www.internationalschoolhistory.net

S6 History - 4hr Compulsory Core 1 – Europe Transformed by WWI World War 1 – Total War in Britain

The government The war demanded troops, weapons, ammunition and equipment on a scale never before experienced. To cope, the government had to become more deeply involved in people's lives. In 1914 the Defence of the Realm Act (DORA) gave it, new, wide-ranging emergency powers. Propaganda 1 Newspapers were censored. 2 Letters home from soldiers were censored to give a 'cheerful' impression of life at the front. 3 Untrue stories about the Germans were circulated to make people hate them, e.g. that they used the bodies of dead British soldiers to make fats and oils. 4 Poster campaigns were used to persuade people to eat less, buy less, join up, do voluntary work etc. Welfare The government became more involved in people's health, education etc. Protecting civilians 1 Submarine warfare resulted in food rationing. 2 Bombing raids. a) First ever air-raids on Britain (first by Zeppelins, then by Gotha bomber aircraft) killed about 1400 people and injured about 3300 caused widespread panic b) Main defences were anti-aircraft guns and searchlights. Work and industry The government 1 took over the running of food and munitions production, coal mines, railways, merchant shipping. Set up new ministries, headed by businessmen. 2 involved trade union leaders in making decisions about wages and working conditions in return for 'no strike' deals (all but the miners agreed). 3 encouraged women to take over the jobs of men leaving for the forces. 4 introduced British Summer Time to give more daylight during working hours. Food and rationing 1 Submarine warfare caused severe shortages. 2 1917: queues for food. Prices rose. The government gave money to help keep down the prices of basic foods 3 1918: food rationing, e.g. sugar, meat, margarine and butter, jam, and tea (coal was already rationed). Recruitment 1 a) 1914-1915: campaigns by Lord Kitchener, Secretary of State for War, recruit 2.25 million volunteers by October 1915 b) 1916: Military Service Acts introduce compulsory military service for men aged 18-41. 2 Conscientious objectors, who refused to fight because they thought it was wrong to kill, had to argue their case before special courts. 3 Women volunteers were recruited into the uniformed services.