WW1 13 Q's Flashcards
Explain why Britain formed the Entente Cordiale with France
Lord Grey was insistent on maintaining the balance of power, by 1904 Germany became a greater threat than France
•The British Admiralty estimated that the German navy would be the world’s second largest by 1906.
•German militarism was feared by Britain as the arms race progressed in speed.
•In 1903, Germany began extending the Constantinople railway from Berlin to the Turkish empire, extending influence and trade. This growth left Britain with mistrust and concerns about German intentions.
•This concern was escalated by the fact that the British economy was in decline and was beginning to rely more heavily on German exports.
•By 1906 to 1910 -> German percentage of world manufacturing capacity greater than Britain’s 1860 -> Britain was the captain of the steel industry producing as much as two times the amount of steel Germany was producing. By 1914, Britain was producing only half as much as Germany.
Britain could not compete with Germany while also competing with France.
•Egypt was a key part of the old spice and trade routes between Europe and Asia. Suez Canal provided the quickest way of maintaining communications between Britain and India.
•French and Egyptian governments financed the opening of the Suez Canal 1869
•In 1875, the Egyptian ruler was forced to sell his shares in the canal operating company to the British government.
•the majority of shares were still held by French private investors.
•The international status of British control over Egypt remained uncertain since 1882 -> profitable Indian Empire was under threat
•the Entente Cordiale of April 1904. France promised not to challenge British control over Egypt
To prevent being drawn into Jap-Russo war
•In order to avoid going to war, both powers “shucked off their ancient rivalry” + resolved differences in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific.
•When the Russo-Japanese War was about to erupt, France and Britain found themselves on the verge of being dragged into the conflict on the side of their respective allies.
•France -> firmly allied with Russia
•Britain had recently signed the Anglo-Japanese Alliance
•Delcassé, and Lansdowne-> signed the resulting convention on 8 April 1904.
Explain why state control over society increased in the years 1914-1916.
Nationalisation and centralisation became crucial for efficiency in the war effort.
•Railways nationalised and profits became fixed
•Shells became collectivised after the shell shortage in 1915 which led to increased casualties b/c of supply failure
•Shipping and coal industry also centralised -> by 1917, a increase in shipping + decrease in strikes seen in coal industry
•Imports/ production = controlled -> essentials + commodities rationed
•factors increased efficiency in transportation and production, aiding the war effort
Increased taxes necessary to maintain the cost of war.
•WW1 cost GB under $5 mill a day -> increased national debt
•bank borrowing -> USA $2mill a day
•ran down GB gold reserves
•Although Lib usually only taxed unproductive wealth, clearly this would not sustain war cost
•Income tax rose from 9d to 6 s 1914-18
•Death duties rose sharply + excess profits taxes imposed on a range of goods
Censorship and Propaganda became necessary in order to maintain morale
•Defence of Realm Act introduced 1914 -> restricted freedom of press + censored newspaper + films + decreased pub licensing hours
•Men dying b/c supply failure
•Rumours of rebellion within the Liberal gov
•Public had to have trust in their gov otherwise society would not function
•Sep 1914 450k volunteers -> Dec 1915 55k -> evident that the war would not ‘end by christmas’
•Dept. of information 1917 used radio to spread beliefs that the Somme was a success b/c boost of morale would mean increased war effort
Explain why a new coalition government was established in December 1916.
Asquith’s failures
•Ammunition shortages
•Country was not producing enough ammunition for W front
•dispatch from Colonel Repington in the Times blamed lib gov for shell shortage
•attempt to land a GB force at Dardanelles in April 1915 to knock Turkey out of war failed
•Decreased A’s popularity only 130 of 272 seats willingly support A
Cons. were never content with A’s leadership -> Popularity of L.G. increased
•as head of ministry of munitions -> machine guns increased by 248,670 1914-18
•established the idea of consulting industrial experts in areas of prod. + supply -> national e.
•shared the same frustration with war as Cons. -> willing to give up lib values for the benefit of the nation
•as war minster -> not afraid to criticise General Haig + Sir Robertson for the military miscalculation of Battle of the Somme
Frustrations with war led to L.G. belief that War Committee was the only way
•Wanted to reform Military incompetence -> somme
•L.G. believed he understood + represented expectations of a nation
•Asquith’s duties were too heavy -> unreasonable to expect dedication to war aswell
•However, A saw War Committee as a vehicle for L.G. to undermine his power
•Demanded to be head of war committee b/c he was essentially being demoted
•L.G. threatened to leave Lib party, Cons backed L.G. in a new coalition gov
•through newspapers, public opinion turned against A -> A resignation subsequent L.G.+Cons Gov
Explain why Britain retreated from Splendid isolation.
Russian expansion
•Tsar Nicholas II’s letter to Edward VII conveyed Europe’s disapproval of the Boer war
•entering a plea for’a small people desperately defending their country’.
•At the time, Salisbury saw the Tsar’s criticism as a threat to comply an ultimatum from Sweden to halt the movement of troops into Finland.
•the common interest truly fuelling the alliance was opposition to Russian expansion.
•This was made clear as early as the 1890s, when Cecil Spring Rice identified that the United Kingdom and Japan working in concert was the only way to challenge Russian power in the region.
•Japan was beginning to become a viable candidate for alliance.
•Negotiations began when Russia began to move into China.
As well as Russia, Germany also became a key competitor for Britain.
•The British Admiralty estimated that the German navy would be the world’s second largest by 1906.
•German militarism was feared by Britain as the arms race progressed in speed.
•In 1903, Germany began extending the Constantinople railway from Berlin to the Turkish empire, extending influence and trade. This growth left Britain with mistrust and concerns about German intentions.
•This concern was escalated by the fact that the British economy was in decline and was beginning to rely more heavily on German exports.
•By 1906 to 1910 -> German percentage of world manufacturing capacity greater than Britain’s 1860 -> Britain was the captain of the steel industry producing as much as two times the amount of steel Germany was producing. By 1914, Britain was producing only half as much as Germany.
The cost of maintaining Russian, German and French expansion clearly would not have been a viable option for Britain. France shared similar political views with Britain and Britain had little interest in Morocco.
•However, Egypt was a key part of the old spice and trade routes between Europe and Asia. The Suez Canal provided the quickest way of maintaining communications between Britain and India.
•French and Egyptian governments financed the opening of the Suez Canal 1869
•In 1875, the Egyptian ruler was forced to sell his shares in the canal operating company to the British government.
•the majority of shares were still held by French private investors.
•The international status of British control over Egypt remained uncertain since 1882 -> profitable Indian Empire was under threat
•the Entente Cordiale of April 1904. France promised not to challenge British control over Egypt
Explain why Britain declared War on Germany in 1914.
German colonisation and expansion.
•Although Britain won the Naval race by 1914
•German militarism was still feared by Britain as the arms race continued to progress in speed.
• Agadir Crisis 1911 when the German ‘panther’ was sent was seen as an attempt to gain a foothold in Africa
•Germany could potentially come out of the war with great influence in the west
•Therefore, Britain entered the war as a defence mechanism against German colonisation and expansion.
To allow Germany to expand beyond France would tilt the balance of power.
•The Entente Cordial of 1904 had strengthened relations between France and GB
•Moroccan Crisis 1905 arguable designed by Kaiser Wilhelm to test the Entente Cordial
•displayed GB support for France
•Same support shown during Agadir Crisis 1911 -> outcome = 1912 Anglo-French naval agreement
•Evidently, Lord Grey was committed to France
•commitment seen through the protests for war at Trafalgar Square, August 1914
The British public were both protesting for France and for Belgium
•The Schliffen plan meant that France would be invaded through Belgium.
•-> The treaty of London signed in 1839 catalysed GB entry into war
•became crucial to the GB public to guard the neutrality of Belgium
•Lib cabinet forced to agree to war b/c they had a duty to represent the people by protecting Belgium
Explain why a coalition government was established in Britain in 1915.
Consensus
•Social reform -> when econ started to slump 1902-10 unionists linked commitment to tarfifs with funding of social reforms
•within social reforms created-> emphasis remained on role of individual + self help
•both found practical problems with female suffrage
•free trade + protectionism -> although Libs publicly supported free trade
•as war time settled in -> clear that protectionism would boost economy -> true for most cons. beliefs
Liberal failures b/c of liberal beliefs of individual freedom
•Ammunition shortages
•Country was not producing enough ammunition for W front
•dispatch from Colonel Repington in the Times blamed lib gov for shell shortage
•attempt to land a GB force at Dardanelles in April 1915 to knock Turkey out of war failed
•Disagreements between Churchill and Fisher led to Fisher’s public resignation
Liberal failures caused many Conservatives to believe a general election was the only way
•Bonar law knew a general election would be costly and time consuming
•even if Cons. did win this would damage war effort and cons. would be blamed for loss of war
•purely Cons. gov would find it difficult to run the war
•-> had to prevent conservative MP’s from attacking the gov
‘From the outbreak of war in 1914, until its end in 1918, the state succeeded in controlling all aspects of British Society’ Explain why you agree or disagree with this view.
Economic life of GB
•piecemeal measures taken at particular times to meet specific emergencies
•increased imports -> entire indian jute crop + fusion flax crop
•Ministry extended controls to supply of raw materials required in prod. amounts
•By 1918 -> Ministry had 65 k staff to administer prod & supply
Agriculture
•Women’s land army established
•pasure converted to arable
•1918, 3 million more acres of arable were under cultivation
Nationalisation and centralisation
•Railways nationalised and profits became fixed
•Shells became collectivised after the shell shortage in 1915 which led to increased casualties b/c of supply failure
•Shipping and coal industry also centralised -> by 1917, a increase in shipping + decrease in strikes seen in coal industry
•Imports/ production = controlled -> essentials + commodities rationed
•factors increased efficiency in transportation and production, aiding the war effort
Increased taxes
•Income tax rose from 9d to 6 s 1914-18
•Death duties rose sharply + excess profits taxes imposed on a range of goods
•WW1 cost GB under $5 mill a day -> increased national debt
•bank borrowing -> USA $2mill a day
•ran down GB gold reserves
Censorship and Propaganda
•Defence of Realm Act introduced 1914 -> restricted freedom of press + censored newspaper + films + decreased pub licensing hours
•Rumours of rebellion within the Liberal gov
•Munitions crisis 1915 reported by the Times
•exposed shell shortage -> men dying b/c supply failure
Volunteer/ Conscription
•Dept. of information 1917 used radio to spread beliefs that the Somme was a success b/c boost of morale would mean increased war effort
•Gov tried to convince bachelors to join war effort but they were unsuccessful
•attempt to land a GB force at Dardanelles in April 1915 to knock Turkey out of war failed
•Disagreements between Churchill and Fisher led to Fisher’s public resignation
•Sep 1914 450k volunteers -> Dec 1915 55k -> evident that the war would not ‘end by christmas’
Government intervention in work force
•Treasury Agreement 1915
•trade union suspension of strikes + unskilled to replace skilled ‘dilution of Labour force’
•unskilled workers rose by 2 mill 1914-1918
•still lots of strikes e.g. miners 6 mill days lost 1916
•Increased TU members b/c wages couldn’t keep up with cost of living -> evidently piece work/ overtime necessary
•volunteers/ conscription was not thought about in context of labour
‘Britain formed ententes in order to protect itself from the challenge of Germany’ explain why you agree or disagree with this view.
German colonisation and expansion.
•Under Admiral Tirpitz, On 10 April 1898 the first Navy Bill was passed by the Reichstag.
•This would bring the German fleet to a strength where it could contemplate challenging the Royal Navy.
•clear to Britain that Tirpitz’s ultimate goal was a fleet capable of rivaling the British fleet. Britain’s Naval Defence Act of 1889 -> Britain was to maintain a navy superior to Britain’s two largest rivals combined.
•The British Admiralty estimated that the German navy would be the world’s second largest by 1906.
•German militarism was feared by Britain as the arms race progressed in speed.
•In 1903, Germany began extending the Constantinople railway from Berlin to the Turkish empire, extending influence and trade. This growth left Britain with mistrust and concerns about German intentions.
•Concerns escalated with Germanys position against Britain in the Boer war which was seen as an attempt to remove Britain’s foothold in South Africa.
•Therefore, Britain formed ententes as a defence mechanism against German colonisation and expansion.
Gb economic decline - vulnerable great powers status under threat
•Fear of Germany’s economic strength
•Between 1870 and 1900 Britain declined from being the world’s leading industrial nation to third in economic performance.
•British percentage of world trade decreased between 1880 and 1913 which meant that Germany began catching up and by 1913 the two nations had only a difference of 4%.
•Many factors of German economical growth contributed to British concerns that Germany would grow stronger than Britain.
•Germany had a greater population than Britain
•From 1910 to 1911 it was 20% greater -> larger work force + consumer market
•By 1906 to 1910 -> German percentage of world manufacturing capacity greater than Britain’s 1860 -> Britain was the captain of the steel industry producing as much as two times the amount of steel Germany was producing. By 1914, Britain was producing only half as much as Germany.
•It was evident that the British economy was in decline and was beginning to rely more heavily on German exports.
•This left Britain vulnerable as Germany became a stronger power which upset the balance of power
Lord Greys influence as foreign secretary.
•Lord Grey was concerned by the arms spending of Germany
•In 1906 he argued: “see that Germany is forcing the pace in armaments in order to dominate Europe and is thereby laying a horrible burden of wasteful expenditure upon all the other powers.”
•referring particularly to the division of spheres of influence in Persia.
•Grey himself claimed that a frequent source of friction and possible cause of war had been removed by forming ententes.
•The Russian agreement -> further recognition that in the twentieth century the British empire was not in a position to take on simultaneously all powers that might be thought to challenge its pre-eminence.
•Grey supposed that in his first years of office he had steered a course which retained for Britain freedom of decision while removing a prospect of total isolation.
Russian expansion
•Tsar Nicholas II’s letter to Edward VII conveyed Europe’s disapproval of the Boer war
•entering a plea for’a small people desperately defending their country’.
•At the time, Salisbury saw the Tsar’s criticism as a threat to comply an ultimatum from Sweden to halt the movement of troops into Finland.
•the common interest truly fuelling the alliance was opposition to Russian expansion.
•This was made clear as early as the 1890s, when Cecil Spring Rice identified that the United Kingdom and Japan working in concert was the only way to challenge Russian power in the region.
•Japan was beginning to become a viable candidate for alliance.
•The once backward country had completely renovated itself and now emerged as a modern nation to be contended with.
•Britain had given Japan support in its drive towards modernisation and their co-operative efforts to put down the Boxer Rebellion.
•Negotiations began when Russia began to move into China.
Empire = too expensive - allies would decrease costs
•Egypt was a key part of the old spice and trade routes between Europe and Asia. Suez Canal provided the quickest way of maintaining communications between Britain and India.
•French and Egyptian governments financed the opening of the Suez Canal 1869
•In 1875, the Egyptian ruler was forced to sell his shares in the canal operating company to the British government.
•the majority of shares were still held by French private investors.
•The international status of British control over Egypt remained uncertain since 1882 -> profitable Indian Empire was under threat
•the Entente Cordiale of April 1904. France promised not to challenge British control over Egypt
To prevent being drawn into Jap-Russo war
•When the Russo-Japanese War was about to erupt, France and Britain found themselves on the verge of being dragged into the conflict on the side of their respective allies.
•France -> firmly allied with Russia
•Britain had recently signed the Anglo-Japanese Alliance
•In order to avoid going to war, both powers “shucked off their ancient rivalry” + resolved differences in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific.
•Delcassé, and Lansdowne-> signed the resulting convention on 8 April 1904.
‘The First World War had a beneficial impact on the British society in the years 1914 to 1918’ Explain why you agree or disagree with this view.
Class
WC -> full employment, jobs for women -> controls on rent
•fixed prices on essential commodities + limited rationing
•reduced poverty but MC/UC wealth decreased
•b/c income tax, excessive profits increase + higher death duty + staff volunteer = decreased household
•mutual loss and understanding united all classes
Women benefitted to an extent
•Rep. of people act vote 1918 if 30+
•a million w replaced men in work force
•250k peace time roles from war time jobs
•1918 80% of work force = female
•In transport industry -> female position increased by 100k
•divide between WC + MC -> WC -> Munitions + MC -> nursing = tension
•helped with armed forces but only non-combat positions
•some industries remained completely male dominated e.g.. miners
•By 1921 % of women in work force returned to 1911 levels
Beliefs + attitudes of women were unchanged in the aspect of aspiration towards motherhood but ww1 did transform attitudes
•entered war with trad. victorian values
•came out with spontaneous attitude -> beneficial for consumerism
•education disrupted -> teacher volunteer -> W.C. children went to work
•30k children lost fathers
•B4 + during war ppl relied heavily on church -> heavy casualties after 1918 led to church attendance to decrease greatly -> 17% between 1901-1935 -> loss of spirituality
Censorship/ propoganda
•Defence of Realm Act introduced 1914 -> restricted freedom of press + censored newspaper + films + decreased pub licensing hours
•Dept. of information 1917 used radio to spread beliefs that the Somme was a success b/c boost of morale would mean increased war effort
•Gov tried to convince bachelors to join war effort boost strength of military force so GB wins
Government intervention in work force
•Treasury Agreement 1915
•trade union suspension of strikes + unskilled to replace skilled ‘dilution of Labour force’
•unskilled workers rose by 2 mill 1914-1918
•still lots of strikes e.g. miners 6 mill days lost 1916
•Increased TU members b/c wages couldn’t keep up with cost of living -> evidently piece work/ overtime necessary
•volunteers/ conscription was not thought about in context of labour
How important was the impact of the First World War in changing Irish nationalism in the years 1914 to 1918?
Split in the Irish National Party
•Nationalists were outside the coalition and they no longer held the balance of power.
•Redmond wanted to ensure this balance would be revived after the war.
•war as the ideal opportunity to show loyalty to Britain -> home rule would be secured.
•Redmond encouraged the Irish National Volunteers to fight abroad.
•->upset the nationalists which led to a split in the Irish National Volunteers.
•His supporters and most of the Volunteers broke away and formed the National Volunteers, of whom 35 – 40,000 in due course enlisted.
•militant Irish Volunteer rump remained; it had risen to 15,000 members by 1916.
•Irish Republican Brotherhood Military Council successfully infiltrated this force, intending to use it in a wartime rising.
The citizen army sparked by the WW1
•declaration of Irish independence from the ring leader, Pearse.
•new branch of the Irish national party felt more than home rule necessary for Ireland.
•spread of these radical views became infectious after the easter rising of 1916.
•1,600- rebel force in Easter week contained 1,300 Volunteers and over 200 from the Irish Citizen Army
•easter rising itself was a failure and in the short term did not greatly impact Irish nationalism. -often criticised for its poor planning and bad timing cancelled before it even began. Most of the public were unaware of what this rebellion was about.
•When prisoners were taken for the rising, the public shamed them and threatened them with violence.
radical Irish Nationalists such as those in the ‘citizen army’ had these views prior to the war.
•speech 1907, Redmond recognises those who felt the need for the force of arms.
•The Irish Volunteer Force (IVF) was a paramilitary body publicly launched in Dublin on 25th November 1913.
•emerged in response to an article, ‘The North Began’ written in a Gaelic League paper -called on Irish nationalists to form a force to reinforce their demand for home rule, resist Ulster Volunteer Force in 1913
•Strong Irish Republican Brotherhood involvement in the foundation of the IVF made Redmond reluctant to give it support.
•after he was permitted to nominate half the seats on its organising committee (June 1914) he gave his approval.
•Its membership had reached 160,000 by mid-1914.
response from the British government during war
•Although most of the public were against the rebellion
•British army came to settle the rebellion.
•It took a week to bring the rebellion under control and the centre of Dublin was reduced to rubble because the use of artillery.
•unnecessary b/c the rebellion did not have public favour.
•in the midst of a war, the GB government acted upon the rebellion as treason, passing 70 death sentences. 14 leaders were executed, including Connolly and Pearce.
•These executions were a turning point for Irish nationalism.
•When the Irish public informed of rising and subsequent executions, the leaders of ‘citizen army’ became martyrs for Ireland.
•public demanded those involved in the Easter rising to be released from foreign prisons.
•rebellion became the ‘Sin fein’ rebellion -> majority of Irish public sympathetic towards Sin fein
•led to Sin Fein winning 73 seats in 1918
•seats were not taken in Westminster but instead in a new Irish Parliament named ‘Dail’
‘Women won the right to vote in 1918 entirely because of the contribution they had made to Britain’s war effort from 1914.’ Explain why you agree or disagree with this view.
There had been demands for women’s suffrage before 1914 b/c the increase of education for women in the 19th century.
•In the early 19th century, most women and girls who were middle or lower class were unable to receive education.
•by the late 19th century, more girl’s grammar schools were established to educate girls in the working class.
•more women went to university
•This increased demands for women’s suffrage because the common argument conservative politicians used against women’s suffrage was the fact that women were not educated therefore, could not be trusted with the vote.
The increase in education during the 19th century also allowed women more job opportunities.
•The shift in occupation for women was also a significant reason for why there were demands for women’s suffrage by 1903.
•In the 19th century, women went from housewives to ‘bread-winners’.
• By 1903, a woman could be a mayor, town councillor, nurse, doctor, teacher or a factory hand.
•These were jobs that women could never do in the Victorian era.
•although women proved they could work equally as well as men, they were paid less.
•Women felt they needed representation to get rid of job discrimination against them.
•Additionally, these new occupations allowed women to become rate and tax payers and therefore demand the right to representation alike other taxpayers rose.
Not only were there reforms in tradition towards education and employment for women, there were also reforms for men.
•Before 1914 -> the second and third reform acts.
•Many people agreed that giving to vote to uneducated male agricultural worked and unskilled labours had not damaged the country
•so surely giving the vote to educated women would not harm the country
•led to a stronger women’s suffrage movement to develop over the discussion over the second reform act in 1866-67.
•many different suffragist groups joining together which created demand for women’s suffrage by 1903
•Liberal gov wanted total suffrage for men -> knew this would cause protest amongst women so had to include women -> under 30 b/c assumption that their husbands would choose for them
However, before 1914, liberals were divided on the issue of women’s suffrage
•The concern was that extension of the Franchise to women was likely to help the Unionists while universal adult suffrage might benefit Labour.
•before 1914 lib gov had no intention of risking the issue.
•suffragette militancy before 1914 allowed the Lib government to ignore the issue of women’s suffrage beyond allowing women to sit on local councils (1907 Qualification of Women Act).
• The violent tactics used by suffragette militancy groups galvanised the opposition which was able to accuse women of being emotionally unbalanced and unfit to take a more active role in society.
•It supported the idea that women were irresponsible as the suffragettes smashed windows and sent peppered letters.
•Therefore, it was the contribution to war which allowed women to be seen as responsible enough for suffrage
Women contribution to WW1
•helped with armed forces -> Women’s Army Auxillary Corps -> Over 57,000 women served between January 1917 and November 1918. On 31 March 1917 women in the WAAC were first sent to the battlefields in France
•several thousand women also joined The Women’s Royal Naval Service + The Women’s Royal Air Force
•By 1918, 80% of work force were female -> a million replaced men in work force
•Transport industry -> female workers increased by 100k from 1914-> 1918
•This allowed the military force to increase in strength and size as less men were needed on the home front
•After war 250k women remained in peace time roles from war time jobs
•but many women had to give up jobs b/c returning soldiers -> gov had to compensate them
•many believed these contributions helped GB to win war -> shift in public opinion + beliefs about the capability women
•-> necessary to grant female suffrage b/c WW1
Conclusion : Pre-1914 provided a basis for female suffrage but could not have stood without WW1. Female contribution in WW1 pushed the gov. to grant female suffrage.
‘Lloyd George was entirely responsible for the decline of the Liberal Party in the years 1915 to 1918.’ Explain why you agree or disagree with this view.
Lloyd George removal of Asquith split the party between them in 1916
•Many Lib ministers left with A + MP’s still saw Asquith as leader
•-> remained divided until 1923
•increasingly dependant on conservatives -> provided most of his ministers
•Cons. took top jobs and gov support in Parliament
•gave cons. credibility at the end of the war
•1916 coalition flushed cabinet with Conservatives -> introduced 2 Labour Rep’s
•-> increased pop. of lab party b/c stood on its own
Asquith’s gov also resulted in Coalition 1915 -> L.G. more successful
•Although Lib ministers were in majority -> broke up ‘Progressive Alliance’ between Libs, Labs + Irish Nationalists which had given them maj. since 1910
•Lib-Lab pact which safeguarded Lib’s position at elections became irrelevant -> allowed Lab to compete against Lib
•Cons. didn’t support A -> differences within coalition e.g. conscription proved to be problematic
•A’s need to conserve Lib values may have cost GB the war
•L.G re-elected in Lib-Cons coalition 1918 b/c ‘man who won the war’
War needs threatened liberty, the basic principle of the Lib. Party
•-> A. introduced centralisation of industries such as railways and coal which came under the 4th clause in Lab constitution of nationalisation in 1914
•This weakened the Lib. Party b/c it took away the relevance of the Lib. party
•Treasury Agreement 1915 = dilution of Lab force with women -> increased TU membership
•attempted to decrease strike action but in 1916-> 6 mill days lost to strikes
•It was A who first let go of Lib values but A too slow to introduce increased control
•-> Munitions Crisis 1915 -> Repington despatch in the Times of shell shortage
•Public saw that men dying b/c supply failure
•L.G. solved shell crisis 1915 and increased tank + aircraft prod.
While A discredited for not taking it far enough, L.G. criticised for completely disregarding Lib principles
•L.G. ignored the Lib principle of balanced budget -> borrowed significant amounts of money from US
•Under L.G. war cost $5mill a day, borrowed $2mill from US banks everyday
•ran down GB gold reserves
•GB in deep debt by 1918
•-> increased taxation greatly -> trad. Libs only taxed unproductive wealth
•income tax rose from 9d to 6 s 1914-8
•Death duties rose sharply + excess profits taxes imposed on a range of goods
•This contributed to an inflationary spiral
Arguably, this increase in gov. control was needed
•Under A DORA introduced 1914
•Disrupted freedom of speech with censorship of media and propaganda
•Again, A didn’t take it far enough morale decreased greatly amongst men in GB
•Sept 1914 -> 450 k volunteers by Dec. 1915 55k volunteers
•attempt to land a GB force at Dardanelles in April 1915 to knock Turkey out of war failed
•forced A to introduce conscription
L.G. bad relationship with military
•As war minster 1916 criticised General Haig + Sir Robertson for military miscalculation of Battle of Somme
•withheld munitions from army to force them to think through battle plans which caused mistrust of L.G. in armed forces
•Arguably led to Maurice debate
•May 1918 General Maurice accused L.G. of distorting troop numbers
•A used this to intro. a vote of ‘no confidence’ into gov.
•L.G. argued Maurice supplied troop figures -> called bluff -> A looks bad
•Commons voted 293:106 in favour of L.G.
•Irreparably split Liberals b/c complete humiliation of A -> last blow to Liberals
Both Asquith + L.G. responsible for sacrificing Lib principle for the greater good of the people. Unwillingness to compromise in both A + L.G. contributed to irreparable split of Lib party -> not only L.G.
How successful was the government in directing the efforts of the British people towards winning the war?
Nationalisation and centralisation
•Railways nationalised and profits became fixed
•Shells became collectivised after the shell shortage in 1915 which led to increased casualties b/c of supply failure
•Shipping and coal industry also centralised -> by 1917, a increase in shipping + decrease in strikes seen in coal industry
•Imports/ production = controlled -> essentials + commodities rationed
•factors increased efficiency in transportation and production, aiding the war effort
Women contribution to WW1
•helped with armed forces -> Women’s Army Auxillary Corps -> Over 57,000 women served between January 1917 and November 1918. On 31 March 1917 women in the WAAC were first sent to the battlefields in France
•several thousand women also joined The Women’s Royal Naval Service + The Women’s Royal Air Force
•By 1918, 80% of work force were female -> a million replaced men in work force
•Transport industry -> female workers increased by 100k from 1914-> 1918
•This allowed the military force to increase in strength and size as less men were needed on the home front
Censorship and Propaganda
•Defence of Realm Act introduced 1914
•The law was designed to help prevent invasion and to keep morale at home high.
•Public understood that there was purpose behind these acts
• The press was subject to controls on reporting troop movements, numbers or any other operational information that could be exploited by the enemy.
•decreased pub licensing hours was necessary b/c people couldn’t work efficiently when drunk
•however, DORA didn’t prevent Rumours of rebellion within the Liberal gov
•Munitions crisis 1915 reported by Colonel Remington in the Times
•exposed shell shortage -> men dying b/c supply failure
Volunteer/ Conscription
•Dept. of information 1917 used radio to spread beliefs that the Somme was a success b/c boost of morale would mean increased war effort
•Gov tried to convince bachelors to join war effort but they were unsuccessful
•attempt to land a GB force at Dardanelles in April 1915 to knock Turkey out of war failed
•Disagreements between Churchill and Fisher led to Fisher’s public resignation
•Sep 1914 450k volunteers -> Dec 1915 55k -> evident that the war would not ‘end by christmas’
Government intervention in work force
•Treasury Agreement 1915
•trade union suspension of strikes + unskilled to replace skilled ‘dilution of Labour force’
•unskilled workers rose by 2 mill 1914-1918
•still lots of strikes e.g. miners 6 mill days lost 1916
•Increased TU members b/c wages couldn’t keep up with cost of living -> evidently piece work/ overtime necessary
•volunteers/ conscription was not thought about in context of labour
