The Home Front Flashcards
What does DORA stand for?
DORA stands for Defense of the Realm Act
When was DORA introduced?
DORA was introduced on the 8th August 1914.
What was DORA?
DORA was where the British government took control and increased their power.
How did DORA affect mining?
The government took over the coal industry so that it could be run for the benefit of the war effort and not the coal workers.
How did DORA affect munitions?
There was a high shortage of shells, bullets and guns on the Western Front. Lloyd George set up the Ministry of Munitions to increase the production of armaments.
How did DORA affect newspapers?
The government took over newspapers so that the newspapers weren’t aloud to tell the truth and instead had to tell stories of heroic deeds and victories. This was done to keep morale high.
What else did DORA do?
DORA also increased the number of hours in a working day for British Summer Time.
Why did men join up to fight in the armed service?
- they were persuaded by recruiting posters.
- they wanted to get away from dead end jobs.
- due to encouragement from wives of their families.
- they wanted a share in the excitement.
- some of them thought it was their duty.
What were conscientious objectors?
These were people who for religious or humanitarian reasons, couldn’t even begin to think about the awfulness of killing another human being so refused to join up to fight in the armed service.
What types of propaganda were there?
- Newspaper reports
- Official painting and photographs
- Recruitment posters
- Postcards
- Cartoons
- Radio
- Speeches
- Photographs
How were newspapers used as propaganda?
- Language within newspapers was used to keep morale high.
- Anti-German reports were used within newspapers.
- The Government told the newspapers what was happening.
How were official painting and photographs used as propaganda?
- In the early years of the war, you weren’t aloud to photograph the dead or dying.
- They were given officer status and privileged access to battlefields.
How were posters, postcards and cartoons used as propaganda?
- 2-5 million copies of 110 different posters were issued
- they targeted recruitment
- it avoided explicit description of the war
- it later aimed at combating war-weariness such as terrible deeds of the enemy and heroism of Britain.
How was propaganda effective?
- recruitment- did get many men to join up (In February 1915, 90,000 volunteered)
- posters - changed attitudes in the war to anti-German
- newspapers - kept civilian moral high, patriotism, encourage other countries to help
How was propaganda not effective?
- it didn’t change attitudes - “business as usual” attitude lead to rationing in 1918
- in 1916 conscription was introduced
- there is “no accurate measure”
- soldier morale was low
