How was civilian life affected by WW1? Essay

The First worldly concern War greatly changed the lives of civilians living in Britain. When the war premier skint out, in that respect was a tremendous feel of euphoria and patriotism.In the first four weeks after the declaration of war, all over 500 000 men had enlisted in the army. This was powerially due to the belief that it would be over by Christmas, and was the luck for a holiday big(a) medication posters in addition played a part in the persuading of mess to enlist. A popular giving medication poster was that of superior Kitchener, pointing at YOU and with a caption that read Your king and country requisite YOU.In 1914 the government passed a law that gave them power over civilians daily lives, this was known as DORA (The defence of the realm set). It allowed the government to seize every buildings or land they needed which would contri howevere to the war effort. This as well include the take over of industries. As soon as this law was passed the government immediately seized coalmines. This was an important industry in the contribution towards the war effort. An chip under DORA was that of the watering down of beer in breweries, this was so that to keep workers cerebrate once they returned from their lunch break. This was one of the stranger acts but yet it was obeyed and carried out.DORA also had the power over the media and newspapers. This was so that civilians saw what the government wanted them to see. This and so kept the general enthusiasm about the war on a high, and the public did non know the true horrors of trench warfare, nor the massive account of casualties and deaths the British army had suffered.Contrary to popular beliefs the British government also produced propaganda. This was in the form of posters. One poster depicts a German as a mad brute, another showed Germans murdering babies. Both of these posters encouraged Britons to abhor the Germans. some other form of Government propaganda was that of a film, rel eased in 1916, it was of the battle of the Somme. more scenes in this film were staged and were not real. This gave the public who watched it the idea of unfearing and heroic soldiers fighting the war. This film was a success for the Government, as people did not question the films realism and welcomed it gladly.In 1915, Lloyd George became in charge of the munitions crisis. This crisis was that in that respect were not enough people working in the key industries. spate tended to go for the frolic that had better pay. He attempted to solve this bother by forcing people to stay in the factories where the government needed them most. Another way he tried was by introducing women into the factories, where once this had stereotypically been seen as the manfuls job. This roiling portion out unions as they believed women would work for less and therefore would dilute the males wages. To make unions co operate they had to promise that they would pay women the aforesaid(prenominal ) wage as men, and that as soon as the war was over women would not be kept on.The war really changed the role of women in society as, as men were going to war, jobs were being left unfulfilled. Lloyd George persistent that women were as good and as skilled as men to strain out their jobs. Lloyd George and Emily Pankhurst both encouraged women to work in munitions factories. In 1915, century 000 women registered for jobs but only 5000 were actually given them. This was due to opposition from trade unions. Another government scheme was set up named Womens record Army this was were women were recruited as farm workers, to grow crops and vegetables. This would contribute to the war effort. A slogan on a government poster read snapshot For Victory. Any other jobs that had been once seen as the males job had been undertaken by woman and in many cases women could do the job just as good and sometimes better then the men. The bound of these jobs helped dismiss the pre-war belief about women being incapable of doing mens jobs. Due to the huge part women played in the war, in 1917 a bill was passed allowing women over the age of 33 the right to vote.In 1916, the government passed another law known as the military service act this made all men between 18 and 40 entitled for active service. This was due to the decreasing amount of people volunteering to enlist in the war. Many people were angry at this act, as some did not want to join for political reasons and others because of their religion. These people were names conchies.By 1917, there was serious concern for the supply of aliment Britain had left. This was due to the sinking of British merchant ships by German U-Boats. As less and less food was being imported, the small amount of food that was still in circulation within Britain became expensive and many of the prises rose. Voluntary ration was introduced in May 1917, but proved unsuccessful. So in 1918, compulsory limit was introduced. This meant that pe ople had to apologize down on the amount of sugar, butter, meat and beer that they consumed. They managed to do this by giving everyone a book of coupons in which they bought food. Penalties were forced on those who broke the rationing rules.The First world War was the first war where Britons came under come up to attack from the enemy. This was due to German bombers and Zeppelin warships. In 1915, German bombers bombarded Scarborough in which many innocent people had been killed. The government decided to use this to their value and encouraged people to avenge the attack on Scarborough by joining the army, yet again, here is British government propaganda.To conclude my essay I believe civilian life was greatly affected in World War 1. The war brought around the right for women to vote conscription, compulsory rationing and also it changed many peoples views about war.