What were the major impacts of World War One on British society?

Résumé du document

One could argue that World War One did not have a huge impact on British society compared to the Second World War. However, the conflict was soon called the ‘Great War' in Britain, and it was the first time that the whole society was involved in the war effort. A new type of war had reached Europe: the ‘total war'. Under these circumstances, it is not surprising that every component of British society was actually altered by the war. Thus, the essay will assess the major impacts of the conflict on Britain, starting with the effects on politics and then on the economy. Finally, it will look at the aftermath on the society itself. Before the war broke out, the political landscape was widely dominated by two main parties, the Liberals and the Conservatives. The Labour was playing a very limited role at that time. By the beginning of the war, the Liberals were in power, Asquith being Prime Minister. The Conservatives and even some Liberals soon criticized him for not properly leading the war e.g. because of the dramatic shortage of shells.

Extraits

[...] He became Minister of Munitions then War Secretary. Meanwhile, Asquith ceded to the opposition's pressure and in 1915 some Conservative and Labour politicians entered the government.[3] A year later, Lloyd George proposed the creation of a war council in which Asquith was not to participate. Asquith then refused, after what Lloyd George threatened to resign. The Conservatives, who were unsatisfied by the Asquith and had always maintained good relations with Lloyd George,[4] declared that they would not remain in a Coalition government in which Lloyd George was not to serve. [...]

[...] What were the major impacts of World War One on British society? One could argue that World War One did not have a huge impact on British society compared to the Second World War. However, the conflict was soon called the ‘Great War' in Britain, and it was the first time that the whole society was involved in the war effort. A new type of war had reached Europe: the ‘total war'.[1] Under these circumstances, it is not surprising that every component of British society was actually altered by the war. [...]

[...] Kirby, ‘Britain in the World Economy' in Johnson Twentieth- century Britain, p Pearce, Britain: Industrial Relations, p Baines, Onset of Depression', pp. 169-171. Bourne, Britain and the Great War, pp. 191-192. J. Lawrence, First World War and its Aftermath' in Johnson Twentieth-century Britain, pp. 151-153. Pugh, State and Society, p Lawrence, First World War', pp. 152-153. Pearce, Britain: Industrial Relations, p Pugh, State and Society, p Ibid, p. [...]

[...] 154; Pugh, p R. Pope, War and Society in Britain 1899-1948 (Harlow: Longman, 1991), p. 30; Pugh, State and Society, p Pugh, The Making of Modern British Politics, p Lecture notes, Dr A. Grünbacher. J.M. Bourne, Britain and the Great War 1914-1918 (London: Edward Arnold, 1989), p p. 195; Pugh, State and Society, p Pugh, State and Society, p p Ibid, p Pope, War and Society, p Pugh, The Making of Modern British Politics, p Pugh, State and Society, p A.L. [...]

[...] The State therefore had to play a part in the management of manpower too. In 1916 a system of military conscription was implemented, exempting the key workers from military service while at the same time ensuring the troops to extend.[34] Thus, State intervention in the economy was considerable during wartime. Nonetheless, there was a broad consensus according to which these measures were exceptional and temporary, and the return to free enterprise was effective rapidly after the armistice.[35] However, it can not be denied that State intervention during World War One did have long-term consequences. [...]