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DORA ? Defence of the Realm Act (1914) - Gave government wide ranging powers to run the war. The legislation gave the government executive powers to suppress published criticism, imprison without trial, and to commandeer economic resources for the war effort. ? DORA was also used to control civilian behaviour. This included regulating alcohol consumption and food supplies. Munitions What was the problem? Planning clearly inadequate Chronic shortage of shells and bullets New soldiers trained with sticks! Rumours that soldiers limited to three rounds of ammo a day Publicised by the Daily Mail What did the government do? Coalition formed Lloyd George made minister of munitions. In this role he: Told essential workers to stay put rather than go where the pay was best Brought women into the workforce Opened up the government’s own munitions factories Crisis was alleviated, and army well supplied thereafter. Equal pay established for women after Unions complained that paying them below the odds could lead to men being squeezed out of the market altogether. Evidence of success 100,000 women registered for industrial work in 1915 – but only 5000 were given jobs! Women were to be thrown out of their jobs once the boys came home. Trade unions complained that the bosses weren’t subject to the same restrictions Evidence of failure Rationing What was the problem? In April 1917 German U-Boats were sinking 25% of British Merchant shipping At one stage Britain had only 6 weeks supply of wheat left! Prices almost doubled between 1914-1917 and easily outstripped wages – strikes and demonstrations Women’s Land Army set up to in Feb 1917 to recruit women as farm workers Wages of industrial workers raised after the strikes May 1917: voluntary rationing system introduced - Royal family publicised the scheme November: Price of bread restricted to the “ninepenny loaf”, recipe books produced What did the government do? Rationing welcomed as a fair system By the end of t