Impact of war on British parties and politics

Question 1

When did war break out and how many men volunteered?

Answer 1

May 1914
200,000 volunteered

Question 2

What was passed in 1914?

Answer 2

Defence of the Realm Act (DORA)

Question 3

What did the Defence of the Realm Act (DORA) do?

Answer 3

Gave the government emergency powers:
Could censor the press to keep morale high
Striking was illegal in ‘essential’ occupations e.g. mining
Wages frozen and working hours increased

Question 4

What happened in 1915?

Answer 4

Shell crisis

Question 5

What was the shell crisis?

Answer 5

British underestimated the amount of artillery shells required
Asquith did not want heavy state intervention, munitions factories slow to develop

Question 6

What was formed in May 1915?

Answer 6

Wartime Coalition

Question 7

What role was Lloyd George given?

Answer 7

Minister of munitions
Shell production increased by 80% in 1916

Question 8

What was passed in January 1916 and what did it do?

Answer 8

Military Service Act
Conscription for unmarried men between 18 and 41 - eventually extended to married men

Question 9

What happened in May 1916?

Answer 9

Battle of Jutland - Britain defeated

Question 10

Who took over as PM in Dec 1916?

Answer 10

Lloyd George

Question 11

Who was in the new war cabinet?

Answer 11

Bonar Law
Lord Milner
Lord Curzon
Arthur Henderson

Question 12

What was passed in February 1918?

Answer 12

Representation of the People Act

Question 13

What was the Representation of the People Act?

Answer 13

All men over 21 can vote and all women over 30 can vote

Question 14

Who joined the war in April 1918?

Answer 14

America

Question 15

What happened in May 1918?

Answer 15

Maurice Debate

Question 16

What was the Maurice Debate?

Answer 16

Asquith and Lloyd George attacked each other publicly
George accused of starving troops on Western Front
Split the Liberal party

Question 17

What were the election results in 1918?

Answer 17

CON - 335 seats
LAB - 61 seats (over 22% of vote)
LIB - 28 seats
Sinn Fein - 73 seats

Question 18

Who was PM after the election?

Answer 18

Lloyd George
He was a Liberal, leading the Conservatives

Question 19

What shipping crisis took place in 1917?

Answer 19

4 million tonnes of British shipping was sunk by German U-boats

Question 20

What Ministry was set up in December 1916?

Answer 20

Ministry of Food

Question 21

When did rationing begin?

Answer 21

1918

Question 22

When did rationing end?

Answer 22

Nov 1920 - sugar
Nov 1919 - meat
1920 - butter

Question 23

What agricultural act was passed in 1917?

Answer 23

Corn Production Act

Question 24

What was the Corn Production Act?

Answer 24

Minimum price for grain and minimum wage for agricultural labourers

Question 25

What was the national debt by 1914?

Answer 25

£625 million

Question 26

What act was passed in July 1915?

Answer 26

Munitions of War Act

Question 27

What was the Munitions of War Act?

Answer 27

State built 250 shell factories and controlled around 20,000