The Impact of the Second World War S5/6 From Cradle to the Grave

Last time we learned… WWII united the different communities and classes of Britain with a common aim – to win the war. Bombing, evacuation and rationing raised awareness of continuing social problems. The suffering of the war caused a determination to deal with welfare problems once the war was over – to create a better society. **COPY ABOVE**

Today 1.How the war increased Government control over people’s lives 2.The set up and importance of the Ministry of Food 3.Welfare Reforms during the war – Emergency Milk and Meals Scheme (1941) and Family Allowances (1945). 4.How historians disagree about WWII as the main cause of the Welfare State.

1. How did Government control over people’s lives increase? Unlike WWI, the Home Front during WWII was treated and run like a military battlefield. The daily threat of bombing along with shortages of supplies and workers meant that everyone had to have their lives controlled by the government. The priority was to ensure ‘fair shares for all’ and to avoid waste.

1b.Conscription Introduced to young men in the armed services. People could also find themselves conscripted to work in essential industries such as coal-mining and farming. Women probably experienced the biggest change in the workplace. Britain was the only country during the war to conscript women for the war effort. Unmarried women could be called up to the armed forces and other women directed to work elsewhere. They replaced men in jobs that were considered to be traditionally male and played a vital part in ensuring that food production was maintained.

1c. Managing the Economy Before the war the government had always been about minimum tax and spending. Taxes were now being increased and Britain became heavily reliant on loans from America. As an advisor to Churchill, the economist J.M Keynes said that it was the government’s responsibility to ensure Britain’s economy was successful. Keynes said that a successful economy should provide full employment for its people. The only way to do this was by state action and public spending.

2. The Ministry of Food In April 1940, Lord Woolton became the Minister of Food. He realised that if everyone was to get a balanced diet then the government would have to control food production and supplies. The Ministry of Food’s job was not just about ensuring everyone got a fair share of the food. It also aimed to improve the ability to fight. So…the Ministry of Food planned the rationing scheme so that calcium, iron, minerals and vitamins were added to certain foods.

…MoF Throughout the war, the MoF organised an advice and propaganda campaign. They published a series of ‘Food Facts’ leaflets giving nutritional information plus recipes. Lord Woolton also got a comedy duo named ‘Gert’ and ‘Daisy’ to go round the country promoting the food economy message. In April 1940 the National Food Education Campaign was launched – this involved nation-wide cookery demonstrations to help women make the most of home- produced foods.

Why was the MoF so important? As evidence of the extent of Government control during the Second World War. MoF was first nationwide attempt to apply nutrition knowledge in the world. It had such a reputation for having done a good job that after the war it attracted visiting nutritionists from other countries. The work of the Ministry continued after WWII. Food rationing for products such as meat lasted until 1953 eg. Advice on nutrition has continued to the present day.

Modern Day Ambassador for the Ministry of Food?

Welfare Reform During the War 1941Emergency Milk and Meals Scheme Extra rations given to expectant mothers and young children. Cheap cod liver oil, milk and orange juice were given to mothers. The price of milk and school meals was subsidised by the Government. Free food was given