The War at Home & Food Shortages

Defence of the Realm Act (DORA) - August 1914
1. Two aims:
  1. 1) Make sure the country had enough resources to fight the war
  2. 2) Make sure British people were in a fit state to fight/support the war effort
2. The law allowed the government to:
  1. Introduce conscription
  2. Take control of vital industries
  3. Take over 2.5 million acres of land and buildings
  4. Bring in British Summer Time (more daylight = more working hours)
  5. Control drinking hours and alcohol strenght
  6. Stop people talking about the war or spreading rumours
  7. Censor newspapers
  8. Enforce rationing
Volunteering
1. Men rushed to volunteer - they thought it would be 'over by Christmas' and an adventure
2. By 1915, causalities went up while volunteers went down
  1. Not enough soldiers!
3. A feeling of unfairness began to grow about some men avoided military duty in Britain
Conscription introduced - 1916
1. All single men aged 18-40 had to fight
2. When there weren't enough soldiers, married men had to sign up too
3. Conscientious Objectors - people who didn't believe in fighting
  1. Sent to prison and seen as traitors
  2. Some agreed to non-violent war work
Women did 'Men's Jobs'
1. Shortage of workers in heavy industries, like coal mining
  1. Women took over to help!
German U-boats
1. Britain imported food from the United States and Empire countries
2. Germans used U-boats (submarines) to attack shipping around Britain, making it impossible to import food
Lloyd George took three steps to solve the food shortage:
1. 1) Navy Convoys
  1. Before the convoy system, 25% of merchant ships coming into Britain were sunk
  2. Convoy system - merchant ships travelled in groups and were escorted by Royal Navy ships as protection
    1. U-boats couldn't attack as easily
2. 2) Compulsory Rationing - 1918
  1. Was previously voluntary
  2. Rationing coupons - were handed over when buying beer, butter, sugar or meat
  3. Some hoarded food out of fear and increasing prices
    1. Black market - sold later on
  4. No-one starved
  5. The government had never been this involved in people's daily lives before
3. 3) Britain grew more food
  1. Farmers encouraged to buy more land = more food
  2. Women's Land Army - 1917
    1. Big labour force available to work on the farms

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The War at Home & Food Shortages

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