Home Front During WW1

Women in War-

• Filled in vacated jobs and took over men's jobs.
• There was an initial resistance to hiring women. 
• Women began making munitions in factories. Factories then became the largest single employer of women. 
• 100,000 women took jobs in governmental departments.
• 500,000 worked in private office. 
• 250,000 worked in agriculture.
• 700,000 worked in ammunitions. 

Conscientious Objectors-

Conscientious objectors were men who believed war was wrong or it was just a ploy to build up Britain's empire. It could also be due to religious or political beliefs.

• They refused to join the fight. 
• They had to appeal against conscription but they still had to work for the war in some way if they weren't fighting.
• Around 1,500 people were imprisoned in a camp for the whole war. Some were sentenced to death but none were ever killed. 
• Many objectors were given battlefield jobs with no weapons.
• People who refused to sign up were humiliated, they felt guilty and people often gave them white feathers to wear to show everyone that they didn't go to fight.

Rationing-

• Laws were set in 1918 to introduce rationing of sugar, meat, flour, butter, margarine and milk. 
• Rationing cards were introdued.
• Anyone cheating could be fined or sent to prison.
• People had to grow their own fruit and vegetables.
• Potatoes could be used freely.
• Propaganda was used to encourage families to save food that could feed the soldiers.
• People were hungry, but no-one starved.
• Long…