Role of Government Flashcards
What greatly expanded during WW2?
The role of government.
How did the role of government expand?
To cover all aspects of life, including rationing, censorship and propaganda.
What was introduced in May 1940?
The Emergency Powers Act.
What did the Act provide the government with?
Almost unlimited powers. Civilians could be required to do anything and be sent anywhere.
What was carefully controlled?
Newspapers and they had to submit their articles to a censor before they were printed.
Why was propaganda used?
To boost morale, maintain public support for the war effort and also to provide people with important information and instructions.
What did the MoI do differently from WW1?
Decided against exaggerating victories or enemy activities.
What were used to conserve food or fuel?
Posters.
How did the BBC play an important role in keeping morale up?
Estimated 25 million people were listening to their programmes and they were selective in what they broadcast.
Why were food supplies seriously threatened?
By the German U-Boat campaign, which was successful in sinking Allied merchant ships in the first three years of war.
What did the government do more quickly?
Introduce compulsory rationing.
What happened in January 1940?
The MoF worked out fair food rations. At first only butter, sugar and bacon were rationed.
Why was rationing introduced? 3
- ensure there were adequate amounts of food
- keep up morale by ensuring that everybody received equal amounts
- ensure that people in Britain were as healthy as possible = fit to work + need little hospital care
How did rationing work? 4
- issued with ration book
- register with a butcher / grocer
- supplied with food
- ration book taken on holidays = given to landlady or hotel
What did the government do to help families?
School meals were made available for every child so that mothers could work during the day and not have to worry about their children at lunchtime.
