Home front in Scotland

• The government initially aimed for 'business as usual' in Britain during the war.
• The war had a significant impact on people in the country, leading to increased government control over their lives.
• The Defence of the Realm Act (DORA) was a set of laws aimed at defending the country.
• During the war, it was forbidden to take photos of Military bases.
• It was forbidden to own homing pigeons without permission.
• Invisible ink was also forbidden during the war.
• Giving bread to animals or poultry was also forbidden during the war.
• Spreading false rumours was also forbidden during the war.
• Censorship of newspapers was allowed during the war.
• Pub opening hours were limited during the war.
• Beer was made less alcoholic during the war.
• Guy Fawkes night bonfires were banned during the war.
• The Government had to take much more control of the economy to ensure the country was able to fight the war.
• An MP called David Lloyd George was given the job of ensuring Britain had enough munitions to fight the war.
• David Lloyd George could set up new factories or take over existing ones.
• He could also control the railways and supplies of coal.
• After the numbers volunteering to fight started to drop, the Government introduced a law that meant all British men who were of a certain age were to join up into the army.
• Conscription was introduced in 1916, meaning men were forced to join the army by law.
• Conscription initially applied to single men aged 18-40, but was later extended to include married men and then to include men up to 50 years old.
• Those who refused conscription were known as conscientious objectors.
• Some conscientious objectors refused because of religious reasons and had to explain their reasons in front of tribunals.
• Many conscientious objectors agreed to do some work to help the war effort such as farm work.
• Some conscientious objectors were "absolutists" which meant they refused to do anything to help the war effort and were sentenced to hard labour.
• One labour camp for conscientious objectors was situated in Dyce, on the outskirts of Aberdeen, where the men were forced to work digging stone in a granite quarry.
• German U-Boats sank many British ships bringing in food, leading to food shortages.
• By 1917 food prices were rising fast and people were panic buying.
• If Britain had run out of food, it would have had to surrender.
• People were encouraged to eat less and grow their own food during the war.
• Rationing was eventually brought in, meaning everyone got the same share of food every week.
• Some very poor people's health actually improved due to rationing as they were getting more food than they were able to afford previously.