starter activity

This was arguably the most successful recruitment poster of the War. It shows Earl Kitchener, the man responsible for getting men to join the army. It uses a clever visual trick. Can you guess what it is?

Why did people Why did people ‘join up’?‘join up’?

PatriotismPatriotism Britain joined the War Britain joined the War

on 4 August 1914on 4 August 1914 People encouraged to People encouraged to

‘do your bit for King & ‘do your bit for King & country’country’

‘‘King’s shilling’King’s shilling’ Pals brigades (including Pals brigades (including

villages, football teams, villages, football teams, orchestras, old school orchestras, old school friends)friends)

Over by ChristmasOver by Christmas By December 1914, 1 By December 1914, 1

million men had million men had enlistedenlistedWhat is the artist of who made

this poster trying to say?

PropagandaPropaganda Leaflets & postersLeaflets & posters Women were told to encourage sons, Women were told to encourage sons,

husbands & boyfriends to enlisthusbands & boyfriends to enlist By January 1916, 2.6 million men had By January 1916, 2.6 million men had

enlistedenlisted

What do you think the man in the poster is thinking?

ConscriptionConscription Casualties increasedCasualties increased News returned to Britain News returned to Britain

of horrors of trenchesof horrors of trenches Conscription introduced Conscription introduced

for all men between ages for all men between ages of 18 and 41of 18 and 41

Conscientious objectorsConscientious objectors ((conshiesconshies) given white ) given white feathersfeathers

By 1918 2.5 million extra By 1918 2.5 million extra men had been enlistedmen had been enlisted

Why did millions of men feel ‘obliged’ to fight in the War?

Your taskYour task

You will each be given a popular WWI You will each be given a popular WWI recruitment poster. Stick it to a sheet recruitment poster. Stick it to a sheet of paper and draw 3 three circles of paper and draw 3 three circles around each picture. In each around each picture. In each successive circle write the following successive circle write the following questions:questions:

What does it show?What does it show? What can I infer?What can I infer? How effective was this poster in How effective was this poster in

encouraging men to enlist?encouraging men to enlist?

Your taskYour task

Design your own recruitment poster. Design your own recruitment poster. Use the posters on this PowerPoint Use the posters on this PowerPoint as inspiration.as inspiration.