Evaluate whether or not the First World War was a transformative event in European womens history

DBQ #2- Women in World War 1IntroFrom 1914 to 1918, a world-shaking war occurred primarily in Europe butaffected nations around the world. Known as the Great War, this momentous clash ofpowers was later named World War I. This first World War was groundbreaking not onlywith the new technology and weaponry used that had been produced by the secondIndustrial Revolution, but also because of the changes in opportunities for womenwithin this time.Thesis-While women’s roles underwent considerable change during wartime and they tookmen’s places doing factory work and earning an income for the household, many wishedthis modification would only be temporary because it was unnatural and unbecoming fora woman to be performing a man’s job. Therefore, when the soldiers returned home andreclaimed their previous jobs after the conclusion of the war, women’s roles largelyreturned to the same as they had been in pre-war times.BP1- Documents 3 and 6 that show change, women doing more in factories and doinghard work in fields, earning an income, and helping war effort in RussiaAcross Europe, many women found themselves able to greatly help theirrespective nations’ war efforts. For instance, Countess de Courson, a French author,desribed in her book published in 1916 that although French peasant womenexperienced tough physical and emotional hardship during the war from laboring infields and factories and mourning the deaths of loved ones who would never returnfrom war, the women overcame their hardships and continued to contribute whatevernecessary to assist the war cause. Since Courson wrote and published a book detailingthe roles of French females in the midst of the war and was a well-to-do educatedFrench woman who probably advocated women’s rights and female self-reliance, itwould make sense that she admired the peasants’ grit, perseverance, and dedication tothe French cause in the absence of men to assist with the laborious work because theirdetermination to succeed in supporting their community without the help of men wouldreflect Courson’s belief in the female’s ability to participate in activities outside thehome and make a positive impact. Furthermore, on the other side of Europe, MariaBotchkareva-Yashka details her experience on the battlefield as a member of the Russianarmy and explains how her female regiment stormed the battlefield against enemyGermans and although many were killed or injured, they broke past German lines andcaptured hundreds of prisoners while the men around them fell behind in fear andcowardice. As a woman who was raised as a peasant but became an officer of a femaleregiment in the Russian army, it would make sense that Maria seemed proud of thebravery and courage shown in the face of danger by her women because she more thanlikely realized the unique opportunity that opened to females during the war to provethemselves worthy of equality to males. When they demonstrated their determination

The 2019 AP European History DBQ topic asks students to evaluate the extent to which the Catholic Church opposed scientific advancements in the seventeenth century. Well, technically, it asked students to evaluate whether or not the Catholic Church opposed scientific advancements in the seventeenth century. Personally, I feel like if the test makers want students to write a nuanced essay (in accordance with the expectations outlined on the DBQ rubric), the prompt should ask for a nuanced essay rather than just phrase it as a simple yes or no question.

Is this just a big deal to me? Feel free to weigh in on your preference for the AP Euro DBQ prompt format:

Although I wasn't crazy about the phrasing of the prompt, I liked the accessible topic and how the documents provided room for several different nuanced arguments. I sat down and wrote two sample DBQs in response to this prompt. One of the samples was my own response, which is intended to be a full-credit essay, and the other is an essay designed to score 4 out of 7 possible points. You may download the sample essays here:

On Wednesday, May 22, I will be leading a debriefing session on the 2019 AP Euro Free Response section, in which we will discuss approaches to responding to the SAQ, DBQ, and LEQ prompts. As a result of those discussions, more samples like this will be created and shared with all participants. Click here for more information about the debriefing session.

World WAR I DBQ

Question: Evaluate whether or not the First World War was a transformative event for women in European history.

Sources:

Document 1: "Votes for Heroines as well as Heroes," cover illustration, Votes for Women, weekly magazine, November 26, 1915.

Document 2: Paul von Hindenburg, Chief of the German General Staff, letter to German Chancellor Bethmann Hollweg, 1916.

It is also my opinion that women's work should not be overestimated. Almost all intellectual work, heavy physical labor, as well as all real manufacturing work will still fall on men—in addition to the entire waging of the war. It would be good if clear, official expression were given to these facts and if a stop were put to women's agitation for parity in all professions, and thereby, of course, for political emancipation. . . . After the war, we will still need the woman as spouse and mother. I thus strongly support those measures, enacted through law, prerogative, material aid, etc., aimed at that effect. In spite of the strong opposition to such measures, it is here that vigorous action needs to be taken in order to extinguish the influence of this female rivalry, which disrupts the family. . . . If I nevertheless urge that the requirement to work be extended to all women who are either unemployed or working in trivial positions, now and for the duration of the war, I do so because, in my opinion, women can be employed in many areas to a still greater degree than previously and men can thereby be freed for other work.

Document 3: Countess de Courson, French author, The French Woman during the War, 1916.

The task of the peasant woman is heavy, and for the past eighteen months they have accomplished it admirably, although perhaps today with a little more lassitude. In 1914, some of the field work was completed by the men before they left for war, by the young soldiers of the class of 1915 . . . who were still there to do their fair share of the work. The summer of 1915 was more difficult to get through; the mourning, the deep anxiety pressed on these peasant women, many of them knowing today that the empty places at the hearth will stay that way forever. Despite the crushing weight of physical and emotional fatigue, they continued, with few exceptions, to face up to the necessities of the war.

Document 4: Madeline Ida Bedford, English middle-class poet writing in the voice of a working-class woman, 1917.

* British currency

Munition Wages
Earning high wages?
Yes, five pounds* a week.
A woman, too, mind you,
I calls it damn sweet.

You're asking some questions--

But bless you, here goes:
I spends the whole racket
On good times and clothes.

We're all here today, mate,

Tomorrow—perhaps dead,
If Fate tumbles on us
And blows up our shed.

Afraid! Are you kidding?

With money to spend!
Years back I wore tatters,
Now—silk stockings my friend!

Worth while, for tomorrow
If I'm blown to the sky,
I'll have repaid my wages
In death—and pass by.

Document 5: Private G. F. Wilby, British frontline soldier, letter to his fiancee, Ethel Baxter, 1918.

Whatever you do, don't go in Munitions [manufacturing] or anything in that line—just fill a Woman's position and remain a woman—don't develop into one of those "things" that are doing men's work, as I told you in one of my letters, long ago. I want to return and find the same loveable little woman that I left behind—not a coarse thing more of a man than a woman—I love you because of your womanly little ways and nature, so don't spoil yourself by carrying on with a man's work—it's not necessary.

Document 6: Maria Botchkareva Yashka, Russian woman soldier, My Life as Peasant, Officer and Exile, memoir, 1919

The Colonel gave the signal. But the men on my right and to the left of Captain Petrov would not move. They replied to the Colonel's order with questions and expressions of doubts as to the wisdom of advancing.

The cowards!

We decided to advance in order to shame the men, having arrived at the conclusion that they would not let us perish in No Man's Land. . . . Some of my girls were killed outright, many were wounded. . . . We swept forward and overwhelmed the first German line, and then the second . . . our regiment alone captured two thousand prisoners.

Document 7: Women as percentage of industrial workforce in France, 1911 - 1926.