World War One 1914-1918

Censorship: 

• Defence of the Realm Act (DORA). Controlled censorship as well as civillans' actions.
• Control: banned from speaking about military affairs in public, lighting bonfires or firewords and from ringing church bells. 

Propaganda: 

• Used for 3 reasons: turn public opinions against germans, encourage men to join, encourage people to work and go without luxuries. 
• Anti-German propanganda, conviced people that the German army was evil. 

Positive Attitudes:

• Initally enthusiastic and had sympthay for Belgium. 
• 2.5 million joined between 1914-1915. 
• 33,000 joined in one day (3rd september) 
• Convicted it would be a short war.

Negative Attitudes: 

• The Battle of Somme January 1916- 58,000 killed on day one. (420,000 in one day)
• Opinions changed and volunteers dried up when the war lasted longer then expected. 

• Military service Act January 1916, all unmarried men 18-41. extended to married men in May 1916.
• 3,500,000 men conscripted. 
• Exceptions; special occupations (farmers), poor health, family responsibilities and conscientious objectors. 
• 16,100 men refused to fight due to their moral or religious beliefs.
• Those that weren't exempt and refused went to prison. 10 men died in prison, 31 went insane. 

• First time Civilans had been at risk of direct attack. 
• Attacked by Zeppelins (airships), Gothas (planes)
• Zeppelins: 564 civilians killed 
• Gothas: 850 civilians killed. 
• Public Reaction: angry with the government as they felt unprotected and defenceless. 

• German submarines were preventing food supplies reaching Britain.
• 1917- government brought in voluntary reationing (failed)
• 1918- compulsory rationing was introduced (successful)
• Poorer people became healthier. 
• Examples of ratined items- meat, sugar. bread, fuel and clothing.  

• Took over key industries and resources whist also allocating workers where they were needed. 
• Examples of industries: railway, Coal mines, munitions factorises and shipyards. 
• The government ran over 20,000 work places.
• 1916 Ministry of labour set up to organise the nation's work force
• Wages and hours were strictly controlled. 

• Medical developments-improved methods for preventing infection, developed plastic surgery and prosthetic limbs and increased awareness of mental illness (shell shock)
• Blood transfusions- prevented blood from clotting and set up blood banks.
• X-Rays of bones became more common.
• Improved welfare reforms- "to make Britan a fit country for heroes to live in (David Lloyd George)

• The Education Act 1918.
• TheHousing and Town planning Act 1919.
• The Unemployment Insurance Act 1920.