DORA (The Defence of the Realm Act)

As the First World War continued the government had to take more and more control of peoples lives in order that the war would be won. 

Today government is expected to impact in our everyday life, in 1914 it was not accepted. Many people were suspicious of having freedoms taken from them. However, the need to win the war was more important and these changes were accepted.

MUNITIONS 

The Daily Mail noted a huge deficit in the ammunition needed and the amount being produced. This crisis meant that the DORA could force companies to produce weapons and bullets. land could be seized to help with this effort. When the story that some soldiers were being limited to three bullets a day people demanded action!

Above, the picture shows Lloyd George leading the munitions drive.

RATIONING

The German U-boats were causing havoc with food supplies. The need to cut down was desperate. Voluntary rationing was introduced in 1917. However, despite the Royal Families lead was insufficient. In 1918 this was made compulsory. People had to accept weekly food supplies based on their needs. It was unpopular but it was also seen as being fair.

The drive to save food was made via posters like this but as you can see from the notice on the right penalties for breaking the law were very strong.

Rationing was never popular, but as the poster shows special cases were treated by merit not peoples wealth.

WOMEN

The need to increase output meant women had to go into the factories. This was a welcome move for many women. The suffragettes took this as a perfect way of proving that they were equal to men. Men were angry that women may be paid lower than men. The trade unions forced the government to pay women the men's rate. This was not because they wanted equality, rather it was to protect their pay.

Women proved they were able to work in what were previously considered men's jobs.

CENSORSHIP

The government controlled what could and could not be said by the media. Newspapers could only print what was acceptable to the state.