UNITED KINGDOM

WWI by Elizabeth and Brooke

UK Background Info

Currency GBP (Great British Pound) Constitutional Monarchy British English 46mil 63mil (People)

Triple Entente

France Russia United States Serbia Italy Montenegro Romania Greece Portugal

Before the War

Britain didn’t care for European affairs Balance of powers among nations Naval supremacy

Involvement in War

Economic rivalry with Germany Militarism (fueled arms race) Germany declared war with Belgium

France (UK’s ally) Germany broke treaties with

France/Russia

Military

Only country without draft in the beginning

Used lots of propaganda “Your Country Needs You” Over 3mil men volunteered in 2 years Had to pass Military Service Act, 1916 Act until 1920, raised 2.5mil men

Propaganda

Military Service Act, March 1916

Single men aged between 18 and 41 Exempted medically unfit, priests, and teachers Act went through many changes Married men, up to 51years old Extended to 1920 Raised 2.5 million men

Map Comparison

1914 1918

General Edmund Allenby

British military leader (1861-1936) Led British forces in Syria and Palestine Defeated Ottoman Empire troops

Wilfred Owen

British WW1 poet

Anthem for Doomed Youth

What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?Only the monstrous anger of the guns.Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattleCan patter out their hasty orisons.No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells,Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,—The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;And bugles calling for them from sad shires.

What candles may be held to speed them all?Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyesShall shine the holy glimmers of good-byes.The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.

Results of the War

Debts equivalent to 136% of their GNP More democratic society Staple wartime industries- coal, ship-building, steel-contracted Working women ceded jobs