A lot of soldiers were shamed into volunteering for WW1. Any apparently fit young man not in uniform would be given white feathers (for cowardice) by girls in the street. Socially, immense pressure was put on them. Men thought they would have nothing to say that they achieved in their lives if they had not signed up themselves. Newspapers and soldiers' letters were censored. "The Tribunal" (a pacifist newspaper) was shut down, and lies were made up about German atrocities. Posters encouraged morale, and encouraged men to fight for their country. When times got desperate, the government had to introduce conscription in 1916.This means soldiers were forced to join the army. Conscientious objectors could be imprisoned as some people did have strong beliefs against war. Conscription was active in the USA, France, Italy and Germany and even Britain had tried using it at the end of the war. Soldiers were conned into believing that glory awaited them; instead it was death.