? Choose an option

• 2 million?
• 5 million?
• 12 million?

Answer 0

Around 5 million

Question 1

In which year was conscription introduced?

Answer 1

1916

Question 2

What sort of roles did women have in the war?

Answer 2

Factory work, steel workers, driving buses, tram directors, munitions factories making bullets and shells, farming, and roles at war including nursing and driving.

Question 3

What does conscription mean?

Answer 3

That if called up, you had to join the army. It was compulsory so there was no choice.

Question 4

Why was conscription not introduced until 1916?

Answer 4

There were enough volunteers who signed up for the military. It is thought that people were willing to fight because they were patriotic towards their country and wanted to do their bit. For some young men, the war was an exciting prospect.

Question 5

Which famous person who was Secretary of State for War appeared on posters pointing at people calling them to fight?

Answer 5

Lord Kitchener

Question 6

Why did less people sign up for war by the end of 1915?

Answer 6

• The initial excitement of the war was over.
• It was clear that the war was going to be longer than first expected.
• People knew about the true nature of the war

Question 7

What did DORA stand for?

Answer 7

Defence of the Realm Act

Question 8

What was the purpose of DORA?

Answer 8

To give the government more power in order to support the war effort. For example, they could make people do certain jobs and stop the press from printing anything negative.

Question 9

What was the Derby Scheme?

• a list of horse races
• a list men could sign up to to say they would promise they would join the army if asked to
• an advertising campaign to get women to work in factories

Answer 9

A list men could sign up to in 1915 to promise to go to war. Only about half of men of fighting age signed up so it was clear to the government that conscription would be needed.

Question 10

Which age range were conscripted?

Answer 10

In January 1916 men between 18 and 41 who were unmarried, then in May 1916, all men between 18 and 41.

Question 11

Why were miners often exempt from military service?

Answer 11

There job was considered essential war work.

Question 12

What was a U-boat?

Answer 12

A German submarine. These were used in the WWI to reduce food supplies to British by sinking cargo ships.

Question 13

When was rationing introduced?

Answer 13

In 1917 sugar was rationed. In 1918 this was extended to meat, tea and butter.

Question 14

What was a conscientious objector?

Answer 14

Men who refused to fight because of being against war. Many conscientious objectors worked in the army as stretcher bearers.

Question 15

Why was propaganda so important to the government during the war?

Answer 15

It was important for people to have a positive attitude towards the war to maximise productivity and ultimately to win the war.

Question 16

When did people think the war would be over by?

Answer 16

By Christmas 1914.

Question 17

What was the Department of Information?

Answer 17

It coordinated propaganda and gathered information on what was going on abroad.

Question 18

Was propaganda effective during the war?

Answer 18

This is very difficult to judge. We know conscription had to be brought in in 1916 so it seems that recruitment posters were effective to a point. Generally people supported the war but attitudes went from being very patriotic to purely wanting to get the job done.

Question 19

When did all men over 21 get the vote?

Answer 19

In 1918. It was thought that men deserved this after the war.

Question 20

How many British men died in WWI?

• 200,000
• 500,000
• 750,00

Answer 20

750,000

Question 21

What attitude was there towards Germany by the end of the war?

Answer 21

The press called for the Kaiser to be hanged. Most people know someone who had fought in the war so many wanted revenge.

Question 22

Why did the election in GB at the end of 1918 impact on government policy towards Germany?

Answer 22

Politicians promised harsh punishments on Germany in order to get votes.

Question 23

What was David Lloyd George’s attitude towards Germany?

Answer 23

Publicly, he said Germany should be punished. He also knew that this could cause problems as he wanted Germany as a trading partner for GB.

Question 24

What was the reaction of the British public to the 1916 Battle of the Somme film?

Answer 24

Some people were horrified at the scenes and walked out the cinema. Many were very patriotic about it and overall it was considered a success.