World War IWorld War I

Total War ! Total War !

The British Home FrontThe British Home Front

The role of governmentThe role of government

• The role of government increasedThe role of government increased• To control industry, a Ministry of To control industry, a Ministry of

Munitions was created in 1915Munitions was created in 1915• Took over key areas and established Took over key areas and established

national factoriesnational factories• Industrial controls were increased, strikes Industrial controls were increased, strikes

were forbiddenwere forbidden• Directed labourDirected labour• Controls on work and production were Controls on work and production were

increasedincreased

The role of governmentThe role of government

• Rationing was introduced in 1916 – Rationing was introduced in 1916 – for milk, tea, meat sugar and breadfor milk, tea, meat sugar and bread

• DORA – mail and newspapers were DORA – mail and newspapers were censoredcensored

• Propaganda promoted recruitment, Propaganda promoted recruitment, war loans and war workwar loans and war work

• Beer-strength public houses were Beer-strength public houses were closed mid-afternoonclosed mid-afternoon

The role of governmentThe role of government

• Taxation was increased: death duties Taxation was increased: death duties and super tax of incomes over 8,000 and super tax of incomes over 8,000 poundspounds

• With casualties in Dec 1915 With casualties in Dec 1915 numbering 380,000 conscription was numbering 380,000 conscription was introducedintroduced

• ‘‘reserved’ occupations were exemptreserved’ occupations were exempt

Social ChangesSocial Changes

• The importance of women in the The importance of women in the workforce grew – one million were workforce grew – one million were employed in munitions and others in a employed in munitions and others in a variety of male occupations as variety of male occupations as blacksmiths, bus conductors, bank clerks, blacksmiths, bus conductors, bank clerks, etcetc

• Changes in clothing and social habitsChanges in clothing and social habits• As a recognition of their war effort As a recognition of their war effort

women over the age of 30 were given the women over the age of 30 were given the right to vote in 1918right to vote in 1918

Social ChangesSocial Changes

• Anti-German feeling roseAnti-German feeling rose• Holidays and social activities Holidays and social activities

declineddeclined• Class barriers were ignored – middle Class barriers were ignored – middle

class women worked in factoriesclass women worked in factories• The super tax slightly reduced the The super tax slightly reduced the

gap between the rich and poor.gap between the rich and poor.

Trade and IndustryTrade and Industry

• Initially it was business as usual.Initially it was business as usual.• But working conditions and wages But working conditions and wages

declineddeclined• Hours of labour increasedHours of labour increased• This led to industrial disputesThis led to industrial disputes• The Ministry of Munitions created The Ministry of Munitions created

more effective use of resourcesmore effective use of resources• Food shortages occurredFood shortages occurred

Trade and IndustryTrade and Industry

• Costs rose 110% between 1914 – 1918Costs rose 110% between 1914 – 1918• Labour shortages in agriculture Labour shortages in agriculture

necessitated government interventionnecessitated government intervention• Exports to Canada, India and China Exports to Canada, India and China

declineddeclined• Britain became a debtor to the USABritain became a debtor to the USA• In 1918, with social discontent increasing, In 1918, with social discontent increasing,

PM Lloyd George refused to send troops PM Lloyd George refused to send troops to Russia to fight the Bolsheviksto Russia to fight the Bolsheviks

PoliticsPolitics

• In May 1915 the Liberal Prime Minister In May 1915 the Liberal Prime Minister Asquith created a coalition of the three major Asquith created a coalition of the three major political partiespolitical parties

• This was in response to the need for This was in response to the need for government control of both the home and government control of both the home and battle frontsbattle fronts

• In Dec 1916 Asquith resigned after defeats on In Dec 1916 Asquith resigned after defeats on the Western Front, rebellion in Ireland and the Western Front, rebellion in Ireland and the death of Kitchener, the minister for warthe death of Kitchener, the minister for war

• Lloyd George became the new Prime Minister Lloyd George became the new Prime Minister and remained so until the end of the warand remained so until the end of the war