Option 12: c1900–present: Warfare and British society in the modern era - 2 The experience of war — Edexcel GCSE History
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Option 12: c1900–present: Warfare and British society in the modern era - 2 The experience of war explained
The 20th century transformed civilian experiences of war.
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The Home Front during both World Wars involved mass mobilisation, rationing, and civilian recruitment into industries. Conscientious Objectors faced harsh treatment and tribunals in WWI, though attitudes softened slightly by WWII. Post-1945, the fear of nuclear war created a new psychological burden on civilians, exemplified by 'Protect and Survive'. War reporting evolved from heavily censored WWI dispatches to delayed, controlled reports in the Falklands and later live television broadcasts during Iraq, increasing public concern for casualties. Governments consistently used censorship and propaganda, like the Ministry of Information, to maintain morale and control narratives.
Your focus
- Compare the organisation of the Home Front and civilian recruitment in the First and Second World Wars.
- Explain how attitudes towards Conscientious Objectors and the fear of nuclear war affected civilian life.
- Evaluate the impact of war reporting, censorship, and propaganda on public perception and concern for casualties.
Option 12: c1900–present: Warfare and British society in the modern era - 2 The experience of war exam tips
Marking Points
- Evaluate the organisation of the Home Front, including civilian recruitment into munitions and agriculture during WWI and WWII.
- Contrast the harsh public and official attitudes towards Conscientious Objectors in WWI with the slightly more accommodating tribunal system in WWII.
- Explain how the fear of nuclear war post-1945 impacted civilians, referencing government advice and the psychological threat of total annihilation.
- Analyse the shift in war reporting from strict government censorship in WWI to delayed reports in the Falklands and live media coverage in modern conflicts, which heightened public concern for casualties.
- Assess the government's use of propaganda to sustain morale and censorship to suppress damaging information during wartime.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Provide specific examples of propaganda, such as Lord Kitchener's recruitment poster or WWII 'Dig for Victory' campaigns.
- 💡Link the evolution of media technology (e.g., photography, television, internet) to the changing public attitudes towards casualties.
Common Mistakes
- Stating that Conscientious Objectors were universally executed; most were assigned non-combatant roles or imprisoned, though they faced severe social stigma.
- Assuming war reporting was always uncensored; early 20th-century reporting was heavily controlled, and modern reporting still faces operational restrictions.
- Confusing the Home Front of WWI with WWII; while both involved rationing and female labour, WWII saw direct civilian targeting through the Blitz.