Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
The British experience of warfare, c1790–1918 - 4 Trench warfare on the…
Full specification wording
Paper 3, Option 35.2: The British experience of warfare, c1790–1918 - 4 Trench warfare on the Western Front, 1914–18: British public perception of, and changing attitudes to, war on the Western Front; government attempts to restrict, direct reportage by journalists from the Western Front.
British public perception of the war on the Western Front evolved from initial patriotic enthusiasm in 1914 to war-weariness and disillusionment by 1918.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 2 of 3
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
British public perception of the war on the Western Front evolved from initial patriotic enthusiasm in 1914 to war-weariness and disillusionment by 1918. Early reports emphasised heroism and quick victory, but as casualties mounted, attitudes shifted. The government sought to control information through censorship and propaganda. The Defence of the Realm Act (DORA, 1914) gave authorities power to restrict reporting. Official press censorship was enforced by the Press Bureau, and journalists like Philip Gibbs were accredited but their reports were heavily censored. The government also used propaganda, such as the Bryce Report (1915) on German atrocities, to shape opinion. These attempts aimed to maintain morale and support for the war, but growing casualty lists and letters from the front increasingly informed public scepticism.
What earns the marks
- Describes initial public enthusiasm and the role of early war reporting in shaping a positive perception.
- Explains how and why public attitudes changed over time, including the impact of casualty figures, the Battle of the Somme, and war weariness.
- Analyses government methods to control reportage, such as DORA, the Press Bureau, and the accreditation and censorship of journalists like Philip Gibbs.
- Evaluates the effectiveness of government attempts to direct reportage, considering the growth of scepticism and the role of soldiers' letters and other unofficial sources.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Assuming that all reporting was completely censored and no critical views appeared.
Put it right: Some journalists, like Philip Gibbs, managed to convey hints of the war's reality within censorship limits.
Attributing the change in public attitude solely to the Somme.
Put it right: Other factors such as the scale of casualties at Ypres, the introduction of conscription, and economic hardship also contributed.
Claiming that the government had no control over reporting.
Put it right: DORA and the Press Bureau imposed significant restrictions, though enforcement was not absolute.
Exam tips
- Use specific examples of censorship measures and their impact on what the public knew.
- When discussing changing attitudes, refer to both official reports and unofficial sources like letters and diaries.
- Avoid generalisations about 'the public'; consider different groups and regions, and how attitudes varied over time.
Try the lesson
The start of the Paper 3, Option 35.2: The British experience of warfare, c1790–1918 - 4 Trench warfare on the Western Front, 1914–18: British public perception of, and changing attitudes to, war on the Western Front; government attempts to restrict, direct reportage by journalists from the Western Front. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which mechanism was primarily used by the British government to direct journalists' reportage from the Western Front during the First World War?
Listen
British public perception of the war on the Western Front evolved from initial patriotic enthusiasm in 1914 to war-weariness and disillusionment by 1918. Early reports emphasised heroism and quick victory, but as casualties mounted, attitudes shifted. The government sought to control information through censorship and propaganda. The Defence of the Realm Act (DORA, 1914) gave authorities power to restrict reporting. Official press censorship was enforced by the Press Bureau, and journalists like Philip Gibbs were accredited but their reports were heavily censored. The government also used propaganda, such as the Bryce Report (1915) on German atrocities, to shape opinion. These attempts aimed to maintain morale and support for the war, but growing casualty lists and letters from the front increasingly informed public scepticism. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Describes initial public enthusiasm and the role of early war reporting in shaping a positive perception. Explains how and why public attitudes changed over time, including the impact of casualty figures, the Battle of the Somme, and war weariness. Analyses government methods to control reportage, such as DORA, the Press Bureau, and the accreditation and censorship of journalists like Philip Gibbs. Evaluates the effectiveness of government attempts to direct reportage, considering the growth of scepticism and the role of soldiers' letters and other unofficial sources. A common slip: assuming that all reporting was completely censored and no critical views appeared. Instead, some journalists, like Philip Gibbs, managed to convey hints of the war's reality within censorship limits. Exam tip: Use specific examples of censorship measures and their impact on what the public knew.
Put the events in order
Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.
- 1. Defence of the Realm Act gave authorities power to restrict reporting
- 2. Public attitudes had shifted to war-weariness and disillusionment
- 3. Bryce Report on German atrocities used to shape opinion
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Propaganda and censorship
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Public morale and attitudes
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Role of the media in wartime
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Government control of information
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Propaganda and censorship
- The government used propaganda, such as the Bryce Report on German atrocities, and censorship to shape opinion and control information.
- Public morale and attitudes
- British public perception moved from initial patriotic enthusiasm in 1914 to war-weariness and disillusionment by 1918.
- Role of the media in wartime
- Early war reporting shaped a positive perception by emphasising heroism and quick victory, while later reports were heavily censored.
- Government control of information
- Authorities restricted reporting through the Defence of the Realm Act and official press censorship enforced by the Press Bureau.
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