World War I and the Home Front
Jenica Situ
Period 4, AP European History
March 4, 2015
DBQ 15: World War I and the Home Front World War I, also known as the Great War, was a global war centered around Europe. The first four years of “total war” that constituted World War I (1914-1918) changed the lives of not only the men who fought as soldiers, but the people who remained at home. Some effects of the Great War on the European home fronts during the first course of the war were nationalistic feelings, working women, dwindling food supplies, and the rise of socialism. When the war first broke out, citizens of every country were ecstatic. Parades were held and people were tied together under the cause of the war (Doc. 2). As a writer, Zweig’s description of the events can be seen as a little dramatized (Doc. 2). When war was declared in Britain, people were joyous at the thought of what was supposed to be frightening and horrifying (Doc. 3). Nationalism and a thirst, provided with a chance, for each country to prove themselves the best thrilled many of the people. As men left their homes to defend their countries at war, women took on the bulk of the work. The statistics of employment of women during wartime in Britain was unlike that of any other time period. From the beginning to the end of World War I, 792,000 females had been employed. And by January of 1918, a total of 704,000 women held jobs that were directly replacing males (Doc. 1). Although there were large amounts of work, man women were happy to perform such tasks, because it meant that they were helping and supporting their troops at war (Doc. 4). As a British worker in a munitions plant, Naomi Loughman’s statement can be deemed trustworthy, as she has no motive for omitting information (Doc. 4). Because the men were away, many more women gained jobs and quickly became the centers of the household. While the war went on, food and materials became scarce. Stretching food and materials to provide for both the troops and people
Period 4, AP European History
March 4, 2015
DBQ 15: World War I and the Home Front World War I, also known as the Great War, was a global war centered around Europe. The first four years of “total war” that constituted World War I (1914-1918) changed the lives of not only the men who fought as soldiers, but the people who remained at home. Some effects of the Great War on the European home fronts during the first course of the war were nationalistic feelings, working women, dwindling food supplies, and the rise of socialism. When the war first broke out, citizens of every country were ecstatic. Parades were held and people were tied together under the cause of the war (Doc. 2). As a writer, Zweig’s description of the events can be seen as a little dramatized (Doc. 2). When war was declared in Britain, people were joyous at the thought of what was supposed to be frightening and horrifying (Doc. 3). Nationalism and a thirst, provided with a chance, for each country to prove themselves the best thrilled many of the people. As men left their homes to defend their countries at war, women took on the bulk of the work. The statistics of employment of women during wartime in Britain was unlike that of any other time period. From the beginning to the end of World War I, 792,000 females had been employed. And by January of 1918, a total of 704,000 women held jobs that were directly replacing males (Doc. 1). Although there were large amounts of work, man women were happy to perform such tasks, because it meant that they were helping and supporting their troops at war (Doc. 4). As a British worker in a munitions plant, Naomi Loughman’s statement can be deemed trustworthy, as she has no motive for omitting information (Doc. 4). Because the men were away, many more women gained jobs and quickly became the centers of the household. While the war went on, food and materials became scarce. Stretching food and materials to provide for both the troops and people