Impact on new zealand society
World War 1 had a strong impact on the New Zealand society especially the Gallipoli campaign, though ending in a failure and cost the lives of nearly 3000 New Zealand soldiers, they gained something in return a national identity, once a country looking at themselves as a British society now looking at themselves as New Zealanders (Kiwis) They were called the Kiwis because of the regimental signs for all New Zealand regiments featured the Kiwi during the Gallipoli campaign. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiwi_(people)
The cost of war lead to a price, the battle of Gallipoli created many deaths for the New Zealand society leaving many families in mourning for their fallen loved ones, some families not even having a body to bury because at some situations the fallen soldiers body was never recovered. The photograph below shows a family portrait of a mother and her four sons (all fours sons died at war) This was the case of many families in New Zealand with those left back home to mourn for the death of their loved ones during and after the war.
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When the news of World War 1 broke out, New Zealanders were enthusiastic, some saw the war as a way to travel the world others for the desire of action and adventure some New Zealanders to have never left New Zealand never to have never seen the world beyond home. Most New Zealander troops were as young as 17 had to enlist not even knowing the realities of war. The New Zealand society saw World War 1 of a way to prove themselves to the world and to the crown hoping to make the King proud and themselves proud, not knowing they would gain something greater in return a national identity. Many of New Zealanders were influenced by the propaganda posters that were around to promote the idea of war, given the idea to help the King by contributing in the war and being hero for your country.
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With New Zealand relying heavily on Britain to take its exports of agricultural produce at that time and the start of World War 1 would interrupt any flow of New Zealand goods through sea routes would affect the New Zealand market. This lead to one of the reasons why New Zealand decided contribute to the war in exchange Britain would most of New Zealand's exports through bulk purchase agreements. This agreement with Britain assisted New Zealand's economy which rewarded farmers mostly. The deal with Britain protected the New Zealand economy even enhanced it with the high prices of exports which impacted the New Zealand society in an economical growth.
http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/first-world-war/page-1 |
New Zealand and the First World War 1914-1919
By Damien Fenton New Zealand poster advertising New Zealand made products. This poster is one of the posters that backs up the agreement between New Zealand and Britain for agricultural trade that impact the New Zealand society economically. |
Maori soldiers (Native Contingent) training and waiting for deployment in Egypt 1915.
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The battle of Gallipoli also impacts the New Zealand society in race, which was initially assumed to be as a “white-man’s war” that soon changed when Indian troops would assist the British showing colour wasn’t an issue. Soon Maoris (Native Contingent) joined the Gallipoli campaign over 2000 Maoris served in the campaign. With coloured soldiers joining the war this impacted the New Zealand society in a racial matter showing equality in race in a society. This is further explained in these websites.
http://www.teara.govt.nz//en/first-world-war/page-2 . http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/maori-in-first-world-war/native-contingent http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/36682/the-native-contingent-in-egypt-1915 |
With most men out at war in New Zealand, the women had to do their part too taking over the male jobs for the mean time to keep the country running. The New Zealand women would make biscuits (ANZAC biscuits) for the soldiers overseas along with Christmas parcels giving the men a taste of New Zealand giving them hope and a taste of what's at home.
Though wartime was a time for adversity for the New Zealand soldiers at Gallipoli facing an unforgiving environment, the women faced somewhat a similar treatment as some females did the jobs which would be classified as male jobs in those days. Women surprised men with their abilities as it proved to the society that Females could also do what Males could do. Along with appraisals for women came disapproval from men mainly because male workers feared for their own jobs safety knowing that the female workforce work willingly unpaid. With most women working male classified jobs during the war the New Zealand society took a huge impact in feminism as the Female gender would get recognition for their contribution during the war.
Though wartime was a time for adversity for the New Zealand soldiers at Gallipoli facing an unforgiving environment, the women faced somewhat a similar treatment as some females did the jobs which would be classified as male jobs in those days. Women surprised men with their abilities as it proved to the society that Females could also do what Males could do. Along with appraisals for women came disapproval from men mainly because male workers feared for their own jobs safety knowing that the female workforce work willingly unpaid. With most women working male classified jobs during the war the New Zealand society took a huge impact in feminism as the Female gender would get recognition for their contribution during the war.