There are many reasons why people joined up. Some were forced by the government (conscription), from propaganda posters, peer pressure and patriotism. Some were conscripted - this however was introduced in March 1916 when numbers of volunteers failed to match the rates with which they were being killed.
Patriotism:
Many joined up in a fit of patriotic fervour believing that they were fighting to protect their country and families. Conscription- the government forced men to fight. They didn't have much choice as a lot were not enlisting. Propaganda - WWI propaganda suggested that this was a necessary fight by exaggerating the way that Germans treated women and children. One poster claimed that German soldiers attacked nuns and another that a Canadian soldier had been crucified. Therefore the war was sold in terms of a righteous fight against evil. In addition, those who were 'cowards' and didn't sign up for the war would have felt guilty and these posters do. Below is a slideshow with images of posters. Have you seen any of these before? |
Peer-group pressure - it was seen partly as a civic duty to
join, but also many men saw their friends, neighbours and work colleagues enlist and they joined up too. The British army had to form so many new battalions that they allowed people from the same towns and communities to join the same battalions. Called the "Pals Battalions," these units had a strong local identity to mostly northern towns. Adventure - many of those who enlisted saw the war as a chance to grab a bit of glory. When war was declared it was genuinely thought that it would be over pretty quickly, men joined thinking that if they delayed a decision that the war would be over and others would get the honour of having participated. Why were these reasons so persuasive? The posters were so persuasive because it really helped to make the men feel like it was their duty to fight and to make their loved ones feel proud of them. The images together with the emotive language (which was in 2nd person) persuaded them to join. A lot of the men also looked forward to the adventure of a life time as some couldn't afford it. Peer pressure played a big part as well. Friends persuaded others to join too. Some joined because they didn't want to let their friends down. It doesn't just have to be friends. It could've been anyone. Moreover, men wanted to show that they were not afraid and by fighting, they would also protect their families too. |