The Era Of The Great War #6: Rationing Flashcards
How much of Britains food was imported?
2/3
What ships did USA try to sink?
Britains and also Americas, even though that risked her joining the war
How did Britain combat the U-Boats?
- Organised Merchant ships in convoys and protected them with war ships
- rates of sinking decreased, food increased
What was Britains food supply threatened by?
German submarines known as U-Boats which attacked ships bringing in essential supplies
In 1914-1916, how did the government managed the food supply?
- introduced ’standard bread’ (used government regulation flour which was coarse than normal bread, so less grain needed to be used to make the same amount of flour)
- gardens and public parks were adapted for growing food
When was rationing introduced?
In stages from December 1917 - February 1918, after voluntary schemes had failed
What were British ships doing to German ports?
Blockading them
What was Germany’s plan to starve Britain?
By sinking 600,000 tonnes/month for 5months
When was voluntary rationing introduced?
1 February 1917
How many tonnes or British meat were sunk in 1917?
46000 tonnes
In February-June 1917, how much sugar did Germany sink?
85000 tonnes
Why couldn’t British horses be utilised?
At front line
How many acres of land was dug by 1918?
7million
By 1918, how much extra food was being produced?
About a months worth a year
What did Germany announce on Feb 1 1917?
That there would be unrestricted submarines warfare and they were going to prepare to blockade British ports
What effect did the men and horses from the farming industry going to war have? Evidence?
- in short supply of agricultural workers
- lower output of crops
- evidence: what harvest of 1916 was lower than usual and the potato crop in Scotland and parts of England failed
Why was there less food on the Home Front?
- Soldiers took priority
- 2nd priority was vital war workers as they had to produce weapons
Why was there a limit to what civilians could do to help farmers?
There was a limit to what they could grow, especially in cities
8 solutions that the government implemented
- Canteens
- Allotments
- Merchant ships in convoys
- Women’s Land Army and Land Girls
- Prooganda
- Encouraged people to reduce consumption
- Voluntary rationing
- Compulsory Rationing
What did canteens do?
Sold cheep meals
What did the government encourage gardeners to do?
Turn squares and gardens into allotments
An example of food provided was cabbage and marrow
How many allotments by 1917?
Over 1.5million
What did the women’s land army provide? When was it set up?
1917
Extra voluntary labour
What did ‘Land Girls’ do?
Replaced servicemen who had left the farms to fight
What did propaganda campaigns encourage?
People to grow their own food
How did the government encourage people to reduce their food waste?
Meatless Monday
Wheatless Wednesday
What did voluntary rationing aim for?
To reduce the consumption of food in short supply and show how to reduce waste when cooking
What did compulsory rationing aim for?
Everyone to get their fair share of food and that morale was kept high
6 reasons that rationing was introduced
- U-Boat Warfare
- Inflation of food prices
- People began to panic
- Prior measures were ineffective
- Great no. of high priority people taking the food
- malnutrition common in poor communities
Give an example of a rationed amount of food
Butter and margarine was rationed to 4oz for adult or child / week
