1 of 1

Write now Article Tools

The First World War was the first total war Britain had ever faced not only the army was in the midst of the war, but the war affected every aspects of life for the people of a country in the war. Britain had to be organised to fight a war not only on the front lines, but also back at home with the people.

In 1941 the government passed a law called DORA Defence of the Realm Act. It gave the government many sweeping powers such as that they were able to seize land or buildings it needed or industry it needed for the war effort. It also gave the government the power to censor information about the war, the information that it didn't want the public to know. Immediately, the government took over the coal industry so that they could shift to support the war effort, rather than the owner's profit.

In 1915 there were not enough shells and armaments at the Western front, as well as the British army being desperately short of the ammunition. Britain's industry was simply not geared into war production and so the munitions crisis' began. As a reaction to these problems, a coalition government was formed, to tackle all the problems that were arising all parties wanted to join together and support the war effort. Through this Lloyd George was made Minister of Munitions.

Under DORA, Lloyd George introduced new methods to help deliver the goods.' Lloyd George made workers stay at their current job, rather than moving to a different, better-paid one, as the government needed skilled workers to stay at their current war material producing job. Trade unions didn't agree to this, but as the bosses of firms were making lots of money they didn't mind that the government didn't allow people from key industries to move job.

Lloyd George also brought women into the workforce, although again the trade union disagreed. In 1915, only 5 000 women workers out of 100 000 were given jobs by the trade union. The trade union also wanted women to work for less money than men, although the government intervened and declared that women should be paid the same as men, although Lloyd George also said that women wouldn't be kept on after the war. Simultaneously, Lloyd George also opened many of the government war factories, employing a large number of women and by the end of 1915 the munitions crisis was solved and the British armies were well supplied for the rest of the war.

When war broke out in 1914, Britain had a small, professional army and it needed a much larger one, fast. The government

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about How was Britain organised to fight World War 1?
We want to hear your view. Write now!