Britain c1903-1928
Origins and effects of the Liberal Reforms
This revision podcast presents an overview of the Liberal Reforms in Britain.
The episode begins with an explanation of the situation before the reforms, and why they were introduced. Reference is made to social research at the time, key politicians, the impact of the Boer War, Britain’s industrial situation, and the effect of voting reforms in the late 19th Century.
The podcast then goes on to explain what the reforms did to improve life for four key groups – children, old people, the unemployed, and workers. Finally, advice and examples are given for writing a balanced answer on how successful (or unsuccessful) the Liberal Reforms were.
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
British civilians in the First World War
This GCSE revision podcast presents an overview of the impact of World War 1 on British civilians.
The episode is split into two key sections – recruitment and government powers. When you have listened to the podcast, you may like to check out the British Civilians in WW1 PowerPoint.
Beginning with the popular excitement at the outbreak of war, the podcast explains how the British army recruited soldiers to join the army from the early days of voluntary recruitment through to the introduction of conscription in 1916. There is then an explanation of the effect of conscription on British society, which referenced conscientious objectors. For information on the role of women in the First World War, check out the podcast about women and the right the vote.
The second part of the podcast presents an overview of the different powers granted to the government under the Defence of the Realm Act (DORA). The effect of DORA on the civilian population of Britain is also assessed, with a particular focus on the causes and consequences of rationing. The podcasts ends with an explanation of how propaganda and censorship were used in Britain during the First World War.
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
The Brown Family’s Four War Christmases cartoon
This cartoon by G M Payne, originally published in Sunday Pictorial on 23 December 1917, shows the changes experienced by a British family as the First World War progressed. It’s a great resource to use for the basis of a lesson about the effects of the war on the British Home Front, and to show how attitudes to the war changed over time. The annual Christmas tableau begins with the optimistic attitude of 1914 and ends in 1917 as rationing takes hold.
I’ve put together a very simple PowerPoint looking at each frame in turn that you can download here. This works well as a lesson to recap the Home Front. Students identify the changes and, based on their knowledge, explain why those changes happened. A written task could be to describe and explain the changes between the first and last frame in the context of the British Home Front.
Ed Podesta has an excellent lesson using the same cartoon to explore the significance of the war on different aspects of life in Britain. You can find the resources for that lesson here.
Download a copy of The Brown Family’s Four War Christmases cartoon here
Women and the right to vote
This revision podcast aims to explain the different factors that contributed to women gaining the right to vote in Britain.
The podcast is split into two main sections – the effect of the Suffragists and the Suffragettes on the movement for votes for women, and the role of women in the First World War.
The first part begins by outlining the origins and methods of the Suffragists, which are then contrasted with the methods of the more forthright Suffragette movement. The effects of their actions are assessed, with particular consideration given to the impact on government officials and wider public opinion as the Suffragette campaign resorted to hunger-strikes in prison.
The second part of the presents an overview of the role of women in World War One. A short description is given of the role of women on boosting the number of recruits for the army, followed by an assessment of the the effect of women who entered the workplace to take up jobs that had been vacated by men going off to fight. To revise how the First World War affected the rest of the population, check out the podcast about British civilians in the First World War.
The podcast ends with a description of the Representation of the People Act, which marked a shift in British politics to begin giving women a voice.
You may wish to also download the Women and the Right to Vote PowerPoint, and can test yourself using the Votes for Women practice questions.
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
The foundation of the Women’s Social & Political Union
On the 10th October 1903 the Women’s Social and Political Union, whose members came to be known as suffragettes, was founded at the Manchester home of Sylvia and Emmeline Pankhurst.
Overview of Suffragette Emily Davison at the Epson Derby
On the 4th June 1913, suffragette Emily Wilding Davison was hit by King George V’s racehorse at the Epsom Derby after she stepped onto the track.
The causes and consequences of the Representation of the People Act 1918
On 6 February 1918 the Representation of the People Act received Royal Assent, marking the start of female suffrage in Great Britain.
Enlisting for the army in the First World War
A short video extract showing German and British attitudes to the outbreak of war, and how these influenced men to join the army.
