The Era Of The Great War #5: Defence Of The Realm Act (DORA) Flashcards
What did DORA generally allow?
It authorised the government to do almost anything it thought necessary to Gelo the war effort and protect the country
What were the implications of the fact that DORA did not have to ask parliament about each new regulation?
They could essentially restrict peoples rights and freedoms as they could bypass parliament
Why was DORA introduced?
It was aimed at helping Britain to win the war : an emergency measure
Positives of DORA
- drew attention to factories
- encouraged industry in trade unions
- introduced women
- workers payed more
- censorship DID potentially save many lives as enemies didn’t find out sensitive info
- helped win war
- brought parties together
Negatives of DORA
- censorship
- widened police power
DORA was testament to the liberal attitude at the time. Why?
People accepted it
What was the job of the War Press Office?
They made sure that any news, letters, etc or things coming to or from the trenches were censored to keep troop movements secret
In what 5 ways was information censored or altered?
- casualty figures played down
- misleading accounts of battles
- exaggerated allied successes
- accounts of German atrocities were widely broadcast
- gruesome photos rarely published
What would happen to you if you broke a censorship law?
- Governemnt could imprison you without a trial
- Military could court martial you, meaning you would get a military and not a civilian trial
When was the defence of the realm act introduced?
8 August 1914
Why couldn’t people trespass on railway lines or bridges?
- In case trains with resources were disrupted
- Couldn’t loiter in/around bridges in case of attempted sabotage
Why couldn’t people light bonfires or fireworks?
- In case it interfered with aeroplanes
- could attract zeppelins
Why couldn’t people talk about naval or military matters in public?
In case spies were nearby
Why couldn’t people spread rumours about military matters?
Could make morale low if rumours of a loss
Why couldn’t people buy binoculars?
They were needed for soldiers so there was risk of a shortage
Why couldn’t people use invisible ink when writing abroad?
It was a method for spies so it would raise suspicion
Why couldn’t people own homing pigeons without permission?
If they flew towards Europe, owners would come under suspicion as this was a spy method
Why couldn’t people use cameras without a permit?
It could post a threat to surveillance + spy activity if this activity was caught on camera
Why were crofters given the chance to farm on land and then it would be returned to the owner after the war?
To give people the chance to grow food on land that wasn’t used for war production
Why was striking outlawed?
To protect the production of goods in the factories
Why were wages either lowered or kept the same and why was BST introduced?
To increase production without increasing expense
Why were:
- pub opening times limited
- beer watered down
- buying rounds was banned
Aimed to tackle lateness at loss of productivity at work
Why were the government permitted to take any land they wanted?
Government worried that food was in short supply and there had been land disputes in the highlands
Why was there a shortage of munitions in 1915?
- companies were too small
- a lack of materials such as metal and rubber
How did the government tackle the shortage of munitions in 1915?
- factories that were not already involved could be forcibly taken over and converted for war material production
- DORA banned men in vital industries from leaving their jobs. Those in ‘unimportant’ jobs could be diverted against their will
WHY did the government introduce interventions into munitions?
To increase production of munitions greatly which would in turn provide the British Army with a greater number of supplies to strengthen them
How were people punished if they broke DORA laws?
- classed as unpatriotic
- new courts were set up to deal with any who broke new rules
- military law was applied to them
Examples of how military law was applied to people who broke DORA laws
Vandalism = long sentence
Arson = execution
Who was the first to be punished for breaking DORA laws? What happened to them?
John Maclean.
Spoke out against WW1 + government, spent time in prison
Why did some Brits support DORA?
- patriotism
- they accepted the need for the increased security and control over areas seen as vital to war effort
Reasons Brits didn’t support DORA?
- petty: eg needed pigeon permit
- interfered with civil rights
- too much interference in their life
- genuine debate was stifled (eg anti-war debate)
How many ‘German Spies’ were executed under the DORA regulations?
11
Were there juries at DORA trials?
No
How were protests reported in newspapers?
As being unpatriotic
How were striking Glasgow shipyard workers in 1915 portrayed?
They were accused of threatening the lives of soldiers on the front line
4 impacts of DORA?
- info was censored
- policies of secrecy
- productivity in industry increased
- people punished
6 reasons people were unhappy with DORA
- working payment worsened
- land could be taken
- livelihood could be threatened
- media was censored
- punishments were harsh
- restrictions seemed trivial and unnecessary
