Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
The British experience of warfare, c1790–1918 - 1 Changes in organising…
Full specification wording
Paper 3, Option 35.2: The British experience of warfare, c1790–1918 - 1 Changes in organising the military: The recruitment of the fighting forces 1790-1918: impressment, volunteers and conscripts (key development: conscription 1916).
Between 1790 and 1918, Britain recruited fighting forces through impressment, volunteering and conscription.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 2 of 2
- 3 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Between 1790 and 1918, Britain recruited fighting forces through impressment, volunteering and conscription. Impressment, used mainly by the Royal Navy, involved seizing men for service; it was unpopular and declined after the Napoleonic Wars. Volunteering relied on patriotism, bounties and local recruitment, but could not meet the huge demands of total war. The key development was conscription in 1916: the Military Service Act introduced compulsory enlistment for single men, later extended to married men. This shift from voluntary to compulsory service transformed the scale and organisation of the armed forces, with profound social and political effects.
What earns the marks
- Explain impressment: its use by the Royal Navy, methods such as press gangs, and its limitations and decline.
- Analyse volunteering: motivations such as patriotism, duty, adventure, and the role of propaganda and the 'Pals' battalions.
- Describe conscription: the 1916 Military Service Act, initial terms (single men 18–41), later extensions, and exemptions.
- Compare the three methods: scale, effectiveness, and impact on society and the war effort.
- Assess the significance of conscription as a turning point in the relationship between state and citizen.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confusing impressment with conscription.
Put it right: Impressment was a form of forced naval recruitment, while conscription was a government policy of compulsory military service for all eligible men.
Assuming volunteering alone was sufficient throughout the war.
Put it right: Volunteering initially boosted numbers but could not sustain the required manpower, leading to conscription.
Misunderstanding the scope of the 1916 Military Service Act.
Put it right: It initially applied to single men, not all men, and was later extended to married men.
Exam tips
- Use specific dates and terms, such as the 1916 Military Service Act, to demonstrate precise knowledge.
- Compare the methods explicitly, discussing strengths and weaknesses of each in meeting manpower needs.
- Link recruitment changes to broader themes like government power, public opinion, and total war.
Try the lesson
The start of the Paper 3, Option 35.2: The British experience of warfare, c1790–1918 - 1 Changes in organising the military: The recruitment of the fighting forces 1790-1918: impressment, volunteers and conscripts (key development: conscription 1916). lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which method of recruiting men for the Royal Navy in the 1790s involved seizing men and forcing them to serve at sea?
Listen
Between 1790 and 1918, Britain recruited fighting forces through impressment, volunteering and conscription. Impressment, used mainly by the Royal Navy, involved seizing men for service; it was unpopular and declined after the Napoleonic Wars. Volunteering relied on patriotism, bounties and local recruitment, but could not meet the huge demands of total war. The key development was conscription in 1916: the Military Service Act introduced compulsory enlistment for single men, later extended to married men. This shift from voluntary to compulsory service transformed the scale and organisation of the armed forces, with profound social and political effects. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explain impressment: its use by the Royal Navy, methods such as press gangs, and its limitations and decline. Analyse volunteering: motivations such as patriotism, duty, adventure, and the role of propaganda and the 'Pals' battalions. Describe conscription: the 1916 Military Service Act, initial terms (single men 18–41), later extensions, and exemptions. Compare the three methods: scale, effectiveness, and impact on society and the war effort. Exam tip: Use specific dates and terms, such as the 1916 Military Service Act, to demonstrate precise knowledge.
See it
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Manpower demands of total war
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
State coercion versus voluntary service
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Social and political impact of conscription
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Manpower demands of total war
- The huge demands of total war could not be met by volunteering alone, which led to conscription.
- State coercion versus voluntary service
- The shift from voluntary to compulsory service transformed the scale and organisation of the armed forces.
- Social and political impact of conscription
- Conscription had profound social and political effects and changed the relationship between state and citizen.
Label the diagram
Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.
1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3
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