Britain and Total War

Economy

• modern war couldn't be fought without government intervention
• Defence of RealmAct - gave government control of armanments factories - little done to increase output - led to shell shortage
• To fight a total war government needed -whole population & entire economic resources mobilised - money raised & deployed - labour directed & controlled - output specified & delivered on time. - the financial and economic life of the nation had to be planned
• Defence of realm act also gave government control of - labour forces & economic resources
• 'Treasury Agreements - between Lloyd George and Trade unions - not to strike in retutn for garantees on wages and conditions - nions also agreed to relax usual restrictive woeking practices to increase efficiency
• Britains became 80% self sufficient for food in 1918
• Mining industry effectively nationalised
• Government controls issued on wages, employment conditions, profits & prices

Women:

• worked with men on equal terms
• more financially…