D.O.R.A ( Defence of the Realm Act)
This was passed in August 1914. DORA allowed the government to take over the coal mines, railways and shipping. Lloyd George became Minister of Munitions and set up state-run munitions factories. The government worked with the trade unions to prevent strikes.
- Licensing hours were introduced Pubs could only open for 2 hours at lunchtime and 3 hours in the evening
- This made sure the workforce was awake and sober for factory work
- Newspapers and radio broadcasts were censored
- The government could control what people heard about the war
- This made sure the public continued to support the war effort by only hearing good things
- Food was rationed
- The government took over land and used it for farm production
- This ensured there was enough food to feed the public and the army, despite German U-Boat attacks
- Beer was diluted
- The government allowed publicans to make beer weaker
- This ensured the workforce didn’t drink so much as to make them drunk or hung-over while at work
- British Summer Time was introduced
- The government move the clocks forward by an hour in the summer
- This ensured factories had maximum daylight, meaning they could operate later
- Mines and railways were taken over by the government
- The government had ultimate control over them
- This meant production of coal, and the movement of trains, would be prioritised for the war effort