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Start of war - recruitment campaign
This meant that lots of people (half a million in a month) joined the army, meaning that they would have left their other jobs. Morale was high at this time as men wanted to sign up becuase thye thought the war would be over by Christmas. -
Women’s Defense Relief Corps
Involoved a civil organisation in whcih women were able to take mens employment so they could go and fight and a semi-military unit in which women were given military training to defend Britain if it was invaded. This would women feel more involoved in the war and would have changed attitudes towards them. -
First bombing of British civilians
This would have lowered morale as people's homes would have been destroyed and they had originally thought that the war would be over by Christmas but now it would be clear that it wouldn't be. -
The first Zeppelin air raids on London
This would lower morale as it would cause destruction and make the war seem less distant than it would otherwise. There were 52 throughout the war. -
Trade Union agreement
Women would be paided the same as men and could work until 'sufficient male labour should again be avaiable'. In some ways this would have increased thier status in society but it wasn't a long term change. -
Munitions factories
Government set up their own munition factories to help with the war effort, this mainly employed women. This would have started to break the idea that women were unable to take mens jobs and eventuallly led to them being given the right to vote. -
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Trade Union agreement
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First Military Service Bill
This meant that all single men between 18 and 40 had to go and fight, this meant that they would have to leave their jobs which would have to be taken by women. -
Second Military Service Bill
Conscription extended to married men, this would effect familes and would lower morale as people would realise how serious the war was and that it was going to last a long time. It would also place more responsibility on the women left at home. -
Battle of the Somme
In this battle more British soliders were killed than in any othr battle before, this would lower morale. -
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Battle of the Somme
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Public criticism
The public started to criticise the way the genrals were running the war because they had originally been told it would be over by Christmas and morale had been lowered by the Battle of the Somme. -
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Public criticism
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Lloyd George becomes Prime Minister
He recognised the importance of the British government to focus all effort on the war. This meant that the Ministry of Labour was set up to sort out the British industry, this would effect people's jobs as they would have to start working for the war effort. The Ministry of Food was also set up to deal with the food shortage. -
Women's Land Army was set up
Women had to be recuited as farm labours as men would now have to be fighting. This would again increase thier status in society and make the government realise thye wern't infereior to men. -
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Women's Land Army set up
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German U-boats sink British merchant ship
This meant that food supplies into Britain became even more restricted. DORA meant that the government was able to take over 2.5 million acres of farming land. This would have helped becasue it would mean that Britain could be more self sufficiant so there would be less of a food shortage, it also would have increased women's jobs. -
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German U-boats sink British merchant ship
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Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps set up
This was part of the army and did things like cooking, mechanical and clerical work. This would have enabled more men to be fighting and made women feel more involved in the war effort. -
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Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps set up
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Voluntary rationing
This was where people limited themselves to what they could eat. It failed because food prices continued to rise. -
Women's votes
The Representation of the People Act gave all women over 30 could vote - this was a major change as it would effect lots of women and showed how thier help in the war effort had changed political opinion of them. -
Compulsory rationing
Malnutriation was developing so rationing was introduced in Southern Britian with penalties for those who didn't follow it. Everyone would have been given ration cards and had to registar with a butcher and a grocer. This would have shown how much Britain was struggling and so would have reduced morale. -
More rationing
Meat, butter and cheese rationed across the country. -
Women in BEF
17,000 women employed to help with a range of things such as medical care, cooking and mechanics. This showed the growing equality between men and women and would have meant that women felt more able to help directly with the war effort. -
War ends
Armitise signed - this was good as it meant that people's lives could begin to return to normal although some of the effects of the war were more long-lasting.
