Impact of War on the Home Front (Britain at War 1914-1918) (Britain 1900-1951)

• Immense growth in power of the state over the individual
• Legislation introduced that greatly increased state power.
• State interferrance in private business.
  • Some private industries put under state control.
  • Some private business freedoms interferred with by the state.
• Daylight saving time introduced in 1916
• Restricutions on daily life for the war effort
  • Purchase restrictions with rationing.
• General health of the country got better because of rationing, few fatty food real
• Emphasis self sufficiency
• War bond people promise to pay certain amount of money that will be paid back with interest by the government - very popular

• Introduction of DORA - unpopular
  • Authorised the government to do almost anything it thought necessary to help the war effort and protect the country.
• Ministry of Munitions established in 1915, taking over and creating factories
  • Oversaw & co-ordinated production & distribution of munitions.
    
  • Created by Munitions of War Act 1915
  • Lloyd George 1915-1916
• First use of conscription – Military Service Act 1916
• Introduction of much greater government surveillance
• New welfare allowances
  • Widows pensions, disability allowances and separation payments paid by the state 
    • Increase in state power & responsibility over welfare

• Ministry of Munitions established in 1915, taking over and creating factories.
  • Control of munitions industry in state hands.
• Railways and mine taken over by the state
• Opening hours in pubs introduced
  • State interferrance in private business.

• Rations introduced on sugar, meat, butter, jam and tea.
• Restrictions on alcohol

Increase of state control & responsibility lead to revolutionary welfare extentions:

• Provision of munitions canteens of subsidised food.
  • 900 feeding a million by 1918
• School meals for the poor set up in 1908.
  • Extended to needy children during the year
• Old age pensioners could continue to work while drawing their pension
• Nurseries subsided for working mothers
  • Although limited, they did cut childcare costs
• 1911 National Insurance scheme extended in 1916 to families of soldiers & war workers 
  • Maternity care became available, reducing costs and improving health
• 1915 Care of Mothers and Young Children Act
  • Led to more midwives, health care, maternity benefits and provision of milk.
  • Causing death rate for young children to fall to one of the lowest
• Education Act 1918 
  • Proposals for improving fitness and health of children
  • By schools providing playing fields and sport facilities   
• Rise in voluntary organisations 

• German submarines struck at merchant ships importing food and war supplies.
  • From Canada and the USA
• Work force tries to carry on
• Trade unions expanded to represent the working class
• People start to petition for better living
• Very first total war brought to civilians 
• Food shortages & hunger due to fewer people working in farms
• Widespread unemployment
• Families had to cope without male breadwinners
  • Send children to work in farms & factories
  • 1914-1917: 600,000 children withdrawn from school for war work.
• Towns & cities suffered German attacks in the Blitz.
• Flu epidemic 1918 due to malnutrition